The starting XI and fitness levels
Although we’ve had a run of midweek fixtures recently – the game against Caernarfon Town was the seventh in the month of September – nevertheless there was just the one change to the team that started at the Oval, with Ben Clark coming in for Leo Smith.
It shows the fitness levels of the players and the ability to be back again at full strength in a short period of time. Bear in mind that we didn’t get home until the early hours of the morning on Saturday, so just two full days between the Cardiff Met game and the visit to Caernarfon.
It’s not just The New Saints, of course, because it’s true to say that fitness overall is much better in 2023’s JD Cymru Premier than it was in the League of Wales 1992.
Almost the start we wanted, then not
We almost got off to a perfect start at the Oval, when a typical Jordan Williams thunderbolt strike hit the woodwork very early in the game.
In the sixth minute though, Richard Davies’ side took the lead as the hosts got their nose in front.
However, for as much as no team wants to concede goals, it’s not so much how you start but rather how you finish.
Four games without a clean sheet
After four consecutive matches without conceding a goal, we have now failed to keep a clean sheet in as many since.
The standards set by Craig Harrison and the staff are extremely high and it will be something they will want to address.
From a fan’s perspective though, when you take into account that we have won the last four games with scores of 5-1, 4-1, 5-1 and now 3-1, is it that much of an issue to you?
As a supporter, are you disappointed with conceding four in as many games or do you see just four wins and seventeen goals scored?
Three names and three quality goals
A goal is a goal, of course, and they all count. However, when you look at the three scored at the Oval, there are plenty of positives to take from the approach play and the executions themselves.
You can see the highlights on our X account, courtesy of Sgorio.
Which is your favourite?
Was it Ben Clark’s equaliser, as he collected Ryan Brobbel’s pass, turned in the box and saw his strike hit the post before embedding itself in the opposite end of the net?
Maybe it was Jordan Williams’ backheel from close range, following Chris Marriott’s corner from the right?
Or the inch-perfect chip from Jordan Williams that resulted in Brobbel slotting home from inside the area?
Talking of Marriott, it was our captain’s birthday during the week. Our longest-serving player, he’s always an inspiration and it’s great to see him back in the side following a spell of injury.
Still leading the way
The victory at Caernarfon means that we are still at the top of the table, but with Connah’s Quay Nomads winning again – their sixth on the bounce – the gap is still just two points.
The lead over Penybont FC, who sit in third spot, is six points.
We are also the only unbeaten side in the JD Cymru Premier, having won seven and drawn two of the games played so far.
Regardless of what the opposition does, it’s first and foremost about ourselves.
Happy with the season so far?
