| Saints crush Porthmadog to go top |
| Tuesday 16 March 2010 |
 THE New Saints crushed Porthmadog to move three points clear at the top of the Welsh Premier on Tuesday night. A 5-0 victory also improved the Saints' goal difference to within one of rivals Llanelli, who have three games in hand, but the hosts also hit the woodwork half a dozen times and missed a hatful of chances as they laid siege to the Port goal. Chris Sharp opened the scoring from Barry Hogan's inside pass before netting again on the half-hour after being set-up by Jamie Wood. John McKenna quickly added another with Wood and Tommy Holmes on the scoresheet after the break. Aberystwyth Town tightened their grip on third place with a 2-1 home win over Bangor City with goals from two loanees - Tranmere's Ryan Fraughan and TNS midfielder Conall Murtagh. Lee Hunt headed against the bar early on for the Blues, but Fraughan netted from a Geoff Kellaway cross to hand Aber the lead. Thomas deflected Eddie Jebb's cross into his own net six minutes after the break but, eight minutes later, Fraughan's short free-kick found Murtagh who rifled a spectacular goal past keeper Paul Smith. But the Black & Greens were indebted to keeper Steven Cann with a string of fine saves to hold on to all three points. There was more woe for Neath in their fading quest for a European spot as they went down 2-0 on Deeside to Gap Connah's Quay. Recalled to the Nomads' starting line-up, striker Chris Herbert got both goals in the ninth and 64th-minutes. Newtown and Port Talbot drew 2-2 at Latham Park, where the Steelmen led twice through Martin Rose and Matthew Rees, only to be pegged back by goals from Ross Stephens on both occasions. Photo: Chris Sharp celebrates his second goal for TNS with provider Jamie Wood. |