The New Saints will hope to check off the next milestone in their remarkable season as they compete in the SPFL Trust Trophy final against Airdrieonians on Sunday (KO 16:15).
Having already lifted the Nathaniel MG Cup and JD Cymru Premier, Craig Harrison’s side are targeting a third trophy of the campaign – with a JD Welsh Cup semi-final also to come before this month is out.
No Welsh club has ever won the SPFL Trust Trophy, with Connah’s Quay Nomads coming closest in 2019 when they were beaten by Ross County in the final.
Harrison, who was assistant manager to Andy Morrison at the Nomads that year, said: “It’s a trophy we haven’t got in our collection, so it’s one that we would like, and it would be extra special. It’s always nice to do something you’ve not done.
“It’s still always nice to win the title the amount of times we’ve won it, and trophies and playing European football, but no non-Scottish club has won it, and for us to be the first would be a fantastic achievement and great for the club, players and staff involved.”
Sunday’s final takes place at the Falkirk Stadium, the same ground where TNS triumphed 1-0 over Falkirk in the semi-final thanks to Brad Young’s goal midway through the first half.
Young is the competition’s top scorer this season with five goals, having also found the net in the wins against Hibernian B, East Fife and Arbroath in previous rounds.
The Saints head into the final on an incredible 26-match winning streak in all competitions, while they have not lost a single game since being knocked out of the UEFA Europa Conference League by Swift Hesperange at the start of August.
Sunday’s opponents Airdrieonians are in the final for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 2009, having defeated Raith Rovers in the semi-final.
Former Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Rhys McCabe is player-manager of Airdrieonians at only 31 years old, but he has done an impressive job so far as he led the club to promotion from the Scottish third tier last season.
They are battling to go up again this term, with the Scottish Premiership in their sights as the Diamonds currently sit fourth in the Scottish Championship.
“We’ve managed to get eyes on them in three of their games in the last five, so we’ve travelled up to Scotland to watch them,” Harrison said. “We’ve done all we can, I think, regarding our due diligence and homework.
“I expect a battle. There have been a lot of clubs invited into the competition from the first round, and to get to the final you’ve got to be a very good team.
“Airdrie are a very good team, they’re top half of the Championship, with some very good young players and a bit of experience in there as well.
“They have a young player-manager there who has done a fantastic job, so we expect it to be a really tough game.”
