TNS 3 Bangor City 0

AERON Edwards starred with a brace as TNS eased to a comfortable Friday night victory at home to Bangor City.

A meagre crowd of 271 turned out for the game with the Saints going into the clash a staggering 12 points clear of their closest rivals led by the Citizens.

However such is the ever widening gap between the Saints and their few remaining rivals the clash failed to live up to its first against second place billing.

The Citizens started the brighter and should have led on 12 minutes when ex-Blackpool ace Gary Taylor-Fletcher released Luke Wall only to be denied by the advancing Paul Harrison.

The spurned opening was to prove crucial as City failed to test the Saints goalkeeper again throughout the match.

The champions elect took control of the game soon after with Chris Marriott and new signing Dean Ebbe going close but the hosts struggled to break down a stubborn City defence with goalkeeper Matthew Hall all but untested for much of the half.

The second-half started with both sides having chances as Edwards tested Hall before Dean Rittenburg blazed over at the other end after good work by Wall.

The breakthrough arrived on 53 minutes with Edwards capitalising on a lapse in the City defence to blast home from 12 yards.

The goal buoyed the Saints with Connell Rawlinson’s headed effort tipped over the bar by Hall soon after.

It was all over shortly after the hour with Marriott’s cross turned home by man of the match Edwards.

With City struggling to find a route back into the game and Edwards’ double all but sealing the points by the hour the match soon faded as a contest as both benches rung the changes.

City introduced Greg Draper in search of his 100th Welsh Premier goal but the New Zealander’s wait to become a centurion continued as he failed to test Hall.

Instead TNS wrapped up a convincing victory in injury-time as Ryan Brobbel cut inside from the left to lash beyond Hall and ensure the Oswestry side closed ever nearer on seventh consecutive Welsh Premier title.

TNS: Harrison, Spender, Marriott, Hudson (Saunders), Rawlinson, Routledge, Edwards, Brobbel. Ebbe (Kauber), Mullan, Holland (Draper). Subs: Jones.

Att - 271