Depleted Saints are in seventh heaven
DESPITE missing six regulars through injury and suspension, The New Saints sent Carmarthen packing after their second hammering at Park Hall in recent times.
The Saints fell one goal short of the 8-0 pasting they handed to the Old Gold two seasons ago, but only some good saves from visiting keeper Mike Lewis prevented the hosts from racking-up their best-ever Welsh Premier victory.
It took the Saints just 12 minutes to open their account, Matty Williams taking advantage of some sloppy defending to score from 12-yards after being set-up by Alex Darlington. Williams then returned the favour with a slide rule pass for Darlington to net from inside the box.
With striker Chris Sharp and defender Tommy Holmes both suspended, and four others on the treatment table, manager Mike Davies signed experienced former Football League campaigner Richie Partridge on Friday. And the former Liverpool trainee, who spent time with Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Coventry City and MK Dons before being released by Stockport, showed some neat touches on his debut.
His cross was turned into his own net at the far post by the unfortunate Dale Griffths and, on 26 minutes, the game was over as a contest when Scott Ruscoe seized on a long ball from Chris Seargeant to add the fourth.
The visitors were rarely a threat as they tried to contain the rampaging home attack but a midfield error by Matty Williams allowed Sacha Walters a run which ended in a free-kick that forced a brilliant tip-away save by keeper Paul Harrison.
Partridge was only denied a debut goal by Lewis in a one-on-one but the ball broke free to Ruscoe who added the fifth.
Lewis gifted a sixth when he rolled the ball forward to clear without seeing Darlington, who stole the ball to net via the inside of a post, and subs Craig Williams and Matty Berkeley then combined for the seventh.
Partridge hit the bar from 20 yards, Darlington just failed to get on the end of a cross and then miscued from Berkeley’s lay-off as the Saints were forced to settle for seventh heaven.
“It was important for us to bounce back after the disappointment at Llanelli last week, but the lads were superb right from the off and I’m very pleased with the amount of goals we scored – and the clean sheet as well,” said TNS manager Mike Davies. |