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| Saints midfielder Ryan Fraughan controlled the game beautifully. |
The New Saints cemented their place as firm title contenders with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Llanelli at Stebonheath Park.
Even the dismissal of Connell Rawlinson in the 52nd minute for a rash lunge on Chris Thomas could not derail the Saints' march, whose clinical passing and movement proved too much for Llanelli, leaving their title ambitions in tatters.
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| Reds defender Lee Shurman clears a dangerous cross from the penalty box. |
In an evenly contested opening quarter, both teams began to grow into the match but it was the visitors that were to finish the half the strongest, spurning a number of goal scoring chances as the teams went into the tunnel at the break with the score tied 0-0.
However, it only took three second half minutes for TNS to break the deadlock as the lively Ryan Fraughan picked out Greg Draper, who cleverly side stepped Thomas before coolly stroking home his 16th goal of the season from 12 yards out.
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| TNS striker Alex Darlington fires a shot at goal. |
Moments later Andy Legg’s men looked to have been handed a lifeline when Rawlinson saw red, but the Saints' defence was bolstered by the introduction of former Wales defender Steve Evans and despite their numerical disadvantage, still looked the more likely to get the next goal.
Craig Harrison’s men put the game to bed in the 63rd minute when Draper found the well timed run of Aeron Edwards, who beat the offside trap to race away and beat the stranded Ashley Morris with a low shot that ricocheted into the net off the keeper's legs.
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| Reds Scott Evans tries to make head way against a strong Saints defence |
With the hosts outplayed, their only real chances came late on when TNS stopper Paul Harrison was called into action, making a superb save to deny Craig Moses, and Rhys Griffiths summed up Llanelli’s day when the striker headed over from close range.
The Saints now trail pacemakers Bangor by a single point with the leaders in action today at Bala.
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