Saints lose more ground in title race
THE New Saints' grip on the Welsh Premier crown slipped for the second time in a week, despite a smash-and-grab raid which salvaged a point from a game they looked destined to lose.
But the defeat leaves Ken McKenna's men trailing Llanelli by five points and a fourth consecutive title now depends on their rivals slipping-up.
Neath dominated for much of the game and took the lead on 35 minutes with a near post header from Jarrod Price, who had scored the Eagles' consolation goal in their 3-1 defeat at Park Hall earlier in the season.
That was the only score of an entertaining first half but, within eight minutes of the restart, Richard French again beat keeper Paul Harrison with a drive from the edge of the box.
The Saints were up against it, but fought back well and Scott Ruscoe gave them a toehold on 66 minutes with a well-taken free kick from just inside the area.
With time running out, the points still looked headed for the hosts, but a corner four minutes from time brought an equaliser, as Chris King slammed a 25-yarder past Craig Morris.
Alfie Carter and Luke Holden also went close and Saints could have taken all three points in a fightback that pleased manager Ken McKenna.
"The whole side showed tremendous character, it would have been easy for them to let their heads drop after the second goal, but they showed great qualities," he said.
But deflated Neath manager Andrew Dyer rued the end result: "I really thought we should have won. It was daylight robbery," he said. |
