The New Saints 3

Penybont 3

Cymru Premier League

THE New Saints have sealed a record 14th Cymru Premier League title after a pulsating draw with Penybont on Saturday.

Anthony Limbrick’s men came from 2-0 down at half-time to seal one of the earliest titles in the league’s history with goals from subs Ben Clark and Ashley Baker, plus a Lewis Harling own goal.

Penybont had led at the break courtesy of two fine goals from Nathan Wood and Sam Snaith as the visitors threatened to be party poopers.

But even a late Liam Walsh goal failed to take the shine off the day for Limbrick as TNS affirmed their domination of the season.

It was a patient start from the champions-elect as the early minutes offered little in the way of goal action, but Leo Smith stung Ashley Morris’s palms with a shot inside eight minutes.

After a stalled start, which saw the visitors forced into an early change, Declan McManus was next for TNS to go close as he stabbed over on 18 minutes.

Keston Davies was left to walk a tightrope for much of the game after he was cautioned on 26 minutes after he needlessly dragged Wood down.

Wood was the man of the moment after the half-hour mark when he lashed home from 18 yards following a superb through ball and outpacing the static TNS defence.

Saints’s task was doubled when Snaith put Penybont further ahead after a fine bit of play from the visitors saw Wood’s pinpoint cross powered home a minute before the break.

Limbrick made a double substitution at the break, introducing Clark and Baker and it was the former who came close to pulling one back as he tested Morris.

McManus then saw a looping header land atop the bar but away to safety on 51 minutes and moments later, skewed a shot wide.

Saints pulled one back on 64 minutes in a moment to forget for Morris as she somehow let Clark’s tame shot roll through his hands and legs.

After minutes of pressure, TNS were level much to the home crowd’s delight as a Smith’s shot across the box was eventually turned into his own net by Harling on 76 minutes.

The comeback was complete by TNS with 10 minutes remaining as a super centre saw Baker head home past Morris to send Park Hall wild.

Harrison, largely a second-half spectator, was on call in the final minute to make a superb right-handed stop to preserve the TNS lead.

However, from the resultant corner, substitute Walsh bundled the ball into the net to make it a nervy finish.

But TNS held onto to earn the point that sealed the title, their first Limbrick.

TNS: Harrison, Marriott, Davies K, Astles (Clark 46), Davies D, Denny (Baker 46), Redmond, Smith, Cieslewicz, Williams (Robles 87), McManus

Subs: Roberts, Canavan, Woollam, Lock