Shropshire Star

Edwards at the double for TNS

The New Saints kept up the pressure on the JD Welsh Premier leaders after completing a festive double over Cefn Druids when running out 3-0 winners at The Rock.

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Victory may not have been as eye catching as their 7-0 hammering of the Ancients on Boxing Day, but it was equally effective as the Saints made the perfect start to the new year, writes John Bridgwater.

Two goals from Aeron Edwards, after an opener from Ryan Brobbel, kept the defending champions in third spot – two points adrift of leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads, and one shy of second-placed Barry Town.

Druids started brightly with some early pressure, but TNS – fielding an unchanged side – quickly took charge of proceedings with two goals in five minutes.

Midfielder Brobbel, who fired a hat-trick in the first meeting between the sides on Boxing Day, carried on from where he left off when a neat touch saw him work space in the box to fire in the opener on 15 minutes.

A second goal soon arrived when Edwards latched on to Danny Redmond’s defence splitting past before steering his angled shot past Michael Jones.

The Saints again went close when Kurtis Byrne volleyed just wide after his initial effort had been blocked, but the Ancients were giving it a good go themselves.

A sweet effort from Dean Rittenberg was saved by Paul Harrison who also comfortably dealt with Neil Ashton’s header from Ryan Kershaw’s cross.

After the break, Byrne saw another shot drift just wide of the post for the Saints, before the points were wrapped up 13 minutes from time as Edwards volleyed home his second of the game at the back post from Redmond’s free-kick.