CAERNARFON Town were unable to cause a stir at the JD Welsh Premier League summit as they suffered a 3-0 home loss to The New Saints.

More than 1,000 packed out The Oval to see the Canaries battle the defending champions, and the result leaves Sean Eardley’s men in fifth position ahead of their next outing at home to Connah’s Quay Nomads in the JD Welsh Cup on Friday (7.45pm).

Things did not begin well for the home side, who fell behind after just four minutes when Kurtis Byrne latched on to a through ball and produced a deft finish over the onrushing Nick Bould.

Sion Bradley almost got the Cofis’ back on level terms on the quarter hour mark but was muscled out of a good opportunity by Jack Bodenham after an improved spell of possession.

The visitors were a constant threat and carved out another opening on 37 minutes when a powerful long-range strike from Jon Routledge took a wicked deflection to divert the ball past Bould and double their advantage.

After the interval saw Bodenham fail to add a third when his goal bound effort was block by the resolute Town rearguard, and Chris Marriott’s strike on 59 minutes also failed to penetrate to mass of home bodies in the way of the shot.

This seemed to spark the hosts into life, and they had a golden chance to get back into the tie on 61 minutes when they missed two chances from close-range in quick succession thanks to some outstanding goalkeeping from Paul Harrison.

The introduction of experienced striker Greg Draper have the away side a great outlet in the final third as the Canaries threw caution to the wind in an attempt to salvage something from the game, and he almost got on the score sheet on 80 minutes when his effort from a Routledge cross was diverted by Bould.

Draper did not have to wait much longer for another opening, and this time he made no mistake with a header from six-yards to round off the scoring with 81 on the clock.