The JD Cymru Premier leaders were beaten 3-1 by Connah’s Quay Nomads on Thursday night, a result that trimmed their advantage at the summit to four points.
It was only TNS’s third league loss of the campaign, but it allowed the chasing Nomads to close the gap and apply fresh pressure in the title race.
“We’ve got to look in the mirror and decide what we can do better,” said Harrison after the defeat to John Disney’s side.
Bala arrive in Oswestry struggling for form, having managed just one win in their last 11 league matches.
They were also beaten 2-0 at Maes Tegid by TNS back in September.
Harrison’s side will complete their Phase 1 fixtures with a home match against Colwyn Bay on Saturday 9 January and remain favourites to reach the split in first place.
Connah’s Quay, who still have two Phase 1 games remaining, begin with a home encounter against Barry Town United.
Disney was understandably upbeat after his side’s impressive victory over the champions.
“It’s a fantastic result and with the team we’ve got we feel we can put it on anyone. We lost 3-0 to them earlier in the season, but in the second half of that game I thought we were good enough to have deserved a point,” he said.
“We knew we would face long periods without the ball, but we tried to force them into a few traps that we’d worked on and to make something of them.
“And when you’ve got the quality that we possess we’ll always look to take those chances.”
The Nomads made a perfect start when Rhys Hughes converted a penalty in the ninth minute, before Max Woodcock doubled the lead just before half-time.
Jordan Williams pulled one back for TNS shortly before the hour, setting up a tense finale.
However, any hopes of a comeback were extinguished nine minutes from time by a stunning solo effort from Callum West.
Winning possession near the halfway line, he surged forward, beat two defenders and calmly rounded the goalkeeper to score.
The victory keeps Connah’s Quay six points clear of third-placed Penybont, last season’s runners-up, with Caernarfon Town a further four points adrift in fourth.
Barry Town United slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Briton Ferry Llansawel on New Year’s Day and now need at least three points from their final two Phase 1 fixtures to secure a top-six finish.
Barry’s task at Briton Ferry became much harder when Keston Davies was shown a second yellow card, reducing his side to 10 men for the final 27 minutes.
The dismissal came shortly after Ben Margetson had equalised. Alex Gammond then missed the resulting penalty, keeping Barry in contention, but Ollie Anderson struck the decisive goal in the 71st minute to lift the hosts to ninth.
Barry conclude Phase 1 at home to bottom club Llanelli Town, who pushed Penybont hard on New Year’s Day.
A goal eight minutes into the second half from Alex Cvetkovic proved decisive, ending Penybont’s three-game winless run.
Caernarfon Town will head into 2026 full of confidence after their 1-0 win at Bala Town secured a top-six finish.
They have also been boosted by the return of Brad Young for the second half of the season.
Young, who has recently featured in the Saudi First Division and UAE Pro League with Al-Orobah after a £190,000 move from TNS in September 2024, scored twice in 17 appearances before the club’s relegation.
He then spent the 2025-26 season with Abu Dhabi-based Baniyas and now links up with the Cofis, who sit fourth in the table and have reached the quarter-finals of the JD Welsh Cup.
An FA Youth Cup winner with Aston Villa four years ago, the Solihull-born forward made one senior appearance for Villa before loan spells at Carlisle United and Ayr United.
He joined TNS in 2023 and was a key figure in their invincible domestic treble season, finishing as Cymru Premier top scorer with 22 goals and scoring 32 times in 43 games across all competitions.
Caernarfon’s skipper Daniel Gosset was the matchwinner against the Lakesiders, and attention now turns to a decisive Phase 1 finale at home to Connah’s Quay on 9 January.
Elsewhere, Colwyn Bay thought they had rescued a point against Flint Town United when George Hughes equalised in the 77th minute, cancelling out Josh Jones’ opener.
But Flint snatched victory two minutes into stoppage time through Harry Owen.
While Colwyn Bay were already assured of a top-six place, Flint claimed a vital first league win since 14 November to climb out of the relegation zone.
Cardiff Met and Haverfordwest County played out a goalless draw at Cyncoed, a result that dented both sides’ hopes of making the top six.
The Archers have one Phase 1 fixture remaining and must win to move above Barry Town United, who still hold a game in hand.
