TNS GRIND OUT THREE POINTS
TNS went back to the top of the League, but they had to work hard to overcome a dogged Haverfordwest County outfit.
The home side were forced to play the last hour of the game with 10 men, when Scott Ruscoe was dismissed for picking up two yellow cards in three minutes.
Yet Saints had got off to a dream start with a goal in the seventh minute.
Colin Loss handled from a Martyn Naylor free kick and Jamie Wood slotted home the spot kick.
Despite their early lead, Saints showed little fluency and chances were hard to come by.
A Naylor free kick on 23 minutes nearly put TNS further ahead, but Kendall saved at full stretch after the ball had eluded attackers and defenders.
Toner fired over on 35 minutes and was denied again by Kendall soon after.
It was 41 minutes before County forced their first corner, but Wayne Jones missed a golden heading opportunity from in front of goal.
Two minutes after the break, TNS almost notched a freak goal when Kendall's mis-kicked clearance on the edge of the box rebounded off Wood, but dribbled agonisingly wide of the post.
Wood and Toner worked tirelessly up front but were both replaced on the hour as they wilted in the warm conditions.
Former Saint Darren Ryan provided County's main threat, but he lacked support from his team-mates and there was little serious danger to the TNS goal.
Michael Wilde broke clear on 72 minutes and put the ball in the net, only for the 'goal' to be controversially ruled out for hand-ball.
The key monent of the match came with a quarter of an hour to go, when Saints' defence was finally breached.
Gary Brabin was forced to trip substitute Tim Hicks as he bore down on goal and was lucky to receive only a yellow card, as he appeared to be the last man.
Dean Williams had previously had a quiet afternoon, but produced a superb save to turn away Wayne Jones's well-aimed spot kick.
Wood and substitute Mike Wilde missed chances to kill of the game, but in the final minute of normal time, good work by Michael Wilde allowed Dave Bridgwater to feed Martyn Naylor, who lashed home a shot from just inside the box.
Saints were pleased to have laid the bogey of last season's crucial home defeat by West, which was the final nail in the coffin for the title challenge.
Manager Ken McKenna said: "We had to grind out this win.
"It was one of those days when the result was more important than the performance." |
