For the second successive season, The New Saints’ quest to get into the top four of the Genero Adran Premier comes down to the final fixture of phase one.
It has been a mixed campaign so far for Greg Draper’s side. A strong start had many put them as favourites to be in the top four, but a run of four defeats in a row in January has left them on the doorstep looking in. Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Aberystwyth Town, the Saints sit in fifth place – behind the fourth-place Seasiders on goal difference.
For midfielder Helen Evans, she knows that the form has not been stellar as of late, but she is confident the team will bounce back to what they do best.
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of a season to say the least,” she says. “We were on a run of seven wins in a row in all competitions, and then we came off the back of that and have had four big losses. That was a bit tough on all of us, the girls, and the coaching staff.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries and a lot of players out, but you can’t blame it on that. You can get in a rut sometimes in football, and sometimes it’s hard to get out of it, but I believe this weekend, we will play how we normally play.”
If it isn’t this weekend for TNS, it’ll be too little too late.
The task is simple. Travel to Park Avenue and beat Aberystwyth and a place in the top four is theirs. Fail to do so, and it’ll be a place in the Championship Conference.
“We probably wouldn’t have taken this position if it was given to us at the start of the season,” Evans says. “We would have preferred to get into the top four in a far more comfortable way, especially because last season went down to the final game as well.
“If anything, it’s true TNS fashion that we’ve done this again to ourselves and created a mountain for us to climb up.”
Remarkably, the Saints were in this position last season. They needed to win by four goals on the final day at home against Abergavenny. They did just that thanks to an 88th minute goal from Emily Ridge.
Having gone through that furore last year, they know what it takes to do it again this year according to Evans.
“It 100% helps that we’ve been through that experience. From being there and doing it, we know we can do it. We know when we need to perform that we can turn up, and when the pressure is on us, we seem to perform very well.
“It’s not an ideal situation, but it was a big occasion for us and we’re all up for it again and can’t wait to play.”
Having said that, Abergavenny were bottom of the table that season. Heading into this all-important clash, TNS are one place below Aberystwyth.
This will be the third meeting between the Saints and the Seasiders this season, and having won both previous games in the league and Bute Energy Welsh Cup, Evans is confident, but also knows how tough a matchup it will be.
“We’re very used to Aberystwyth. We’ve played them twice this season already and beat them on both occasions and both of those were at home.
“Going to Park Avenue is a different story. We don’t have a great record there, and that’s certainly going to be a factor in this situation.
“We know how they play; we know what they like to do, which players we need to watch, and it’s the same with them knowing all those things about us.
“We’re two teams who are close to each other, and whoever wins will be deserving of that top four spot.”
If TNS are to win, they could look to Caitlin Chapman to provide a moment of inspiration. The Northern Ireland youth international has been in scintillating form this season, ranking fourth in the goal scoring charts and top of the assists in the Genero Adran Premier.
“Caitlin is a quality player. On and off the pitch she’s a really good girl. Her crossing ability is unbelievable, her finishing is also unreal. With her in the team, it just gives us even more hope to go out and win games.”
As if the backdrop and gravitas of this fixture wasn’t big enough, the game will be live to watch on S4C and Sgorio. This will be the first time both sides have played in front of the live cameras, and Evans is looking forward to showing what her team is all about.
“It’s so exciting that this game is live on S4C and Sgorio. It’s well deserved in a way for us and Aberystwyth to be on TV. It’s an exciting game for us and one where we need to take everything in for ourselves. It’s a great chance for us to go and showcase what we can do.”
With the stage set for this monumental game, Evans has one message for her side as they go into their final battle.
“To go and have fun, express yourself, but make sure you do your job to the best of your ability in order for us to have the best chance of winning this game.”
