Lowly Airbus welcome high-flyers

Dec 12 2008 Chester Chronicle

AIRBUS UK Broughton welcome treble-chasing The New Saints to the Airfield tonight having been sucked into a relegation dogfight (7.30pm).

Few teams have played better football than the Wingmakers this season, but their inability to translate impressive performances into points continues to be their downfall.

Friday night’s 2-1 reverse at Welshpool was a case in point as they had only Matthew Cook’s first goal for the club to show for their domination.

And salt was rubbed into their wounds the following afternoon as Newi Cefn Druids and Neath won to leave Airbus just three points clear of the drop zone in 14th.

Tomorrow Airbus host a third-placed Saints side buzzing after their Loosemores Challenge Cup semi-final victory on Tuesday night.

But chairman Mick Mayfield is refusing to rule out the possibility of the Wingmakers beating the full-timers at the Airfield for a second successive season.

Mayfield said: “We beat them 2-0 at our place last season and, the way we’re playing at the moment, I think we can do it again. But, if not, at least give them a good game.

“We’ve just got to start turning our possession into goals. We have totally dominated the last three or four games but still lost, which is a bit of a strange situation.

“We’ve been saying the last couple of weeks that someone is a due a beating. I don’t think TNS will be that team, but we can definitely give them a good game.”

Strike partners James McIntosh and Tom Rowlands came close to rescuing a point at Welshpool, in which Matty Woodward starred as stand-in right wingback for flu victim Ryan Edwards.