Gresford Athletic suffed a tough defeat against 15-time JD Cymru Premier Champions The New Saints in the quarter-finals of the 2023/24 Nathaniel MG Cup on Tuesday night.

The New Saints got a grip of the game from the start and showed their quality through their dominance, forcing an early save from Matt Busby from a dangerous effort from far out just 10 minutes into the game.

Then, in the 15th minute, The New Saints scored their first goal, with Ash Baker heading it past Matt Busby from a well-worked corner routine.

Alex Buxton then did well in the 22nd minute to clear the ball off the line, before Matt Busby made another great save a minute later to deny The New Saints from a quick second goal.

However, The New Saints do find their second goal in the 26th minute with Ash Baker again heading it home from close-range.

The New Saints then capitalised on a defensive error, picking up the ball high up the pitch and making it three through Gwion Dafydd.

Yet another terriffic double-save in the 40th minute is made by Matt Busby, who ensured the score was kept as low as possible, before Harvey Ellis hit it from the edge of the area following a 42nd-minute Gresford Athletic corner, but it was well blocked and the half time whilstle blew shortly after.

The second half continued in the same vein of the first half, with The New Saints finding their fourth goal in the 48th minute, with Luke Brennan smashing the ball into the top of the net.

A quick double-save from Matt Busby denied a flurry of The New Saints chances in the 51st minute, but Daniel Williams was brought down in the box and a penalty was awarded. Ash Baker made it a hat-trick by placing the 52nd-minute penalty into the top corner.

Toby Gallagher-Keenan played Sam Spridgeon through on goal in the 54th minute, but it is good defending from The New Saints to force him wide and out.

Then, in the 58th minute, The New Saints made it six, with Ash Baker excellently pulling the ball back to the middle of the box for Gwion Dafydd to slot it home for his second of the evening.

Charlie Mann did well in the 67th minute, having a good effort from a free-kick, which went just over the crossbar with Gresford Athletic still hoping to find a goal in this game.

It's The New Saints who add a seventh goal, though, as Daniel Williams used his strength to win the ball, play a one-two with Jake Canavan and tap it into the net in the 77th minute.

In the 80th minute, The New Saints made it eight, with Luke Brennan playing it through to Adrian Ciezlewicz, who rolled it in past Matt Busby.

Then, just before the full time whistle, The New Saints add a ninth, as Rory Holden put in a good corner for Josh Pask to head it into the top corner.

The game finished at 9-0 and it was one of those nights that can happen in football, with The New Saints' quality clearly shining through and Gresford Athletic's eight-game winning run coming to an abrubt end as they were knocked out of the 2023/24 Nathaniel MG Cup in the quarter-finals.

The New Saints

Starting XI: Thompson (GK), Pask, Astles (Cieslewicz - 64'), Routledge (C), Daniels (Jones - 46'), Williams, Brennan, Holden, Davies (Canavan - 64'), Baker, Dafydd

Goalscorers: Baker (x3), Dafydd (x2), Brennan, Williams, Cieslewicz, Pask

Subs not used: Edwards (GK), Brobbel, Redmond, Young

Gresford Athletic

Starting XI: Busby, Roberts (Johnson - 31'), J. Smith, Bennett, Buxton, Griffiths (C), Ellis, Mann, Gallagher-Keenan, Chaplin (Killilea - 58'), Spridgeon

Subs not used: Jones (GK)

Match Officials

Referee: Nicholas Pratt

Assistant Referees: Martin Roberts, Connor Fowler

Fourth Official: Sion Davies