Holden bags first hat-trick as Saints hit six

Holden, the former Port Vale player, completed the first treble of his career in style as he was joined on the TNS scoresheet by Jordan Williams, Ryan Brobbel and Ben Wilson.

It all made for a tough Saturday afternoon at Park Hall for third-placed Penybont as Saints further strengthened their position as league leaders with eight matches remaining. 

“Rory can score goals, we know that,” said TNS head coach Craig Harrison. "The best bit about Rory is he can play in lots of positions and his energy is infectious.

“He runs in behind, he works hard, he predicts second balls, he gets himself in really good positions, so we’re really, really pleased.

“He’s had a little bit of a niggly injury and to get a hat-trick, they were three good goals as well, they weren’t just three tap-ins, they were three good goals as well, so, yes, we’re really pleased for him.

“But overall I thought the team in general performed really well.”

Top scorer Jordan Williams made the breakthrough in the 21st minute, reacting quickest to convert the rebound after an effort from Holden was cleared off the line.

Saints doubled their lead four minutes later as Holden, set up by Dan Williams, drilled a powerful shot high into the net.

The hosts moved further clear early in the second half when Brobbel’s shot from outside the penalty area took a deflection on its way in.

A well worked corner routine soon led to goal number four as Brobbel’s short corner was cleverly flicked by Dan Williams into the path of Holden to finish well with a low shot.

Holden completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute with another composed finish to the bottom corner of the net from an Adam Wilson pass.

There was still time for one more TNS goal in the closing stages with substitute Ben Wilson applying the final touch from Holden’s inviting low cross.

The former EFL striker who turned out for a number of clubs including Walsall, has been out with a long term injury for some time.

But returned to the fold with a first career hat-trick and was delighted to contribute as the Saints look likely to go and take yet another domestic honour with the Cymru Premier title.

And he also reserved praise for new signing Dan Barton, who made his debut having signed for the club last week.

He said: "It was a good result and I was happy to get my first career hat-trick so I was buzzing with it.

"It is obviously good to get the first one and I got an assist as well, I should have scored another but I was happy to just contribute to the team.

"Dan has done brilliantly, he has been good in training all week, you can see he has ability and he will get more and more minutes.

"He is one for the future and he works hard and he has been great to be fair."

The Saints are next in action at Colwyn Bay on Friday night (7.45pm).