Super eight New Saints crush Flint as McManus soars

THE JD Cymru Premier title race is over bar the champagne.

Flint Town United were outclassed on Tuesday night as TNS moved a staggering 13 points clear at the top.

Declan McManus scored four times on his first start since November as Craig Harrison’s side made it five consecutive wins this side of Christmas.

Ben Clark forced goalkeeper Harry Allen into action after just four minutes and opened the scoring 12 minutes later.

The floodgates now opened as McManus slotted home after Allen spilled Danny Redmond's effort before Adam Wilson crossed for Ryan Brobbel to net after 25 minutes.

Flint briefly rallied with Anthony Stephens reducing the arrears with a long range free-kick.

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However three minutes before the break McManus turned the ball home at the near post following a superb Brobbel assist.

The Saints scored a fifth 10 minutes after the break with Stephens turning home Redmond's cross before Clark crossed for McManus to head home and complete his treble on the hour.

Seconds later McManus added a fourth before Flint's humiliation was completed with Clark netting after good work by Adrian Cieslewicz and Danny Davies.

The Saints were so comfortable they could even afford the luxury of ending the match with 10 men with Ash Baker removed with a hamstring injury.

FLINT: Allen, Carroll, Stephens, Owen, Harrison, Kavanagh (Ibrahim 46), Simmonds, Hughes, Diau, Beaumont (Roberts 46), Akpa-Akpro. Subs: Collings, Ellis, Brindley, Mather.

TNS: Roberts, Marriott (D Davies 61), Astles, Routledge, Brobbel (Dafydd 74), McManus (Warder 75), Redmond (D Willaims 65), Hudson, Clark, Wilson (Cieslewicz 61), Baker. Subs: Simpson, Smith