Saints go marching towards the title
IT is ironic that as The New Saints march triumphantly towards their seventh successive Welsh Premier title, former manager Craig Harrison, who masterminded nearly a decade of wall-to-wall success at Park Hall, should be sacked at struggling Hartlepool United.
Harrison had been in charge of ‘Pool for just six months, a period of huge turmoil, with the club facing massive financial problems, and he must be wondering if the move north was the wisest decision he has ever made.
His former club are at secondplaced Connah’s Quay this afternoon and with a 12 point advantage over the Deeside club, and a game in hand, only a home win will keep Quay’s faintest title chances alive.
TNS boss Scott Ruscoe, still smarting from last week’s disappointing Irn Bru Cup semi final defeat to Dumbarton, realises the importance of this afternoon’s clash.
He said: “Last week was a massive blow to the players, who felt it was a game we should have put to bed, but we have two further prizes to chase but Connah’s Quay will be a stiff test for us.
“They are a physical side who are always a threat so we will need to be at our best and this week we need to put away our chances.”
He added: “We’re in a decent place in the league but that is all it is, as prizes are not handed out at this time of the year. We are targeting the league and Welsh Cup, to add to the League Cup we have already won, but there’s some way to go yet.”
Bala Town are also in the race for the second automatic European spot and they will be looking to inflict more misery on the visiting students of Cardiff Met, who have lost three on the trot.
Carmarthen are without suspended Aidan O’Kelly for tomorrow’s crucial televised visit to Aberystwyth (5.15pm). Defeat for the Old Gold would virtually seal their fate as a deficit of 11 points, with six matches remaining, would surely be out of reach. The same applies to Prestatyn if they fail to grab maximum points at home to Newtown tomorrow. That appears unlikely as they have managed just one point from the last 10 matches.
This evening’s Jenner Park encounter between Barry Town United and Llandudno is another vital match as the two sides are in pole position to land the final European play-off spot with Barry edging the race.