THE champagne which had been on ice for most of last week was finally uncorked as The New Saints won the Welsh Premier League title with a stylish away win at Aberystwyth Town on Saturday.
Title rivals Llanelli had won twice in midweek to leave themselves just two points on the final day, so Saints knew that a point would probably be enough provided Llanelli did not win at Prestatyn by five clear goals.
In the event the South Walians’ 5-1 win proved irrelevant as Andy Cale’s side clinched their first title in three years and their fifth in all with their first league win at Aber since 2008.
The first half was largely a cagey affair with few serious chances with Aber’s Geraint Passmore glancing a header wide and Saints ’keeper Harrison making a good diving save to hold Geoff Kelloway’s low shot.
Saints turned up the heat in the second half and Steve Evans saw his header cleared off the line by Sion James before the visitors broke through when Craig Jones crossed for Chris Sharp to gleefully send a looping header into the left hand corner of the net.
Harrison was forced to make good saves from Steve Bowen and Geoff Kelloway before Saints went further ahead when Steve Evans rose to head home Ruscoe’s right-wing corner.
And Sharp made the game safe eight minutes from time when he planted the ball past ’ keeper Roberts after controlling a through ball.
Aber scored a consolation in stoppage time when Luke Bowen pounced on a Barry Hogan mistake to fire inside Harrison’s right hand post.
It was too late to make any difference and the final whistle signalled the start of the celebrations.