Sub Richie Partridge flew to The New Saints’ rescue with a stunning winner after this Welsh Cup fourth round affair at boggy Belle Vue somehow survived atrocious conditions.

Constant rain left pools of water standing on the pitch, passing and movement proved precarious, but the Saints came through despite being pushed all the way by four times winners, Rhyl.

Just when it seemed an upset may be on the cards, midfielder Partridge – who had appeared as a second half substitute – launched a strong run on 72 minutes through the saturated surf before curling an exquisite 25-yard drive low past keeper Chris Howarth.

Even then, the Saints had to survive some late goalmouth skirmishes in the rain before clinching a home tie with underdogs Grange Quins in the quarter-finals.

And they would have been more than happy with their efforts in navigating a tricky hurdle against a Rhyl side who made light of off-field cash problems.

With the wet conditions making even the simplest of movement perilous, TNS keeper Paul Harrison was called into early action as he turned a Scott Beckett shot round the post.

But the visitors got their noses in front on 17 minutes when Craig Jones ghosted in to plant a thumping header into the roof of the net from Chris Marriott’s right wing corner.

That lead, however, lasted just four minutes as the lively Chris Williams cut in to beat two defenders before lashing his shot against the bar, the rebound falling for Mike Pritchard to convert.

The tie ebbed and flowed throughout, both sides having their chances as defences struggled amid sodden goalmouths.

Chris Sharp and Chris Seargeant both went close in the second half for TNS before Partridge provided the game’s telling moment.