A BADLY-weakened Airbus side went down to a 4-0 defeat at Park Hall at the hands of The New Saints, who extended their Welsh Premier winning sequence to 16 games to eclipse Bangor City's record.

With Matty McGinn sidelined by injury and Tony Gray suspended for three games, manager Andy Thomas received a further blow two hours before kick-off when Ryan Wignall cried-off through illness.

But Thomas was able to take some positives from the game and was delighted with the performances of 18-year-old debutant Rhys Hewitt, fellow 18-year-old Jake Hulley and 19-year-old Liam O'Neill, who made his debut as a half-time substitute.

Scott Quigley and Greg Draper both went close with early efforts for TNS before early pressure paid dividends when Jon Routledge seized on a loose ball to fire TNS in from from the edge of the box after 12 minutes.

Four minutes later the lead was doubled when Aeron Edwards headed home a corner from Routledge, who hammered a 25-yard volley into the roof of the net on the half hour for his second goal of the evening.

A fourth goal soon followed when Scott Quigley converted at the far post from Simon Spender's low cross and their were fears that the Wingmakers could be on the end of a hammering.

But Airbus managed to stop the rot in the second period as they prevented TNS from adding to their tally, although they were unable to get back into the game as the champions continued with their stranglehold.

Ryan Pryce stung the palms of keeper Ryan Nield with a low drive just after the hour and substitute Chris Seargeant threatened before Jamie Menagh got a shot away at the other end in a rare Airbus attack.

Alex Darlington forced Nield into action again as TNS regained control despite failing to add to the scoreline before the final whistle.

Photos (top) Ryan Neild makes a flying save and (below) Bailey Jackson shadows Aeron Edwards [Brian Jones].