By Gareth James
The New Saints face a week of cup action in two different competitions as they continue to manage an unprecedented workload in pursuit of more titles.
Their season kicked off on 15 June with a run of seven friendlies before they embarked on a record-breaking European run that will see them play their 12th game against Panathinaikos at Shrewsbury’s New Meadow ground on Thursday night.
That will be followed on Sunday with a JD Welsh Cup clash with JD Cymru North Colwyn Bay, who currently sit in second place in their league.
Craig Harrison’s men have already reached the final of the Nathaniel MG Cup, and currently hold second place in the JD Cymru Premier behind Penybont, and their two games in the next seven days will take their competitive tally for the season to 38.
That has led to Harrison being forced to rotate his squad, which has led to five defeats in their 17 league outings as they chase a 17th title.
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It will be win or bust for Harrison’s men, although they have showered themselves in glory, and the JD Cymru Premier League in money, with their record-breaking run through Uefa’s three tournaments this season.
Their Euro adventure began in the Champions League on 9 July with a 3-0 home win over the Montenegro side FK Decic.
This week’s game will be their 13th European game, with another tie against the Slovenians, Celje.
Harrison will be hoping the weekend off caused by Storm Darragh will have given his players some extra time to prepare both physically and mentally for the game against Panathinaikos.
They fell to a 1-0 defeat in their last outing in the JD Cymru Premier.
Bala Town’s 1-0 midweek triumph over TNS at Maes Tegid was their first league win since they beat the title holders 3-2 at Park Hall in September – and moved them into the top six in the JD Cymru Premier.
It was the first time a team had done the double over TNS in Phase 1 and the last time the 16-time champions suffered a double defeat was against Rhyl in the 2008-09 season.
It was a first half penalty from George Newel that split the two teams on a dreadful night. TNS keeper Connor Roberts brought down Osebi Abadaki in the area and Newel was up the task of beating him from the spot.
Stepping up to the mark, George Newel slotted home. He certainly has great form when facing penalties but, on this occasion, although Roberts went the right way, he couldn’t keep the ball from ending up in the back of the net.
“It was a great result because TNS are a phenomenal proposition. They put us under a massive amount of pressure but I thought we played well,” said Bala boss Colin Caton.
“They asked question after question of us but we defended well. You’ve got to have endeavour and commitment and a desire to go and hang onto the result.
“We rode our luck at times, but that’s what has to happen when you play against a team of that quality.”
TNS were due to welcome struggling Newtown to Park Hall last weekend before the storm intervened. They currently sit four points behind league leaders Penybont with a game in hand.
“We’re bitterly disappointed because we don’t like getting beaten. It’s a tough one to take because we had plenty of possession and created some good opportunities,” admitted TNS boss Harrison after his side’s midweek defeat.
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Balancing the demands of the league, the latter stages of the Nathaniel MG Cup as well as their epic Uefa Conference League Group stage matches is making life difficult for Harrison, who made seven changes to his team for the trip to Bala.
‘Lady Luck’ hasn’t been much on their side either, with Declan McManus hitting the crossbar and a post at Maes Tegid. They also found Bala goalkeeper Joel Torrance in inspired form as he made a number of superb saves.
Penybont held onto their advantage at the top thanks to a 1-0 home win over Haverfordwest County. A goal two minutes into the second half from Mael Davies sealed the three points.
Connah’s Quay Nomads picked up a point in their 1-1 home draw with Caernarfon Town and are now only two points off the top six. Victories for both Briton Ferry Llansawel and Flint Town United made a difference to both halves of the table.
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The Ferrymen were 2-1 winners at home against Newtown, while a hat-trick from Florian Yonsian earned Flint a 3-0 home win over bottom of the table Aberystwyth Town.
There are only four JD Cymru Premier teams left in the last 16 of the Welsh Cup – Haverfordwest County, Bala Town, Connah’s Quay Nomads and TNS – and there will be at least four teams from Tier 2 or below in the hat for the quarter finals.
JD Welsh Cup last 16
Friday 13 December
Haverfordwest County v Llanelli Town
Saturday 14 December
Afan Lido v Cambrian United; Carmarthen Town v Holyhead Hotspur; Denbigh Town v Llanuwchllyn; Caerau Ely v Bala Town; Airbus UK Broughton v Caersws; Connah’s Quay Nomads v Mold Alex
Sunday 15 December
The New Saints v Colwyn Bay
