Aber's Marc Lloyd Williams and Saints' Scott Ruscoe challenge for the ball [Richard Stanton].
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LATE PENALTY GETS SAINTS OUT OF JAIL
SAINTS got back to winning ways and kept their title challenge on track with victory over Aberystwyth. But it was the Seasiders' Andy Lee who handed TNS a get out of jail card at Treflan. With the game deep into injury time and heading for a scoreless draw, the defender handled in the box from a Martyn Naylor cross. Jamie Wood stepped up to send John Worsnop the wrong way and take TNS level on points with Rhyl at the top of the table. Gary Finley was dismissed for dissent after the penalty award. But with Aber man of the match Lee, Phil Baker and Aneurin Thomas, the Black & Greens' player/boss had been a rock at the heart of a defence which resisted everything Saints could throw at them. After 19 minutes, Chris King provided a great cross for Michael Wilde, but the striker's 10-yard effort narrowly missed the target. Injured in making the cross, King was replaced by Steven Beck, who was also guilty of a glaring miss five minutes after coming on. Wood broke clear to provide the pass but Beck fired wide with Worsnop beaten. Carl Rodgers shot into the side netting from a narrow angle and Steve Evans just failed to connect with a far post header on the break. In the second half, it was Evans who led the charge with two headers and a shot from eight yards which all missed the target. Chris Taylor headed wide from Scott Ruscoe's corner and the Aber defence also scrambled clear from a Jamie Wood effort. Aberystwyth's one and only real chance came late in the game, but on-loan Altrincham keeper Richard Acton did well to turn a Marc Lloyd Williams shot away for a corner. With time running out, Saints pressed forward but it seemed it just wasn't going to be their day, until Lee gave them a lifeline which could prove crucial in the title race. |