The New Saints 5 Cefn Druids 0 - Report

A rampant first half hour set the hosts up for a comfortable evening as they ended a rare winless run of two games with a first victory since Scott Ruscoe’s shock sacking.

The success was Chris Seargeant’s first since taking caretaker charge, as Dean Ebbe’s early brace put the Saints in pole position with the limp visitors unable to put up a fight.

Jon Routledge also netted in the first period and Adrian Cieslewicz scored from the penalty spot just after half-time.

Ebbe missed a penalty for his hat-trick before the hour, while new club-record signing Adam Roscrow scored his first TNS goal after being introduced from the bench as the hosts remained second in the table, three points behind Connah’s Quay, who won 3-1 at third-placed Bala Town.

TNS squandered several more openings as they dominated possession and chances against the struggling Druids.

Seargeant opted for four changes to the side that fell to a disappointing defeat at Haverfordwest last weekend.

Ebbe replaced Louis Robles as the lone striker, with Keston Davies introduced at the heart of defence for Blaine Hudson, while Jamie Mullan and Ben Clark came into midfield.

Visitors Druids, bottom of the table on goal difference with just three wins from 19 games ahead of kick-off, arrived in Shropshire on the back of four defeats on the spin, including Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Bala.

A minute’s applause, in memory of former Oswestry Town chairman Bill Jerman who died this week aged 92, took place ahead of kick-off.

The Wrexham visitors were desperate for a comforting few early touches but it was the hosts who quickly settled.

And it took just five minutes for TNS to lead. The ball was shifted out to willing attacker Simon Spender and the right-back delivered an inch-perfect first-time cross for Ebbe to net from six yards.

Ebbe sniffed more joy following some loose Druids defending moments later but his low strike was straight at goalkeeper Michael Jones.

The home side rained in shots on their lowly visitors as Adrian Cieslewicz’s low drive from distance deflected just wide and Ryan Astles headed over from a corner.

Busy young midfielder Ben Clark caught the eye and he shot just wide from the edge of the box.

TNS moved the ball well and were proving far too strong for Cefn.

Midfielder Routledge made it two 26 minutes in, turning in a neat rising finish on the rebound after Jones had made a save.

It was three just three minutes later, as Clark knitted a perfect through ball through to Ebbe, who dinked his finish over Jones.

The visitors showed signs of life on half hour, as a TNS error gifted Niall Flint a chance but veteran keeper Paul Harrison made the save. Seconds later Sam Phiillps shot wide in the box.

TNS finished the first half slowly but made it four almost immediately after the break as Cieslewicz converted a penalty conceded for handball.

Saints continued marauding forward as Mullan was denied by the outrushing Jones.

Druids were outraged just before the hour as referee Iwan Griffith awarded a penalty as Ebbe went down under minimal pressure. But the frontman spurned his shot at a hat-trick as Jones kept out his tame spot-kick.

New club-record signing Adam Roscrow was introduced with 25 minutes remaining and he saw an early effort kept out by the busy Jones.

And the signing from Wimbledon cooly dispatched his first goal in green and white with a calm finish after Routledge’s fine pass.

He should’ve had another shortly after but could only direct his flicked header over.

Thankless Druids No.1 Jones was kept honest as he denied substitute and Saints record scorer Greg Draper.

Robles should have made it six in the dying stages but blazed over after unselfish work from Draper on a comfortable evening for Saints as they returned to winning ways.

Teams

The New Saints:

Harrison; Spender (Smith, 73), Davies, Astles, Marriott © (Draper, 73); Routledge (Canavan, 85), Mullan, Cieslewicz (Robles, 65), Redmond, Clark, Ebbe (Roscrow, 65).

Subs not used: Williams, Hudson.

Cefn Druids:

Jones (c), Green (Smith, 81), Simpson, Wise, Edwards, Phillips (Arsan, 65), Flint (Taylor, 45), E Cartwright (Barratt, 77), Brazel, I Cartwright, Edge (Fuller, 65).

Subs not used: Edwards, Pritchard.

Referee: Iwan Griffith