Caernarfon Town 0 TNS 3

TNS claimed their first win on the road this season while giving new boys Caernarfon Town a harsh lesson of the realities of the JD Welsh Premier.

A bumper Friday night crowd of 1,345 turned out for the encounter with the home side starting well as Jamie Breese forced Saints goalkeeper Paul Harrison into action inside the opening five minutes.

Harrison continued to be kept on his toes with a brave save at the feet of Danny Brookwell while Darren Thomas fired wide.

TNS were restricted to long distance efforts and while dominating possession had not looked likely to score before Den Ebbe caught the Canaries with a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time by converting Jamie Mullan’s right wing cross.

Caernarfon started the second-half brightly with Harrison producing a superb save to deny Breese with Gareth Evans blazing the loose ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Such wasteful finishing was always likely to be punished against the league champions who doubled their lead on the hour with Ebbe releasing Mullan to drill past ex-TNS goalkeeper Alex Ramsey.

TNS were now firmly in control with Jon Routledge denied by Ramsey while firing another opportunity over the bar from the edge of the area.

Greg Draper came off the bench to settle the outcome with 10 minutes remaining with Clive Williams’ poor header back to his own goalkeeper seized upon by the New Zealander to lob over Ramsey and celebrate his fifth goal of the season.

Caernarfon desperately sought a late consolation but failed to seriously trouble the Saints defence which saw out the remainder of the game.

TNS: Harrison, Cabango, Hudson, Spender, Marriott. Holland, Edwards (Byrne 82), Redmond, Mullan, Cieslewicz (Routledge 46), Ebbe (Draper 75). Subs: Roberts, Hmami, Clark, Nembhard.

Att - 1345