HARD GOING FOR SAINTS AT WINDY TREFLAN
A COMBINATION of a strong wind blowing down the Treflan pitch and some dogged Druids' defending meant TNS made heavy weather of securing the points.
With Aled Rowlands marshalling his back-line, it took Saints 40 minutes to break down the visitors' defence.
David Bridgwater's curling 20-yard free kick five minutes before the break put Saints in front after a fairly even first half which saw chances at both ends.
A long clearance was carried on the wind over Steve Evans' head and Dean Williams was forced to make a save at the feet of Anthony Williams in the opening minutes.
Referee Woodthorpe then waved away claims for penalties at both ends before Evans and Wilde saw shots saved in a goalmouth scramble.
Gary Brabin's 25-yarder sailed over the bar and after the opening goal, Wilde went close to adding to the lead, with Aden Shannon responding at the other end with a tame shot.
TNS piled on the pressure with the wind at their backs in the second-half and John Toner beat keeper Mike Price only for his shot to miss the target.
Wilde's bicycle kick was also off key and he was just denied by the Druids' defence minutes later.
Good build up play on the left put in Shannon again, but he missed from a good position in front of goal with only Dean Williams to beat.
Despite the pressure, Druids held firm until eight minutes from time, when Nicky Ward stole in the far post to drive home Bridgwater's cross from the right.
Two minutes from time, substitute Alec Stacey - a summer trialist with Saints - latched on to a through ball from Roy Cardus to score and keep the home fans biting their fingernails, but it proved a mere consolation as Saints held out.
Late on, Ken McKenna introduced striker Darren McGuinness for his debut, after scoring 14 goals in three games since joining the reserves, but there was little time for him to make an impression. |