AFTER missing the chance of going top of the Welsh Premier League in midweek, The Saints suffered more disappointment when they crashed out of the Welsh Cup in a penalty shoot-out at Park Hall on Saturday.
It was the third time in recent seasons that Saints have gone out on penalties.
In a hard-fought encounter which saw a total of eight yellow cards, the first action of note came in the second minute when Port’s Matthew Rees went down in the box under a challenge but the referee waved away the visitors penalty claims.
After Jamie Wood shot over the angle, he was instrumental in the Saints going ahead after 13 minutes when he crossed into the area where Chris Marriott’s blocked shot ran to Aeron Edwards who fired it past Lee Kendall from close range.
Port equalised mid-way through the half when Martin Rose was left unmarked in the box and he met Lloyd Grist’s pinpoint cross to head home from six yards.
Darlington missed a chance to regain the lead with a header past the far post before Port went ahead following a disastrous attempt at a clearance by Saints ’keeper Paul Harrison. After being charged down by Lee John the striker had the easiest of tasks to roll the ball into an empty net to put the visitors ahead.
And the visitors could have been further ahead when Rees headed wide at the far post from a Grist free kick, while at the other end Edwards headed wide from a Wood cross.
A half-time team talk seemed to have the desired effect and The Saints were level inside 74 seconds when Darlington fired into the corner from 12 yards amid claims for offside.
Chances
Saints came closest to breaking the deadlock when Darlington’s shot was well tipped past his left hand post by Kendall and the striker also brought Kendall into action 10 minutes from time with a low left foot effort before the tie went into extra time.
Both sides had chances to settle it through Darlington and Port sub Nicky Holland in extra time before the dreaded penalty shoot-out got off to the worst possible start for Saints with the usually reliable Ruscoe having his kick saved by Kendall.
Rose then had his effort saved by Saints ’keeper Harrison before Chris Sergeant struck the top of the bar with his kick.
Finally, with the scores level at 3-3, Port ’keeper Kendall stepped up to fire home and sent Saints crashing out.