Having suffered a first Welsh Premier defeat of the season a week before, the Saints roared back in emphatic fashion to crush struggling Carmarthen, writes JOHN BRIDGWATER.

The defending champions dominated, and would surely have surpassed their eight-goal hammering of the same opposition two seasons ago had it not been for some fine saves from visiting keeper Mike Lewis. Manager Mike Davies was delighted with what he saw as the Saints shrugged off the previous week’s 2-1 loss at Llanelli.

“It was important for us to bounce back after the disappointment at Llanelli,” he said. “The lads were superb right from the off and I’m very pleased with the amount of goals we scored and the clean sheet as well.”

Alex Darlington and Scott Ruscoe led the goal rout with two goals apiece after Matty Williams put the defending champions on course with a 12th minute opener following some sloppy defending.

Midfielder Richie Partridge, signed the day before after being released by Stockport County, marked his debut with some neat touches and soon watched his new team-mates double their lead through Darlington’s first of the afternoon on 19 minutes.

TNS continued to carve openings, and went further ahead when Carmarthen defendere Dale Griffiths turned a Partridge cross into his own net before Ruscoe got in on the act to make it four.

Ruscoe and Darlington then completed their braces after the interval, the latter helped by a gaffe from keeper Lewis.

Substitute Matt Berkeley rounded off the scoring on 66 minutes while Partridge also hit the bar from 20 yards.