TNS 4 Aberystwyth Town 1

GREG Draper proved the scourge of Aberystwyth as TNS ran out convincing winners at Park Hall.

The New Zealand international completed a 23 minute minute hat-trick to keep the Oswestry side unbeaten at the top of the JD Cymru Premier.

Meanwhile the result also extended the Seasiders' miserable record at Park Hall which now reads no win in more than a quarter of a century.

The Saints led inside the opening five minutes with Dean Ebbe heading beyond Aberystwyth goalkeeper Alex Pennock.

The Saints looked to further their lead with Louis Robles heading wide before Jon Routledge's speculative lob from distance dipped just over the bar.

Adam Davies proved the Ceredigion side's chief threat with a powerful drive over the bar before warming the palms of TNS goalkeeper Paul Harrison with another effort.

However on 34 minutes the Seasiders were level with Davies breaching the home offside trap to break down the left wing and cross for Stephen Hewitt to net.

Both sides created openings to lead before the break with Jamie Veale's free-kick narrowly failing to find the head of Lee Jenkins while at the other end Ebbe forced Pennock into action.

TNS wasted little time in imposing themselves after the break with substitute Jamie Mullan's deflected strike going just wide within seconds of his introduction.

It was the arrival of Draper which finally swung the game in the home side's favour with the legendary goal scorer steering home after Pennock could only parry Blaine Hudson's headed effort on 68 minutes.

Leo Smith saw an effort cleared off the line by Jenkins before Draper saw an effort ruled out for offside as the Saints pressed to kill off the game.

TNS piled on the pressure and it was no surprise when Mullan teed up Draper to fire home from close range with six minutes remaining.

Draper completed his hat-trick late on with a looping header beyond Pennock as TNS put the seal on a convincing victory.

TNS: Harrison, Redmond, Astles, Hudson, Harrington, Clark, Routledge, Smith, Cieslewicz, Robles, Ebbe. Subs: Mullan, Draper, Williams, Boateng, Rees, Bailey, Holland.

Aberystwyth: Pennock, Jenkins, Veale, R Davies, Evans, A Davies, Hewitt, Foligno, Etchogoyen, Thorn, Rimmer. Subs: Jones, Williams, Jones, Saunders, Gerrard, Bako.