JD Cymru Premier

The New Saints 2

Cardiff Metropolitan University 0

The New Saints enjoyed a winning return to competitive football at Park Hall with a hard-fought victory over Cardiff Metropolitan

A goal either side of the break meant Saints made it two wins from two, as well as two clean sheets, to kick off their JD Cymru Premier campaign.

With minutes of the first half remaining, Adrian Cieslewicz bagged the opening goal of the game to put Saints ahead, before an own goal by Cardiff’s Liam Black in the second half confirmed the win for TNS.

A slow start to the game saw neither goalkeeper called into action until shortly before the half-hour mark when Jamie Mullan’s cross was met by a strike on goal by Greg Draper, whose effort was hit straight at keeper Alex Lang.

Cieslewicz produced the next Saints chance, with a low driven strike which beat Lang, but rolled wide of the post.

The winger’s perseverance paid off moments later however when he scored his third of the season.

A deflection fell to the feet of Cieslewicz in the penalty area, and the 29-year-old held his nerve to finish well and send his side in at half-time with a one goal lead.

TNS continued to have the better chances in the second-half, starting with an early effort from Mullan which hit the side netting.

Shortly before the hour mark, the Saints were rewarded in their chase for a second goal when Cieslewicz’s cross took a deflection off defender Black, which guided the ball goalwards past Lang.

Chances continued coming for TNS, with Draper next to test himself against keeper Lang with a one on one, but Lang stood up to the challenge and thwarted the New Zealand international.

The tempo of the game slowed as TNS looked to see out a comfortable win, but there was some injury time drama as the visitors’ Bradley Woolridge received his second yellow card and his marching orders.

The result means TNS are the only side in the league to have won both of their opening league fixtures this season.

They travel to Caernarfon Town on Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm).