Harrison did not hold back after The New Saints’ shock 3–2 home defeat to Cardiff Met, labelling his side’s defending “a joke” in a furious post-match assessment.
The rant underlined his frustration at seeing the champions throw away their long unbeaten run.
Adam Roscrow came back to haunt his former club with a 93rd-minute strike that handed the students a dramatic victory at Park Hall — only TNS’s second loss of the JD Cymru Premier season.
The defeat also ended a 17-match unbeaten streak in all competitions and halted their run of 10 consecutive league wins.
Harrison’s side had fought back from 2–0 down to level in the second half through Ben Clark and Ryan Brobbel’s penalty, but a costly error at the back gifted Cardiff Met a stoppage-time winner.
The manager was left furious with the manner of the goals conceded.
“The defending for the goals was a joke, comical and embarrassing – it was nowhere near good enough,” blasted Harrison.
“One set play and a counterattack and we find ourselves 2-0 down at half-time. We came out in the second half and did well to get back on level terms, but then we threw it away at the end with some really poor defending.”
It had all started so well for Cardiff Met, who showed real purpose and precision on the break.
Jasper Payne opened the scoring midway through the first half, heading home a Lewis Rees cross, before Fumpa Mwandwe doubled the lead on 38 minutes with another sharp finish following more good work from Rees down the right.
Harrison admitted he had expected the visitors to adopt such tactics.
“We assumed they would play like they did by dropping really deep into their own half and try to play on the counter and that’s what they did,” he said.
The New Saints, who had dominated possession for long spells, finally turned pressure into goals after the break.
Clark halved the deficit before Brobbel’s calmly struck penalty drew the sides level, giving the champions hope of maintaining their impressive run.
But their defensive lapses proved costly in the final moments.
When veteran playmaker Elliot Evans intercepted a loose pass across the TNS back line, he fed Roscrow, who carried the ball to the edge of the area before slotting past Connor Roberts to seal an unlikely away win.
It was a particularly sweet moment for Roscrow, who endured a difficult spell at Park Hall after joining TNS from AFC Wimbledon for a club-record fee in 2019.
The 30-year-old striker managed just 13 appearances before leaving but rolled back the years to claim his fourth league goal of the season — and his second against his old club this campaign.
Elsewhere in the Cymru Premier, Connah’s Quay Nomads continued their pursuit of TNS with a convincing 4–0 win over Penybont.
The visitors endured a nightmare first half, conceding twice, collecting three yellow cards, and losing Clayton Green to a red card before the break.
Declan Poole opened the scoring after 22 minutes, Rhys Hughes struck twice — including a penalty — to take his season tally to eight, and Callum Bratley added another early in the second half.
Hughes, in fine form this season, said: “We knew how good a side Penybont were and getting those early goals was important. I thought we were brilliant today.
“I set myself targets at the start of the season and I want to get as many goals as I can.”
Briton Ferry Llansawel recorded their first home league victory of the season by beating Bala Town 2–0 thanks to goals from Ricky Lee-Own and Alex Gammond, while Colwyn Bay saw off bottom club Llanelli Town 3–1 with strikes from Jordan Davies, Louis Robles and Jamie Cuming overturning Tristan Jenkins’ opener.
Barry Town United and Flint Town United cancelled each other out in a goalless stalemate at Jenner Park, and a stoppage-time equaliser from Corey Shepherd salvaged a 2–2 draw for Haverfordwest County at Caernarfon Town.
But the spotlight remained firmly on Park Hall, where Harrison’s champions were left to reflect on a rare off-day.
The TNS boss has demanded a swift response.
He made no attempt to soften his criticism — and his players will know exactly what he expects when they return to action.
