PENRHYNCOCH’s interest in the JD Welsh Cup came to an end in emphatic fashion after being downed 6-0 by favourites The New Saints at a chilly Park Hall.

It was always going to prove a tough third round task for the Roosters against the six times cup winners, but their cause was not helped by the dismissal of Rob Murfet on the stroke of half time.

Already three goals down by that stage, the visitors battled hard, but there was no way back, with Alex Darlington bagging a hat-trick for the Saints - and also missing a penalty. Blaine Hudson, Aeron Edwards and Wes Fletcher also found the net.

Boss Gari Lewis admitted it was a difficult night on the 3G pitch at Park Hall, with injuries again hampering his plans as TNS showed why they have dominated Welsh Premier football in recent times.

“It was a tough night, a few decisions didn’t go our way, but the lads kept going against a very good side,” Lewis said. “They battled hard, and they can take credit from restricting them to three goals in the second half with just 10 men.“Injuries are making it tough for us at the moment. But we’ve just got to keep believing and keep going, and hopefully I can bring in another body this week.”

Penrhyn - already without injured forward Steff Davies - had their preparations disrupted with Jonathan Evans starting on the bench after arriving late, while Antonio Corbisiero was forced off the field in the second half with a foot injury.

The high-flying Saints, chasing a seventh successive Welsh Premier crown this season, never looked back after defender Hudson had fired in the opening goal on 16 minutes in a goalmouth scramble.

Callum Roberts swung in a corner from the right, Edwards’ header was cleared off the line by Jon Foligno, but Hudson pounced to smash home the loose ball.

Looking to extend the lead, Wes Fletcher had three opportunities, including striking the woodwork, as the score remained just 1-0 with a third of the game gone.

In the 36th minute, however, a second goal arrived when the recalled Darlington tucked away a rebound after keeper Leigh Jenkins had saved Ben Clark’s strike.

Edwards made it 3-0 right on half time, when firing home from the edge off the box, but the visitors were unhappy that the hosts had handled moments before.

That led to Murfet seeing red for foul and abusive language, and Penrhyncoch manager Lewis felt it was a big blow.

“Had we gone in at half time 2-0 down, it would have been a massive effort. We restrained them quite well, but to be trailing 3-0 and also down to 10 men was a big moment in the game,” Lewis commented.

With their one man advantage, the Oswestry hosts were in cruise control in the second period and Darlington netted his second 10 minutes after the interval, after Ryan Brobbel had pulled the ball back.

The hosts then made it five as Fletcher got on the scoresheet on 73 minutes, when firing past Jenkins after Darlington had chipped the ball into the penalty box.

Penrhyn had rarely threatened, although Jon Foligno was off target with a header in the first half, and the visitors felt they should have had a penalty eight minutes from time when Foligno’s pass found Nashawn Blake who appeared to be impeded by the challenge of Ryan Leak.

Their protests were waved away, and it was the Saints who were awarded a penalty 30 seconds into injury time when Pryce was tripped by Liam Lewis after cutting in from the right - but striker Darlington spurned the spot kick in bizarre fashion when dinking his effort tamely at Jenkins.

The ex-Wrexham man made amends just seconds later, when heading home Pryce’s cross from the right to complete his hat-trick for last season’s beaten finalists.

With their interest in the Welsh Cup over, the Roosters return to league duty on Saturday when they entertain Holywell in their chase for much-needed points.

Steffan Davies and Antonio Corbisiero are both out, along with the suspended Murfet, while others are carrying knocks.

THE NEW SAINTS: Harrison, Brobbel, Fletcher, Parry, Hudson, Roberts, Leak, Clarke, Darlington, Edwards, Pryce. Substitutes: Marriott, Routledge, Draper, Jones, Mullan.

PENRHYNCOCH: L Jenkins, S James, J Foligno, M Mousley, L Lewis, R Murfet, O James, A Corbisiero (E Evans 70 minutes), C Jones, C Davies (J Evans 55), N Blake (S Meredith 82).