Reigning champions and current league leaders The New Saints eased to a comfortable victory over Flint to complete a league double over the Silkmen and keep them on track to retain their title. Meanwhile, for Flint, they remain in 10th spot, as unforced individual errors were once again ruthlessly seized upon by their opponents for a couple of goals that were conceded.
Flint had threatened from a corner, before TNS got their noses in front. A Jake Phillips delivery picked out Sidi Fofana, who headed towards goal from the edge of the 6 yard box, and as Elliott Reeves made a nuisance of himself just in front of the goal line, the ball was just about bundled away by Ryan Brobbel.
The visitors took the lead on 19 minutes. Alec Mudimu initially did well to bring the ball out of defence, having intercepted a cross, but a casual pass across the middle gifted possession back, and a nice little flick by Danny Redmond bisected the home defence and set up Ben Cark, who slotted home.
Clark could have doubled his side’s advantage when the ball fell to him from a corner, but Jack Flint showed good reflexes to deny him, and then quickly gather the ball into his body.
Jordan Williams kept up his fine goal scoring form for the season when he expertly picked his spot from the edge of the area, to curl in a shot and make it 2-0 just after the half hour mark.
Into the second half, and a nice TNS passing move ended up with Clark receiving the ball in the box, where he showed nice close control, before executing a shot that Flint fingertipped around the post.
The Silkmen were architects of their own downfall once again on 55 minutes, when a lofted high ball by Dan Williams, was headed right into the path of Jordan Williams by Flint’s Isaac Lee, and the forward needed no second invitation to sweep the ball home.
It was now a case of damage limitation for the home side, and Williams could have had his hat trick when he shot just wide of the far post after Josh Daniels played him in.
Flint was then called upon to beat out a Daniels effort as TNS continued to pile on the pressure. He denied Daniels once more as the Saints quickly broke upfield following a corner for the home side, a move which saw Daniels fire in a cross-cum-shot, and Flint flew across his goal to palm the ball away from danger.
Having taken just one point from our last four league games, attention now switches to the Welsh Cup next weekend, when we face a potentially tricky encounter against Airbus. Kick off at the Essity Stadium is 2pm.
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – J. Flint, I. Lee, M. Burke (D. Davies 70), S. Fofana (D. Stephenson 61), H. Owen (c), J. Thorn, A. Mudimu, B. Hughes, E. Reeves (Cam Ferguson 64), B. Wynne, J. Jones. Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), G. Maire, K. Imariagbe, Cal. Ferguson
The New Saints – N. Shepperd, D. Davies, J. Marshall, D. Corness, H. McGahey, J. Bodenham, D. Williams, R. Brobbel (K. Charles 80), B. Clark (J. Daniels 70), D. Redmond (c) (J. Nadin 84), J. Williams. Unused Subs – B. Owen (GK), R. Astles, A. Cieslewicz, L. Wynne
Flint MOM – Jack Flint (kept the scoreline respectable with some decent stops)
