 |
|
 |
||
BACK ON TOP - 2004/5
Jiws showed why he is peerless when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, scoring 34 times including four hat-tricks and a vital winner at Rhyl. Along with supporters' player of the season Michael Wilde, who notched 19 for himself, they formed a deadly duo that was just too much for the majority of sides. But there were other crucial differences. The return of 2000 title-winning manager Andy Cale as head coach brought a new dimension to Saints' play. Passing football became the order of the day with several players showing new levels of ability and confidence. Going a goal behind wasn't a problem either. Learning from their mistakes of previous seasons, the team showed patience in breaking down their opponents and scored a high percentage of goals in the final minutes. Steve Evans (Welsh Premier player of the season) and Jimmy Aggrey (until his departure) marshalled the backline in which Tommy Holmes and Chris Taylor were ever-dependable. It is invidious to single out players, but Scott Ruscoe had his best season and Ged Doherty showed new confidence with the gloves. The discipline was good - Saints topped the Fair Play League as well - and although the manner of victories in the second half of the season never reached the heights of the first, which included 7-0 victories at Connah's Quay and Caernarfon, few could deny that the best team won. Rhyl overcame a hesitant start to threaten briefly mid-way through the season and Bangor played some good football but were too inconsistent to mount a challenge. |
