Newtown 0 TNS 4

TNS eased to an emphatic victory in a one sided mid Wales and border derby at Newtown tonight.

The Saints went into the game on the back of their first defeat of the season and keen to open a margin on title rivals and defending champions Connah's Quay Nomads.

However what ended with a ruthlessly emphatic victory began with the Saints struggling to get out of their own half.

A bright start from the home side saw them break up their best made plans of the Saints as the match began with a high tempo.

Both James Davies and Jamie Breese looked threatening out wide but failed to test the Oswestry side's defence.

TNS chances were limited to two off target efforts from Adrian Cieslewicz while James O'Neil lashed over the bar from 25 yards at the other end.

However TNS gradually came to impose themselves with Louis Robles testing goalkeeper Dave Jones who was also forced to tip over a dipping Leo Smith corner before the Oswestrians broke the deadlock on 30 minutes.

Smith's right corner failed to be cleared and Robles headed home from close range.

Danny Redmond and Greg Draper fired wide before TNS doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time with Smith's left wing cross glanced home by Ryan Astles who celebrated his first goal for the club.

The goal knocked the remaining wind out of the home side's sails and the second-half had barely begun with the Saints celebrated their third with Cieslewicz cutting inside from the left to curl beyond Jones from the edge of the area.

Newtown were now playing for pride and their goalmouth resembled the Alamo as the Saints launched wave after wave of attack.

Newtown should have reduced the arrears with 20 minutes remaining when James Davies raced onto Jones' long clearance only to delay and allow TNS goalkeeper Paul Harrison to save at his feet.

The last 20 minutes underlined the Saints full-time fitness as the Robins' recent forced inactivity in an already disrupted season.

Cieslewicz crossed for Draper to steer a header straight at Jones who also denied Redmond and Smith before substitute Tyrone Ofori sent Harrison scampering from 30 yards at the other end in a rare chance for Newtown.

However TNS wrapped up their emphatic victory at the death with Cieslewicz squaring for Ben Clark to side foot beyond Jones from 12 yards.

NEWTOWN: Jones, Kelly, McAllister, O'Neil, Rushton, Breese, J Davies, C Williams, Edwards, Hughes. Subs: Steventon, Davies, M Williams, T Davies, Ofori.

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