Flint Town Utd 1 TNS 2

TNS were made to sweat before clinching yet another victory in their relentless pursuit of the title.

In truth the Saints' championship celebrations have been set in stone for many months but Anthony Limbrick's side have still yet to mathematically seal the silverware.

Flint went into the game determined to upset the apple cart with ex-Newtown defender Jake Phillips forcing TNS goalkeeper Paul Harrison to claw away his rasping fourth minute effort.

The Deesiders continued their lively opening with Ben Nash flashing a header wide as the Oswestry side's sluggish start gave their hosts the upper hand.

TNS finally worked their way into the game with Ryan Brobbel testing goalkeeper Jon Rushton before Adrian Cieslewicz tried his luck from distance.

It was Flint who continued to be most threatening with Mark Cadwallader seeing his free-kick blocked by Chris Marriott before Harrison was forced to push Sam Hart's headed effort onto the bar.

The Saints ended the half on top with Louis Robles testing Rushton before Brobbel blasted over.

Flint were made to rue their wasted possession after the break with Jordan Williams curling home within two minutes of the restart.

However just five minutes later and the home side were level with Callum Bratley netting as Flint sensed a shock was on the cards.

TNS steadied the ship with Robles forcing Rushton into a fine save on the hour but the Saints were not to be denied and moments later Danny Davies drilled home from a tight angle to give his side the lead.

The Saints shut up shop with the home side never again able to reach the heights of earlier in the game with ex-TNS star Mike Wilde heading over in their only real opening in the final stages.

TNS could have added a third but Rushton produced a fine save to deny Brobbel with five minutes remaining but the Oswestrians had already done enough to open their second phase campaign on a high.

FLINT: Rushton, Phillips, Hart, Nash, Edwards, A Jones, Cadwallader, Bratley, Roberts, Weaver. Subs: Woods, Nugent, Ellis, Duffy, Higgins, Williams, Hughes

TNS: Harrison, Clark, Astles, Marriott, D Davies, Denny, Brobbel, J Williams, Cieslewicz, Robles, McManus. Subs: Roberts, K Davies, Smith, Baker, Canavan, O Davies