Saints lose out in dead rubber
SAINTS had already qualified for the quarter-finals, but NEWI Cefn Druids bowed out of the competition with the consolation of their second morale-boosting victory of the season over TNS.
A goal in each half from Darren Williams and Mark Powell, his first for the club, moved The Ancients on to seven points in Group 3, but goal difference in other groups meant that progress to the quarter-finals was denied.
TNS handed a debut to youth Ryan Marriott who almost opened the scoring with a 30-yarder after eight minutes, his effort going narrowly wide of goal.
At the other end, Gerard Doherty did well to keep out a Geraint Lewis close range header from Paul Mazzarella's left wing corner.
Darren Williams almost broke the deadlock on 27 minutes, his solo run ended with a shot wide of the post.
The Saints hit back and a cross from the left was flicked on by Ronnie Morgan, allowing ex-Druid Carl Lamb to meet the ball with a diving header, but home keeper Carl Edwards was able to push the ball away from goal.
Williams opened the home side's account on the stroke of half-time when a poor backpass from Michael Taylor put Doherty in trouble and Williams charged down the ball to tap home from close range while keeper and defence tried to claim a handball.
Williams and Chris McGinn both came close the extending the lead after the break, but TNS were level when Ronnie Morgan cut past three men into the Druids box and, although his initial shot came back off his own man, he was able to meet the rebound and fire home from close range with his first goal for the club.
Sub John Toner fired over and then saw his glancing header from Luke Holden's cross go harmlessly across goal before ex-TNS man Powell rose highest to a Waynne Phillips free-kick to head the winner. |
