AWESOME SAINTS STEAMROLL BOHS

The New Saints 4-0 Bohemians

Fourteen years after their first ever match in Europe, TNS claimed their first ever UEFA win and what an incredible win it was over the Irish Champions, 4-0 on the night, 4-1 on aggregate.

A 1,056 capacity crowd saw TNS make the best possible start againt the crack Irish outfit as they built a 3-0 lead by Half-Time.

Principality Welsh Premier League Young Player of the Year Craig Jones scored the first as he dinked over Barry Murphy after a strong run which saw the winger beat two Bohs' defenders on six minutes to level the tie on aggregate.

Patrick Madden had a couple of chances for the visitors shortly after, but the Saints were strong at the back and kept the Irishmen out. Saints' striker Matthew Williams then doubled the lead on the night to 2-0 on 14 minutes and it was an outstanding goal. The move started in their own half with Steve Evans driving from the back, he passed down the left-wing to Matt Berkeley who cutely back-heeled to Williams who then beat Murphy at the near post.

The hosts could not have dreamt for a more perfect start and they were then 3-0 up after 20 minutes, as Williams' fellow striker Chris Sharp excellently finished a move which was created by the talented Jones.

Sharp had another great chance to make it 4-0 just two minutes later, but Bohs defender Owen Heary made a last gasp tackle to deny the forward.

Bohs boss Pat Fenlon made two changes at half-time to try and get back into the game as he brought on the experienced Glen Crowe for the ineffective Ruairi Higgins and Conor Powell was replaced by Jason McGuinness at the back. It almost worked immediately as Paul Keegan hit the bar almost straight after the interval. The visitors tested Saints' 'keeper Paul Harrison again after good approach play from Paddy Madden, but Keegan's good strike was palmed away by Harrison with an out-stretched dive to his right.

But the Saints who have an incredible defensive record stayed strong for the rest of the half and kept the Irish Champions out, whereas Mattie Williams got his second of the night to put the icing on the cake with 73 minutes played. The ex-Rhyl man tapped in from close range after a Scott Ruscoe corner found the powerful head of Steve Evans, which Bohs' keeper Barry Murphy couldn't hold on to.

A Fantastic Performance, a Fantastic Result. Well Done TNS.

TNS
Paul Harrison (GK); Danny Holmes, Chris Marriott, Phillip Baker, Steve Evans (C), Scott Ruscoe, Barry Hogan, Chris Sharp (Alex Darlington, 90'), Matthew Williams, Craig Jones, Matthew Berkeley (Jamie Wood, 89')

Substitutes : Simon Williams (GK), Tommy Holmes, Christian Seargeant, John McKenna, Aeron Edwards

Bohemians
Barry Murphy (GK); Owen Heary (C), Conor Powell (Jason McGuinness, 46'), Ken Oman, Paul Keegan, Jason Byrne (Aaron Greene, 67'), Killian Brennan, Patrick Madden, Brian Shelley, Mark Quigley, Ruairi Higgins (Glen Cronin, 46')

Unused Substitutes: Chris O'Connor (GK), Mark Rossiter, Gary Burke, Lee Dixon