The visitors had the better of the chances for the first 20 minutes of a scrappy encounter on a heavy, rain-soaked pitch, but thereafter it was Neath who were on top.

The first chance of note came Saints' way in the 13th minute when Barry Hogan found Steven Beck who turned and fired past Neath 'keeper Craig Morris' left hand post from 20 yards.

Scramble

Two minutes later John Leah's low 25-yarder was saved by Morris down to his right and then in the 23rd minute Jamie Wood linked with Kevin Townson whose pass found Beck just inside the box and his shot was well beaten away by Morris.

However, it was the hosts who took the lead in the 35th minute when Sean Cronin's free kick from the left was headed back across the box by Saints' defender Tommy Holmes and Jarrod Price headed home at the near post.

Six minutes into the second half it was 2-0 when Price had a shot
blocked and after a scramble, the ball ran to Richard French who fired home past Saints' 'keeper Paul Harrison from the edge of the box.
Saints made a double change on the hour bringing on Alfie Carter and Luke Holden.

With Neath looking to run down the clock, Saints were given a lifeline when referee Neil Morgan penalised 'keeper Morris for breaking the rarely enforced six second rule. Holden touched the free kick from inside the box to Ruscoe who curled a superb shot into the top left corner from 16 yards.

Four minutes from time Saints drew level with a 30-yard wonder strike just under the bar from Chris King from a corner taken by Holden.

• The Saints championship hopes were severely dented last Tuesday when they crashed 4-0 at title rivals Llanelli with goals from Holloway, Craig Jones (2) and Wyn Thomas.

• On Saturday, Saints will be hoping to return to winning ways with a


• home game against Caernarfon. Kick off is at 2.30pm.