The New Saints 4-0 Bohemians

• Sgorio
• 22 July 2010
• 22:00

News

The New Saints created their own piece of history with a convincing win over Bohemians at Park Hall, Oswestry on Tuesday night. 

Goals in the opening 20 minutes from Craig Jones, Matty Williams and Chris Sharp saw a shellshocked Bohemians go in at half time 3-1 down on aggeragate.

Williams sealed victory with his second of the night with just over 15 minutes remaining as the Saints progress in a European competition for the very first time.

Belgian champions, Anderlecht, await the Welsh champions in the third qualifying round on 27 July.

More > Anderlecht await The Saints

It took just six minutes for the Saints to draw level in the tie as Jones collected Williams’ lovely through ball before burying the ball in the back of the net.

An excellent save from home keeper, Paul Harrison, keeping out a powerful Paddy Madden header kept the Welsh champions’ lead a few minutes later.

And, after 14 minutes, the home side doubled their lead on the night as Steve Evans and Mathew Berkley combined to create space for Williams to prod home past Barry Murphy.

With the Saints seemingly on fire it seemed they could do no wrong and after 20 minutes Chris Sharp netted his first European goal, hitting a Jones cross into the bottom corner after 20 minutes to make it 3-0.

Patrick Fenlon’s half time team talk must almost worked wonders for the Irish champions as Killian Brennan went close for Bohs before Paul Keegan hit the bar.

And Harrison pulled off another great save on 57 minutes to deny Keegan from giving the visitors any glimmer of hope.

But despite their pressure it was the Welsh champions who scored the only goal of the second half.

Bohs’ keeper, Murphy, failed to deal with Evans’ header from a Scott Ruscoe corner and Williams was on hand to bag his second of the night and seal the victory for the Saints.

The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Danny Holmes, Chris Marriott, Phil Baker, Steve Evans, Scott Ruscoe, Barry Hogan, Chris Sharp (Alex Darlington 90′), Matty Williams, Craig Jones, Matthew Berkeley (Jamie Wood 89′).

Unused subs: Simon Williams, Tommy Holmes, Chris Seargeant, John McKenna, Aeron Edwards.

Yellow card: Sharp 34′.

Goals: Craig Jones 6′, Matty Williams 14′ 73′, Sharp 20′

Bohemians: Barry Murphy, Owen Heary, 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 subs: O’Connor, Rossiter, Burke, Dixon.

Yellow cards: Powell 34′, McGuinness 71′, Keegan 82′.

Att: 1,056

Referee: Istvan Vad (Hungary).