Jordan Williams says The New Saints will relish the weight of expectation in Saturday’s Nathaniel MG Cup Final against Barry Town United (KO 17:30).
The Saints have won the competition a record 11 times, including in each of the last two seasons, and will be favourites once again at the DragonBet Stadium as they aim to tick off a first trophy of the campaign.
“It’s good pressure,” Williams says of being at a club so accustomed to winning silverware. “There’s all sorts of pressure, but pressure to win trophies is better than pressure to stay up or pressure to be at home and provide for your family. So it is pressure, but it’s nice to have.”
TNS’ exit from the JD Welsh Cup in the third round means that there will be no repeat of last season’s treble-winning heroics. However, victory on Saturday could be followed by securing the JD Cymru Premier title on Tuesday night if they defeat Connah’s Quay Nomads.
2026 Nathaniel MG Cup Final
It has been an impressive individual season for Williams, now 33 years old, who has 25 goals in 32 appearances so far – already his best goal tally for a singular campaign.
“It’s been good,” Williams says of the season so far. “I’ve scored plenty of goals and we’re top of the league. We’d like to still be in every competition but we can’t change the past. We’ve just got to keep cracking down and try to lift the two trophies at the end of the season.
“I’ve had a bit of a change of position, playing more central. But I’m working hard, keeping myself fit. I’m getting older but I feel fitter than I ever have. Once you hit a good bit of form, any goal scorer will tell you, it’s just nice and you feel the rhythm and keep going.”
Saturday’s final will be the fourth meeting between TNS and Barry this season. While the Saints were 4-0 winners at Park Hall in October, they have struggled to break down the Linnets on the other two encounters – a goalless draw at Jenner Park and a narrow 1-0 home win.
“It will probably be quite tight again,” Williams says. “They’re a good team, Barry. We played them the other week and it was a very close affair. I expect nothing but a tough encounter and a tough final.”
If Williams does get his hands back on the Nathaniel MG Cup on Saturday evening, it will be his tenth trophy since joining TNS five years ago.
However, the forward says that the feeling remains special and his side will be firmly focused on getting the job done.
“The last two years we’ve played in the final and won it. Obviously we want to do that again, lift a bit of silverware, and hopefully I can get on the scoresheet as well.
“Lifting trophies doesn’t get old. As many as you win, it’s what you want to do in football. It’s why you play football, to win. So we’re going to go all out to win it.”
