Hughes late strike sends The New Saints top

A late goal from Rhys Hughes sent The New Saints to the top of the Cymru Premier for the first time this season with a 1-0 victory over previous pacesetters Barry Town United.

Just as it looked as if the points would be shared at Park Hall on Saturday, Hughes delivered the decisive moment in the closing stages.

An attempted clearance struck Hughes as TNS pushed for a late winner and, from close range, the ball rebounded high into the net to secure three more points for Craig Harrison's side.

It sealed a sixth consecutive victory for Saints and ended the 100 per cent record of Barry after they travelled to Oswestry having collected 18 points from their opening six league matches this campaign.

Head coach Harrison stressed the importance of winning games, but admitted he was disappointed with his side's performance in the top-of-the-table clash.

"I was really disappointed in our performance today to be honest," said Harrison, speaking shortly after the final whistle. "We've been very good for four weeks now.

"It's important to win the game but we were well below our standards that we set, but, yes, it's really important to win football games, and a clean sheet is really good again.

"We've conceded a couple of goals in the last two or three games, but to only concede three in seven games is pretty impressive.

"A tinge of disappointment because of probably performance, but the standards we set are really high, and we might not perform to them standards every single week, but we've got to keep making sure that the standards that we set are trying to be hit.

"We can't accept lowering our standards in any way shape or form. As long as the lads are doing that, keeping the pressure, and keeping working hard and keeping the standards up, then if it doesn't quite happen, it doesn't quite happen.

"And today we left it late - the goal probably summed the game up really."

Match-winner Hughes, a summer signing from Connah's Quay Nomads, has now scored in the last four TNS games as he continues to play a starring role for his new club.

Barry twice had the ball in the net in the first half, only for both efforts to be disallowed, the first from Michael George for offisde, followed by a second from Elliott Dugan, ruled out for a foul in the build up.

The visitors were also denied by the woodwork when Owen Brain's free kick hit a post early in the second half

Jordan Williams forced a good save from Barry goalkeeper George Ratcliffe at the other end, before Hughes left it late to win it for Saints.

TNS are next in action at Airbus UK Broughton on Friday (7.45pm).