Saints tame the Unibond Tigers
SAINTS will be happy with the 5-0 scoreline and a more than useful workout ahead of the Uefa Cup second leg.
But despite taking an early lead through Nicky Ward's far post header, they were made to work hard for the rest of the half and could count themselves lucky to preserve an interval lead.
John Toner's persistence paid off for the opener and when Mike Wilde missed his cross from the right, Ward stole in at the back post to head past James Coates, who was on loan to keeper-less Hyde for the night.
The visiting Tigers were unlucky to have a Keiran Delaney equaliser ruled out for offside five minutes later, after a good move involving Matt McNeil and recent acquisition Carl Barrowclough.
Soon afterwards, Mark Connolly sent a suicidal back pass to Gerard Doherty and the impressive Phil Salt's attempted lob was high and wide.
Salt then conjured a superb 20-yard volley that skimmed the crossbar.
Second half substitutions enabled TNS to take control, as the Unibond Premier outfit wilted in the later stages.
Jamie McGuire added the second after a good run and cross down the right by Martin Naylor, before Wilde ignored a linesman's flag and ran on to score with a good shot across Coates.
Scott Ruscoe's arrival just after the hour sparked several good chances for TNS and the midfielder was on hand when Hyde failed to clear their lines from Naylor's corner, heading across to the far post for Jamie Wood to convert with a header.
The lively Salt provided United's main threat and after shooting just wide earlier in the half he saw a free kick well saved by Doherty.
Ruscoe was just wide with a superb 20-yarder, brought a superb one-handed save from Coates and narrowly missed the target again from a Naylor cross.
Coates saved superbly again from Jamie McGuire's clever shot, but Ruscoe had the final word when his last minute cross was headed against the bar by a Hyde defender and Wilde netted the rebound from close range. |
