Mike Wilde turns away to celebrate the first goal as Nomads' keeper Paul Pritchard appeals to a linesman.
Click for more photos
|
Saints lack killer punch again
CONNAH'S Quay failed to end their dismal away record at The New Saints, which has brought a haul of just one point from the last 10 meetings.
But after establishing a comfortable 3-0 lead, the Saints were guilty of allowing their opponents back in the game and, after conceding one goal to former Shrewsbury Town youth Mark Cadwallader, almost paid a high price for their generosity.
Lively sub Stewart White had the ball in the net 10 minutes from time only to be ruled offside - a decision which led to Nomads' boss Jim Hackett being red-carded from the dugout by referee Wayne Tregonning.
Bel Alston had earlier fired just wide of the far post and Duane Courtney only denied White with a last-ditch tackle.
There had been little hint that the game might produce a lively finish when Saints cruised into a two-nil lead inside 20 minutes as Luke Holden produced another man-of-the-match performance down the left hand side, combining well on several occasions with Chris King.
It was Holden who set-up the first, beating Alston for his cross to be missed by Alfie Carter but turned in at the back post by Michael Wilde.
Five minutes later, Carter raced onto a through ball and lobbed keeper Paul Pritchard, with defender Alston only able to help the ball on its way as it crossed the line.
Carter could and should have fired a first-half hat-trick, beating Chris Williams to the ball before missing the target, heading wide from King's cross and then being denied when one-on-one with Pritchard.
Nomads' sub Jamie Petrie hit a post soon after the interval before Holden again sparked the Saints into action, feeding Scott Ruscoe whose low cross was turned into his own net by Gary Pinch.
Slack marking allowed Cadwallader to give Nomads a toe-hold and TNS then endured some uncomfortable moments before the points were safely in the bag. |
