Saints Held, but Rhyl win with Five-Star First Half Display

Airbus UK Boughton 0-0 The New Saints

TNS missed the chance to go top of the League in a goalless encounter at the Airfield as the defences reigned supreme on a cold night in Broughton.

The Wingmakers dropped leading scorer Marc Lloyd Williams to the bench against his former side, recalling James McIntosh, but he couldn't beat Paul Harrison in the Saints' goal. Chris Sharp led the Saints line, by the ex-Bangor man failed to find the back of the net for the third time in a Saints shirt.

Rhyl 5-2 Bala Town

A five-star first half display from Greg Strong's Rhyl ended Bala Town's excellent run of form and sent the Lilywhites back into the top three at Aberystwyth Town's expense.

The hosts got off to an excellent start when full-back Andrew Pearson registered his first goal for the club on nine minutes. The deadline-day signing from Altrincham was playing just his third game for the club, when he opened his account.

Winger Chris Williams then doubled the advantage for the hosts on 14 minutes, and just five minutes later, Mark Connolly scored the first of his brace.

The free-scoring midfielder's second came on 32 minutes, to give Strong's side 4-0 lead Striker Robert Turner then scored an unimaginable fifth with just 36 minutes on the clock to stun Bala 'keeper Leon Bimpson and the visiting team. Just a minute later John Toner salvaged some pride for the Lakesiders and the former Rhyl man scored his second in the second-half to round-off the night's proceedings.

The win will be an excellent confidence boost for Rhyl before their Welsh Cup derby match at Prestatyn Town on Saturday, but Colin Caton will want to carry our some quick repair work on his leaky defence before their quarter-final visit from Afan Lido.