Welsh Premier League Football - Saints emerge with credit from CSKA draw

THE New Saints' hopes of causing a Europa League play-off shock were soon ended as CSKA scored a vital away goal in the 11th-minute.
But the Welsh Premier champions hit-back to salvage their pride after their first-leg 3-0 reverse in Sofia to draw 2-2 with the Bulgarians.
And, but for the dismissal of Matty Williams mid-way through the second-half, the Saints could well have recorded their third victory in a European tie.
CSKA took the lead when Alexander Tonev drew a good save from keeper Paul Harrison, who parried the ball for a corner, which was turned into the net by Guiseppe Aquaro who got to the ball before Steve Evans.
But the Saints responded within three minutes when Chris Seargeant lofted a cross to the far post, which was headed across goal by Craig Jones for Matty Williams to net from close range.
Both sides had plenty of chances in an entertaining first-half, with a stray pass from Barry Hogan presenting an opportunity to first-leg scorer Dimitar Iliev who warmed keeper Paul Harrison's hands with a stinging drive.
Harrison produced two great saves in quick succession to deny Christian Tiboni, both from shots inside the box.
Jones shrugged-off two man markers and beat another defender, but his dinked cross failed to find a team-mate, and TNS almost took the lead on 35 minutes when Williams broke upfield and Barry Hogan saw his curling shot inside the far post well saved by keeper Ivan Karadzhov.
After the break, former Celtic frontman Cillian Sheridan sent a shot across goal inches wide of the far post, but TNS then took the lead when a Chris Seargeant corner was headed-on to Steve Evans who netted with a close range header just past the hour mark.
The hosts suffered a blow on 66 minutes when they were reduced to 10-men after Williams was cautioned for a second time for a challenge on the keeper.
Christian Tiboni soon missed a great chance to equalise but was flagged offside after being played-in by Marquinos, but made no mistake minutes later with a stunning shot from 25-yards that gave Harrison no chance.
Seargeant and Scott Ruscoe both went close to a winner after a good run and cross by Jones in the closing minutes, and Harrison made a good save from Tiboni as the Saints emerged with great credit from a thoroughly entertaining draw.
Photo: Matty Williams scores the Saints' first goal.