The New Saints manager Craig Harrison has urged his players to move on quickly from their latest Euro heartbreak – and pocket the consolation prize. His team were unable to overcome a one goal deficit from the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round clash with Moldovan champions Petrocub and were knocked out of the tournament after a goalless draw.

The New Saints may be a bit pre-occupied with their European campaign at present, but they showed no signs of easing up on their domestic dominance of Welsh football as they kicked off the defence of their Nathaniel MG Cup title with a 5-1 home win over Flint Town United. It turned out to be a good dress-rehearsal for Craig Harrison’s team ahead of Tuesday night’s Europa League third round clash with Moldovan champions, FC Petrocub.

Their Champions League dreams may be hanging by a thread after a 5-0 hammering in Budapest, but Welsh champions The New Saints still believe there is plenty to play for in their second qualifying round, second leg clash with Ferencvaros at Park Hall on Tuesday night (7.00pm kick-off). The Hungarian champions of the past six years proved too strong on the night and in front of a near capacity 23,700 crowd at the Groupama Arena last week they gave their new head coach Pascal Jansen plenty to smile about.

Craig Harrison begins another Champions League adventure with New Saints on Tuesday, a competition he once aspired to play in till a horrific injury ended his career aged just 25. A double compound fracture of the leg while playing in a reserve game for Crystal Palace brought a nightmare end after he had achieved his “boyhood dream” of becoming a professional footballer.

Neil Gibson was full of praise for his Connah’s Quay Nomads teams after they ended The New Saints’ dream of the treble by winning the Welsh Cup Final, 2-1. That vision – which included going unbeaten in domestic matches in Wales – went up in smoke as Josh Williams produced a wonder goal to earn the Nomads their second JD Welsh Cup triumph.

Mike Harris – chairman of Cymru Premier dominant force, The New Saints – has welcomed the Football Association of Wales’ plans to improve the league. The FAW has promised an investment package worth more than £739,500 in the on-field product. As part of the revamp, the Cymru Premier is to be increased from 12 clubs to 14 or 16, there will be a switch to Friday night games, and VAR will be introduced to help referees.

Craig Harrison insists there are no secrets to The New Saints’ 16th domestic Welsh title as he reflected on another dominant season. The Saints boss saw his team sweep to yet another JD Cymru Premier crown with six games left to play as they notched their 25th win of their unbeaten campaign with a 4-0 win over Cardiff Met.

It took 18 penalties before Flint Town United were able to clinch their place in the fourth round of the JD Welsh Cup as they eventually won 8-7 in the shoot-out after their game at Bangor 1876 ended 1-1 in regulation time. But it took 67 minutes before the first goal of the game came along, Elliott Reeves firing the Silkmen ahead.

When you are battling for a starting place against the Golden Boot winner for the last two seasons in the JD Cymru Premier, your first hat-trick in professional football certainly helps your cause. Brad Young’s trio of goals in The New Saints’ 6-2 win at Barry Town United not only pushed his claim, but also gained revenge for the 2-2 draw their hosts had squeezed out of their earlier meeting at Park Hall.

Having seen his side held to a 2-2 draw at home by last season’s JD Cymru South champions Barry Town United, The New Saints boss Craig Harrison is hoping lightning doesn’t strike twice when he takes his team to Colwyn Bay on Tuesday night to meet last season’s North champions.

The JD Cymru Premier League is up and running again, with the likes of The New Saints and Haverfordwest County shifting their focus back to domestic football after their European summer adventures. The New Saints are huge title favourites, but who will be the league’s leading goalscorer? Ian Mitchelmore assesses the contenders.

Cian Ashford score four times for Cardiff City U21s as Haverfordwest County were brought down to earth with a bump after their European adventure. The Bluebirds youngsters won 4-0 at County’s Bridge Meadow ground, where the home club played a young inexperienced line-up after manager Tony Pennock had criticised the FAW for scheduling the third round round tie of the Nathaniel MG Cup only three days after their European Conference League match against B36 Torshavn.