THE NEW SAINTS booked their place in January’s League Cup Final with a battling performance against an Airbus side fatally undermined by a red card to their goalkeeper.


With the scores locked at 2-2, Saints edged in front half way through the second half when Airbus ’keeper Ben Chapman brought down Jason Lampkin as he raced through on goal.
 

His dismissal took Airbus down to 10 men and with Chris Seargeant smashing home the penalty, it effectively put an end to their challenge before  two late Saints goals put a flattering gloss on the scoreline.
 

Saints had dominated the early proceedings and it was a surprise when Airbus went in front after 16 minutes, Kyle Armstrong’s header from a free kick being nodded home by former Saint Tommy Holmes.
 

The home side were level after half an hour when the ball was switched from right to left where Fraughan drove an effort unerringly into the far corner of the net off the post.
 

Airbus were still dangerous and Michael Hayes outpaced Steve Evans in the home defence before putting his shot disappointingly wide.
Five minutes before the interval Saints went ahead when Seargeant drove to the left byline and crossed for Chris Marriott to net comfortably as Saints finished the half on top.
 

An early second-half free kick was Saints undoing when the ball reached Kyle Armstrong who blocked a clearance and drove the rebound into the far corner for the equaliser.
 

After the penalty just after the hour, Airbus were downcast and Saints added two further goals, first when substitute Alex Darlington struck a fierce drive under the stand-in ’keeper Armstrong from the edge of the box.
 

And seconds from time, quick interplay between Wilde and Darlington saw the latter cross for Lampkin to fire home crisply from six yards and keep TNS on course for their fourth League Cup win in five years.
 

The New Saints will now play Carmarthen in the final on January 12.