League phase round six

NK Celje 3

Edmilson 20, 43; Zec 79

The New Saints 2

Davies 19, Holden 42

THE New Saint’s European campaign has come to an end after defeat in Slovenia confirmed the Welsh champions’ place in UEFA Conference League bottom 12.

Goals from Danny Davies and Rory Holden were cancelled out within a minute both times by Edmilson before David Zec prodded Celje ahead.

Results elsewhere meant that any TNS hopes of progressing into the play-off round next year were snuffed out with 20 minutes to play as Saints played their part in a five-goal thriller.

Both side came to win and an early effort for the hosts was ruled out for Edmilson in the fourth minute after the Brazilian slotted him but was yards offside.

It was a cagey first quarter as Saints failed to make the most of good possession in the Celje final third while the hosts flashed a free kick wide, albeit any touch would have been offside.

The huge moment came in the 19th minute when Davies thundered home a header from 12 yards out as his header flew past Matjaz Rozman from Ryan Brobbel’s free-kick.

But their joy turned to disaster within 60 seconds as Edmilson was gifted after the recalled Leo Smith inexplicably put the dangerous striker clear from a disastrous back pass and the Brazilian slotted past Connor Roberts.

Josh Daniels, who won the free kick that led to Saints’ goal, turned villain just before the half hour when he was forced to foul Tavar Svetlin.

The former Shrewsbury man was given a get-out-of-jail card from the following free kick as Zec thought he had headed home but again, Celje were offside in the build-up.

Saints re-established their lead three minutes before the break as Brobbel’s magnificent raking 50-yard pass found Holden and he slotted home for his second of the European campaign.

But it happened again.

Seconds after the re-start, a long hopeful ball found Edmilson in no-man’s land between Roberts and his back four and slotted past the Chirk stopper.

The second half started with a mini-scare as Josh Pask was the subject of a brief VAR review after he was caught the wrong side of Edmilson.

Minutes later, Juanjo Nieto escaped Brobbel at the back post but could only steer his effort wide of the post.

Saints had to battle to remain on level terms up to the hour mark when Edmilson came close to securing a hat-trick but desperate defending kept him and his teammates at bay.

TNS were given a boost when Edmilson was denied his treble when was replaced on the hour mark, seconds after Roberts required treatment on his ankle.

Harrison made his own changes on the hour mark too as Ben Clark was replaced by xx and Adrian Cieslewicz replaced his fellow veteran Brobbel.

Roberts showed no sign of his ankle troubles as he made two fine stops within two minutes around the hour as the pressure began to build on TNS again.

It was another double substitution for Harrison as he sent on Jordan Williams and Adam Wilson to grab a win and finish the campaign on a high.

The on-loan Bradford City man Wilson went on a rampaging run on 70 minutes and sent his left-footed effort just wide.

Celje then took the lead on 79 minutes when a lofted pass was met by Svit Sezlar whose toe-poked effort was bobbling over the line before Zec tapped home.

The home side faced a nervous wait to check if the defender was offside but the goal was given and the hosts were lifted into the qualifying spots.

There was still time for Roberts to prove why he has been TNS’s player of the tournament as he made an outstanding stop from Aljoso Matko which he then repeated brilliantly one minute later with the same player.

TNS: Roberts, Daniels, Davies, Pask, Redmond (Williams J 66), Smith, Williams D, Clark (Marshall 61), Brobbel (Cieslewicz 61), Holden (Bradley 86), McManus (Wilson 66)

Subs not used: Edwards, Olosunde, Bodenham, Canavan, Woollam, Doforo