Ruscoe looks for TNS reaction as after shock defeat for champions
IF it wasn’t exactly a crisis meeting, New Saints boss Scott Ruscoe certainly made his feelings known to his players after calling them together this week in the wake of their shock 1-0 defeat in the JD Welsh Premier League at Aberystwyth last weekend.
Now he wants to see a reaction from them tonight when they host Caernarfon Town in a game that could see the champions return to the top of the table if they can extend their unbeaten league run at Park Hall.
League leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads welcome second-placed Barry United tomorrow in another key clash in Round 14 and Ruscoe wants his players to bounce back and maintain the pressure on the top two.
“We are a club that is used to success and everyone wants to see fail. People want to see new title challengers and they think it’s boring seeing us winning everything,” said Ruscoe.
“It’s not boring for us and we need to get back to winning ways. We know last Friday night wasn’t good enough and we don’t brush things under the carpet.
“We won’t change how we play, but we do want a reaction, to see tempo in our game and for there to be an edge about our performance. I don’t want to have to call any more meetings.”
“We are there to be shot at and, hopefully, what happened at Aber is just a bump in the road and we can get back to winning ways.”
There is every likelihood that Ruscoe’s men will move back to the top tonight given they beat new boys Caernarfon, last season’s Huws Gray Cymru Alliance winners, 3-0 away from home in the opening month of the season and have won all six home matches.
Not only that, they are averaging four goals per game at home and hit Carmarthen, Aberystwyth and Llandudno for six in three of those games.
While Ruscoe is unhappy at having lost three times, he can still point to having scored more goals, 36, and conceded fewer, nine, than anyone else.
“We beat them 3-0 away, but they are professional in everything they do. They have had a couple of injuries, but we will take them very seriously,” added Ruscoe.
“The trophies aren’t given out in November or December and we aren’t even half way through the season yet.
“We will re-evaluate at Christmas and see whether or not we need to make two or three signings.”
Tonight also sees basement side Llandudno welcome fourthplaced Bala Town in another game that could have an impact on how the top of the table looks at the end of the weekend.
Llandudno have been strengthened by the signing of former Blackpool striker Gary TaylorFletcher.
The 37-year-old joins on an initial contract until January, having left Bangor City in May 2018.
Taylor-Fletcher is available to play tonight.
“I got a call from Iwan (Llandudno manager Williams) asking if I’d be interested in coming in to help out,” said Taylor-Fletcher.
“I didn’t have to think too long and the deal was done pretty quickly.”
There were two goals apiece from Michael Wilde and Andy Owens to help steer the Nomads to the top last weekend with their 6-0 home win over bottom club Llanelli Town.
That added to their 7-0 away win at Stebonheath Park earlier in the campaign and set them up for their clash with Barry on Saturday.
It will be a good game for Andy Morrison’s side to use to warm-up for their Irn Bru Cup quarter-final clash with Queen’s Park at Glasgow’s renowned Hampden Park a week later.
It is 15 years since Barry were top of the league and if they can head north and make it three wins in a row they will bridge that gap.
“It is a big game that got even bigger with both of us winning last weekend.
“The manager has brought in some good players and we’ve got a good changing room,” said Barry midfield ace Macauley SouthamHales.
“We are strong at home, and we’ve made Jenner Park a fortress, but now we’ve got to do the job on the road. It is going to be a quality game, but it also going to be a battle.”
Carmarthen host Cefn Druids and Newtown entertain Llanelli tomorrow, with Cardiff Met welcoming Aberystwyth on Sunday.