Goals
Ten, to be precise, and all of them going the way of The New Saints. With a final score of TNS FC 10 Flint Town United 0, there was a goal every nine minutes on average.
Prior to kick-off, all but one of the goals so far this season have come in the first-half, so going into the break 3-0 up was new territory. The second period was business as usual though, with a goal every 6.4 minutes.
The unbeaten start continues
Regardless of what the FAW verdict is regarding the Bala Town game, the side has got off to an excellent start to the season. As the table stands at the moment, it shows four straight wins, with nineteen scored and none conceded.
Traditionally slow starters, we have to go back to 2016/2017, when the statistics showed an unbeaten start at this stage. That, incidentally, was the season that the side broke the world record for consecutive wins (27).
The bar has been set and it’s high
You would think that going into the break 3-0 to the good, it would be smiles all round and pats on the back. However, when you listen to both Scott Ruscoe and Greg Draper in their post-match interviews, they both mention that there were harsh words from the management at half-time.
That’s because the standard has been set and it’s high. As Scott said in his interview, it’s not just about the score but the performance.
On the scoresheet
There were five different names on the scoresheet come the final whistle, showing that the ultimate contribution is corporate and not just individual.
There were two goals from defenders (Birthday boy, Ryan Harrington and Kwame Boateng), a brace from a holding midfielder (Jon Routledge) and one from a forward (Louis Robles).
Greg Draper sets a new club record
Going into the game with 151 TNS league goals to his name, the popular striker was just two off Mike Wilde’s 153. Finding the net on five occasions, he not only equalled the record but broke it in style.
His first goals of the season, incidentally Greg is now the league’s 2020/2021 leading scorer.
We’ve run out of talking points but finally, let’s not forget, at the start of his own professional career, Beau Cornish made his debut, coming off the bench in the second-half.
Lead image courtesy of Brian Jones.
