THE New Saints retained top spot in the table after a goal from captain Steve Evans proved enough to overcome visitors Port Talbot Town.
Evans’ goal arrived late in the first half after both sides had created chances to put themselves in the driving seat at Park Hall.
And the win sees them maintain their unbeaten home record this season, with 13 teams so far having failed to beat the Saints on their own patch this term.
Matthew Berkeley could have secured an early advantage for TNS as the game opened up from the off, but after finding enough space to surge into the box, could only fire the ball straight at Town ’keeper Lee Kendall.
The visitors then threatened as they refused to be daunted by their early scare, a neat flick from Karl Lewis dropping just beyond striker Liam McCreesh, with Saints’ defenders beaten.
TNS top scorer, Craig Jones, then placed an inviting ball into the box for Alex Darlington, who narrowly failed to connect on 15 minutes, before Jones himself tested the ’keeper after a delightful through ball allowed him the chance to shoot.
As the game settled it was Port Talbot who carved out the best opportunity when a long ball down the channel was collected by Scott Barrow. His dangerous cross flashed across goal with several players diving in for the telling touch before the home side regained their composure.
And The New Saints went in at the break a goal to the good after Berkeley’s free kick was finally bundled in by Evans on 43 minutes, with the visitors’ complaints of a push going unheeded by the referee.
Point blank save
Barry Hogan arrowed a long range shot towards the bottom corner on the stroke of half time, but his effort flew just wide as Town hung on.
Saints made a slow start to the second half as Port Talbot went in search of an early equaliser, but their defence stood firm despite the visitors controlling much of the possession.
When the home side did finally manage to make a break on 55 minutes, Kendall produced a miraculous point blank save as Jones met Darlington’s cross on the volley, with Berkeley striking the rebound just over the bar.
And Jones again made a break into the area moments later, but his ball in went tamely across goal as his team mates failed to make up the ground.
As the game wore on TNS seemed happy to sit back and defend their slender lead. And as the South Wales side pushed more men forward in search of an equaliser, Saints’ substitutes Chris Seargeant and Jamie Wood both came close to a decisive goal on the break before the full time whistle blew.
Elsewhere, second placed Llanelli overcame a two-goal half time deficit to beat Bangor City 3-2, and keep up the pressure on league leaders TNS.
Rhyl moved into third as they hit four past GAP Connah’s Quay, and three first half goals from Neath were too much for visiting Porthmadog, who remain near the foot of the table.
Bala Town, Carmarthen, and Newtown, all triumphed over Caersws, Aberystwyth, and Cefn Druid’s respectively, whilst Haverfordwest held Airbus UK one all.
Prestatyn Town were the weekend’s big winners, thumping lowly Welshpool 5-0 to move into seventh place.