Penybont and New Saints played out a 0:0 draw in the opening round of the Welsh Premier League on Sunday. The result keeps both sides unbeaten after eight league games, though it means neither team has yet broken their duck in this campaign. The hosts sit fourth with 18 points while the visitors lead on 22.
There were no goals and not a single shot on target from Penybont all afternoon. To be fair, New Saints managed five shots on target but failed to find the net either. The visitors dominated possession at 57 per cent and won seven corners to the hosts' one, yet the match remained frustratingly tight throughout.
R. Holden picked up a yellow card for Penybont in the 38th minute before being substituted at half-time. I. Jefferies joined him on the bench for the visitors after booking in the 51st minute. New Saints brought on N. Wood for the second half and then M. Manga later on, while the hosts made no further changes.
And here's the thing — nine attacks from Penybont compared to 97 from New Saints tells you everything about who controlled the game. The hosts managed just 64 attacks all day while the visitors pushed forward relentlessly. Three shots off target from Penybont and five from New Saints suggest neither side could convert their handful of chances into anything meaningful.
By then, the standings reflected what had been evident on the pitch. New Saints have kept five wins and one draw from eight games while Penybont sit on five victories and three draws. The gap between them remains four points, and this result keeps both sides within reach of each other at the top of the table.