SAINTS BACK ON TRACK
TNS REKINDLED their League of Wales challenge after surviving Newtown's spirited second-half fightback at Treflan.
With an icy wind at their backs in the first-half, the Saints forged a three-goal interval lead before Newtown, themselves boosted by the elements, hit back after the break to set up a tense finish.
In a game brimming with goalmouth incident, Newtown missed the first real chance when Chris Adamson's low drive was saved by keeper Gerard Doherty in the second minute.
But TNS struck just four minutes later when Justin Perry nipped in to head home Ricky Evans's cross at the near post after ex-Robin Scott Ruscoe had clattered a shot against the bar.
Perry then floated another header against the post seven minutes later with John Toner firing the rebound over while at the other end, Steve McCormick was denied by Doherty's legs.
But it was the Saints who went on to double their advantage on the half-hour when Ricky Evans's low 20-yard strike left keeper Paul Whitfieid wrong-footed after taking a deflection off a defender.
And the hosts tightened their grip seven minutes later as full-back Derek Ward curled a 22-yarder over Whitfield for his first goal for the club.
But Newtown rallied with Scott Williams reviving their fortunes in the 52nd minute when hammering a stunning volley into the left corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Both sides traded opportunies, Ruscoe hitting the post for TNS before Newtown were gifted a second goal on 74 minutes as Dave Bridgwater's back pass bobbled past Doherty's attempted clearance with the ball rolling into the net.
And the Robins could feasibly have salvaged the game had Doherty not redeemed himself with a smart save from Mark Williams in the last minute as the Saints held on for a crucial win. |
