TNS 2 Penybont 1

TNS completed a fightback to overcome new boys Penybont at Park Hall.

The Saints struggled to make a breakthrough against the Bridgend side with their best opening of the early stages a Billy Whitehouse shot which went high over the bar.

The Saints were stunned on 32 minutes when Kane Owen’s long range effort found the net via the inside of the woodwork.

The South Walian side continued to hold their own and preserved their lead until the break

Home manager Scott Ruscoe rang the changes following an uninspired first-half with Simon Spender and Aeron Edwards introduced.

The duo repaid the faith and within minutes of the start of the second-half a right wing cross from Spender was met in the area by Edwards who nodded home from close range.

Ten minutes later and TNS led for the first time with Adrian Cieslewicz cutting inside from the left to break through a series of tepid Penybont tackles and curled a low shot past goalkeeper Rhys Wilson.

In the aftermath Penybont manager Rhys Griffiths saw red for protesting, citing an injury to Owen in the build-up, but referee Mark Petch was less than impressed.

Penybont steadied the ship and looked to get back into the game and enjoyed sustained periods of possession but TNS ended the match on top.

Ryan Brobbel fired over before substitute Greg Draper spurned several openings during the final stages but TNS had already done enough to celebrate the points.

TNS: Harrison, Marriott, Davies, Routledge, Ebbe (Draper 65), Brobbel, Redmond, Cieslewicz, Hudson, Harrington (Edwards 46), Whitehouse (Spender 46). Subs: Dutton, Clark, Byrne, Lewis.

Att - 323