Welsh Premier League Football - Saints cruise past sub-strength Exiles

THE New Saints cruised into the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup against a sub-strength Newport County side at Park Hall.
With the Exiles also in Blue Square Premier action at Gateshead, manager Justin Edinburgh sent an inexperienced squad to Oswestry and they were despatched by four first-half goals.
The visitors could have drawn first blood when Myron Khan volleyed over the bar from a corner in the second minute, but a double salvo from the Saints virtually ended the game as a contest.
Scott Ruscoe's corner was drilled back into the box and defender Connell Rawlinson stabbed home from close range past keeper Danny Potter.
And, just four minutes later, Luke Holden's flag kick was returned into the box by Craig Jones for Alex Darlington to finish.
Greg Draper added a superb third on 26 minutes with a 25-yard volley and Jones hit an equally exquisite effort into the top corner two minutes before the break.
The all-Welsh Premier clash between Afan Lido and Airbus UK Broughton went to penalties after a 2-2 stalemate over 120 minutes at the Marston's Stadium.
Andy Hill fired Lido in front from the penalty spot, but Mark Cadwallader and Gavin Cadwallader put the Wingmakers ahead only for sub Liam Thomas to snatch a dramatic late equaliser. Lido boss Andy Dyer surprisingly named veteran Tony Pennock in goal and he was beaten five times in the shoot-out.
Welsh Leaguers AFC Porth gave a good performance to take Carmarthen Town to extra-time at Richmond Park. Leading through an eighth-minute Robbie Thomas goal, the Rhondda visitors conceded an equalising goal to Nick Harrhy, with Tim Hicks scoring an extra-time penalty and veteran Julian Alsop sealing passage into the quarter-finals.
Neath overcame Flint Town United at Cae-Y-Castell thanks to a brace from Craig Hughes and one from Chris Jones, Jonathan Rush replying for the Silkmen. But the Eagles were forced to play for an hour with 10-men after the dismissal of midfielder Matty Collins.
Photo: Connell Rawlinson stabs TNS into the lead against Newport County.