ABERYSTWYTH TOWN 0 THE NEW SAINTS 4

Corbettsports Welsh Premier League
Sunday 22nd February
Aberystwyth Town 0 The New Saints 4

Aberystwyth Town suffered a bad day at the office in the rain at Park Avenue this afternoon, losing 4-0 to Champions Elect The New Saints, whose clinical and dominant performance was crowned by goals from Adrian Cieslewicz, Mike Wilde (2) and Mattie Williams.

On a soggy pitch Aber started the game fairly well, putting early pressure on TNS, and when a weaving run from Luke Sherbon earned a corner, Stuart Jones headed inches wide from Antonio Corbisiero's ball in. Both sides were giving the ball away in difficult conditions but TNS drew first blood when a defensive mix up in the home defence presented Cieslewicz with a clear chance, and he scored with a low shot in the 18th minute. Six minutes later a ball in from the right found Wilde unmarked, and he doubled the lead, and the super Saints front man scored again five minutes after thath with a commanding header from Chris Marriott's deep left wing cross. Aber were understandably deflated by a dodgy eleven minute spell that had cost them the game, and Marriott went close again. For Aber Stuart Jones brought a save from Chris Mullock with a header, and Ryan Batley's excellent left wing cross just evaded Mark Jones, to keep thehalf time score at 0-3.

The Saints remained in control for the second half, though chances were more evenly distributed. Wilde headed another Marriott cross just over the bar in front of the Dias Stand. TNS's first mistake at the back presented Geoff Kellaway with an opportunity to hare in on goal, but his effort was blocked by Mullock, and then Mark Jones fired another chance wide. Twenty minutes in Williams picked out Mike Lewis' bottom corner after being fed by Jamie Mullan, and the scoring was done. Kellaway went close with a lob after Mullock presented him with a half chance, but at the other end Wilde did really well to create an opportunity for Cieslewicz, but the Polish Flier curled the ball just past the post, and he was denied late on by sub keeper Phil Draper, only for Scott Quigley to miss the target from close range.

Today's game was a chastening experience for Aber, but fortunately for them, their results against TNS will not define their season, and the Black and Greens will be looking forward to the chance to put things right at Bala on Friday night (ko 7.45pm).