The New Saints crowned JD Cymru Premier champions for the 16th time following victory against Cardiff Met

Match Report

Goals: Young (16, 22, 85 [P]), Clark (31)
Substitutions: Marriott for Redmond (59), D. Williams for Smith (59), J. Williams for Holden (73), McManus for Brobbel (73), Jones for Cieslewicz (82)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints defeated Cardiff Metropolitan University 4-0 at Park Hall to lift the JD Cymru Premier trophy for a record-extending 16th time.

Brad Young scored a hat-trick for the second game running, while Ben Clark also found the back of the net on a what, in the end, proved to be a comfortable afternoon for Craig Harrison’s side.

The win was also The Saints’ 24th consecutive victory in all competitions, as they continue to close in on breaking their own Guinness World Record set during the 2016-17 season. 

It was the hosts who started the brightest and they had two opportunities to take the lead inside the opening 10 minutes.

First, an effort from Rory Holden was blocked inside the penalty area, before a Ryan Brobbel volley called Alex Lang into action.

In the 11th minute, Brad Young smashed the ball against the crossbar from the edge of the six-yard box, as the league leaders continued to knock on the door.

Five minutes later though, the deadlock was finally broken, and it was Young at the second time of asking.

Receiving the ball from Cieslewicz, the former Aston Villa man created space with an excellent first touch, before lifting the ball over the outrushing Alex Lang.

With 22 minutes on the clock, things got even better for Craig Harrison’s side, and it was the JD Cymru Premier’s leading goalscorer, Young, on target again.

Spotting Lang off his line following a pass from Ben Clark, the striker curled the ball into the bottom corner to double his side’s lead. 

Leo Smith almost added a TNS third on the half-hour mark, trying his luck from distance, but the strike drifted narrowly wide of the top corner.

The Saints were certainly in a scoring mood, however, and added a third goal just moments later.

It was Clark who swept home Josh Daniels’ inviting cross from inside the six-yard to give the defending champions an even stronger grip on the match.

With The Saints in control and closing in on the title, the game was much quieter following the restart, and surprisingly it took until the 66th minute for the next chance to arrive.

Against the run of play, it went the way of Cardiff Met, as Tom Price tried to beat Connor Roberts from distance.

The Wales C international appeared to get a hand on the ball to tip it over the crossbar, but referee, James Walker, awarded a goal kick.

Despite limited chances in the second-half, there was still time for Young to complete his hat-trick, as he was brought down inside the penalty area with seven minutes to play.

The number 23 stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a terrific piece of skill to score his 22nd league goal of the season.

As a result of their 4-0 victory, The New Saints were crowned champions of the JD Cymru Premier for a third consecutive season, and remain on course to complete an unprecedented quadruple.

Harrison’s side won’t have too long to celebrate their victory, however, as they return to JD Cymru Premier action next Friday (March 8)  when they travel to second-placed Connah’s Quay Nomads.