TNS delivered a reality check to early JD Cymru Premier challengers Flint with a dominant victory at Park Hall.

Both sides came into the fixture with hundred percent records, but the Saints had the upper hand throughout and the result was seldom in doubt after Adrian Cieslewicz gave the hosts a 47th minute lead.

TNS took command early on, and the first chance of the game predictably fell to danger man Declan Mcmanus, who glanced wide after five minutes when well placed on the six yard box.

Moments later Jordan Williams looked likely to break the deadlock as he led a lightning break for the hosts, but with McManus and Clark well placed in the middle he was unable to deliver a telling final ball and the chance went begging.

After picking up a sloppy booking for a late tackle, Tom Holland was then lucky to escape a second yellow card moments later after he brought down Daniel Harrison on the halfway line to halt a Flint Town break in its tracks, referee Rob Jenkins waving away prolonged protests from the visitors, deciding instead to issue a final warning to the TNS livewire.

Other than their relentless industry, Flint offered little in attack, and although former Saints man Michael Wilde was proving a handful for the TNS defence, he was often left isolated.

Just before the break Williams came close to an early contender for goal of the season, but his speculative curling effort from the corner of the penalty area rattling off the crossbar with Flint keeper Ryan Woods rooted to the spot.

But just after the break the deadlock was finally broken when Williams curled a wonderful cross to the far post to leave Adrian Cieslewicz with the easiest of tasks to volley home from point blank range to make it 1-0.

McManus missed a glorious chance to put the game beyond doubt in stoppage time when he robbed Ben Nash in the Flint half, but was unable to beat Woods in a one on one contest, the Flint 'keeper saving well with his legs to deny the Saints a 2-0 cushion few could argue was undeserved.


TNS: Harrison, Marriott, Astles, Routledge, McManus, Cieslewicz(74 Robles), Hudson, Williams, Clark, Baker, Holland
Subs: Roberts, Ebbe, Brobbel, Bradford, Canavan, Daykin

Flint: Woods, Phillips, Hart, Maher(74 Nugent), Nash, Edwards, Kenny, Jones, Wilde, Bratley, Harrison
Subs: Rushton, Roberts, Weaver, Weir, Ellis, Brindley

Yellow: Tom Holland(TNS), Baker  (13 foul), Maher(Flint) (61 foul), Baker(TNS) (74 Foul), Hart(Flint) (75 Foul), Kenny(Flint) (85 dissent)

Referee: Rob Jenkins(Guilsfield)
Att: 225