THE NEW SAINTS suffered their first league defeat in a year-and-a-half as leaders Penybont maintained their unbeaten run.

Rhys Griffiths’ front-runners prevailed 2-1 in impressive fashion, consigning the Saints to their first defeat in the top flight since February 11, 2023.

On that occasion, Cardiff Met ran out 2-1 winners and Saints’ boss Craig Harrison admitted the start to the contest played its part in the latest loss.

“It’s just really disappointing that we come out and start as poorly as that,” Harrison told TNS TV.

“You start poorly like that and do you really deserve to win any football game?

“I certainly don’t think we deserved to win the game tonight. Maybe a draw might have been a fair reflection, but the first 30 minutes, Penybont had two-or-three good opportunities.”

Penybont, who have enjoyed an unbeaten opening to their campaign, claimed the lead in the 13th minute through Clayton Green’s header.

Adam Wilson managed to level things up prior to the interval, but Chris Venables’ strike five minutes from time confirmed a great win for Penybont.

Connah’s Quay Nomads’ run of defeats in the Cymru Premier League was stretched to three matches as they lost out 2-1 at Cardiff Met.

Eliot Evans had Met in front after 12 minutes, but this was soon cancelled out by Elliott Dugan’s second goal of the week for Quay.

Evans fired in a superb effort from distance to regain the advantage for the hosts 10 minutes into the second half, while Billy Paynter’s visitors were inches from salvaging a point when Declan Poole’s powerful strike struck the crossbar.

Paynter told S4C’s Sgorio: “When we’ve had chances like we had today, hit the bar and the post, possibly (we deserved more).

“But when the luck’s not going your way, both boxes are key and, unfortunately, we haven’t been solid enough in our box.

“We conceded two, but the second goal, what a wonderful strike. You try and dissect it where you go where were the men on the edge of the box, who’s going to put their body on the line to try and block it?

“But he’s stuck it in the top corner.”