LATE GOAL SALVAGES A POINT
A late own goal saved leaders Total Network Solutions after plucky Druids had looked on course for a League of Wales upset.
With four minutes remaining, a long free kick from Tim Alexander fell for Chris Edge inside the right of the box and the midfielder drilled a low strike into the goalmouth which home defender Aled Rowlands could only deflect into his own net.
The timely leveller was a welcome relief for the pacesetters who were made to battle all the way against a Flexsys side who harried and tackled tigerishly.
But the Saints had started brightly to take a 12th minute lead when Edge threaded a neat pass through the defence and Justin Perry ran on before planting his first-time effort into the far corner of the net from 16 yards.
Hardly had the celebrations settled down when the Druids hit back in spectacular fashion as a determined run from Craig Wilkinson on the left saw the ball break for recalled striker Richard Snell who cashed his swerving 20-yard volley past keeper Gerard Doherty
Lifted by the strike, Cefn continued to allow their visitors little room, helped by some determined tackling, which saw Anthony Wright and Perry both foiled in a goalmouth melee.
With the Saints struggling to make inroads, the hosts struck a second time on the half hour as Snell latched onto the ball in midfield before hammering a superb 40-yard strike into the top left of the net.
Lacking their earlier incisive running, TNS struggled to find a way through the Druids backline that held firm despite the loss of injured skipper Paul Morris in the first half
Edge looked the most likely to restore parity after the break, firing one effort wide while seeing a 30-yarder turned over the bar by keeper Dave Blower.
But at the other end, Snell was denied a hat-trick when Doherty made a timely save with his legs following the forward's strong run.
With time ticking away, the Saints pushed forward in increasingly desperate fashion before finally finding a way through to salvage a deserved point, that keeps them top of the table - for the time being at least. |
