The New Saints confirmed a fifth consecutive Cymru Premier title on Tuesday night. A dramatic ending saw Danny Davies score a winner in the final seconds of stoppage time to give the visitors the three points. Connah’s Quay Nomads thought they had earned themselves a point late on with talisman Harry Franklin heading in an equaliser after TNS took the lead only a few minutes before through a Ben Wilson penalty. The Nomads still sit second in the table with a great chance of qualification for Europe. Here is the match day through the lens.
Pre Match
I arrived at the ground at 18:30 to set up my equipment and spoke to a couple of fans at the ground. There was a feeling of animosity in the air ahead of a huge top of the table clash. The Nomads and The Saints have been the two most successful Cymru Premier clubs for the last 10 years now.
The Nomads were beaten 1-0 by Barry Town thanks to an Ollie Hulbert winner in the 90th minute last Saturday. However, John Disney’s men still boasts a 10-point lead over third placed Penybont.
The match was broadcast live on Sgorio, the Welsh-language football TV programme.
TNS came into the game off the back a defeat in the Nathaniel MG Cup to Barry Town. Speaking to Sgorio pre match, The New Saints manager Craig Harrison said, “It’s the opportunity for players to put that right, and what an opportunity it is to that tonight and win the title.”
The First Half
There was little to separate the two sides in the first half with the sides seeing an equal amount of the ball. However, the best chance of the half coming minutes before half time when The Saints number eight, Ryan Brobbel, went through on goal, and smashed his effort straight at Kit Margetson in the Nomads goal.
The Second Half
The second half saw little goalmouth action in the early stages; however, it was Nomads who had the better chances. Harry Franklin saw his effort kept out by Jack Edwards. Minutes later, Abdi Sharif drove past three Saints players before shooting straight at the goalkeeper.
Callum West, who scored a contender for Cymru Premier goal of the month in December against TNS, had his effort from six yards out cleared of the line by Jack Bodenham.
In the 82nd minute, Dominic Corness’ freekick was blocked by the arm of Franklin inside the 18-yard box, resulting in a penalty for the away side. Substitute Ben Wilson stepped up and slotted his penalty past Margetson to give the away side the lead.
However, it took only one minute for Franklin to make amends for giving away the penalty, as he headed home from a Jacob Cook cross to equalise for the Nomads. Franklin’s 12thgoal of the campaign, his most in a season for The Quay.
Deep into stoppage time, TNS captain Daniel Redmond’s cross found Danny Davies unmarked at the back post, who controlled with his right foot, and smashed into the top corner with his left. A goal that sparked pandemonium on the TNS bench and their travelling fans.
Despite the Nomads winless streak, they still hold a 10 point lead to third in the table Penybont and will look to cement second place in the league in their next couple of matches. A second place finish will see Disney’s men qualify for Europe for the first time in two years. Next up for the Nomads is a trip to Caernarfon Town on Friday 13th March.
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