Just the one change
Although we’ve had a heavy fixture schedule for a number of weeks now, Craig Harrison has largely been going for consistency as far as the starting XI is concerned.
Obviously it helped having no midweek game this time round, but like so many other line-ups in recent weeks, there was minimal change anyway.
In this instance, just the one, as Danny Davies came in for Ryan Astles.
The ebb and the flow
It was most certainly an exciting encounter to watch, with The New Saints dominating early proceedings, before East Fife got into the game themselves.
Then TNS were in the driving seat, followed by good spells from the visitors. Repeat.
It certainly ebbed and flowed and that was reflected in the scoring sequence, with The New Saints taking the lead before the Fife not only equalised but went ahead themselves. Then, it was back to level-pegging and that’s how it ended after 90 minutes.
Five from five in the penalty lottery
With no extra-time beyond the ninety, we went straight to penalties.
We’ve had mixed fortunes as far as spot-kicks are concerned in recent seasons and there is inevitably a subconscious, whereby as a fan the disappointments are often the ones that stick in the memory.
There were certainly some confident kicks and after nine, it was 5-4 to The New Saints, with Adrian Cieslewicz, Rory Holden, Ryan Brobbel, Brad Young and Jon Routledge all finding the back of the net.
Connor Roberts, it comes good in the end
At that stage, Connor Roberts, although he hadn’t saved a penalty, had gone the right way on each occasion and managed to get a touch to each one.
He’d already stopped one in the game though, initially blocking Alan Trouten’s spot-kick, only to see the East Fife captain follow through with the rebound for the equaliser.
With Kieran Mitchell stepping up and attempting to keep his side in the tie, Roberts finally got the rub of the green as he denied the substitute and sent The New Saints into the last eight of the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Following the final whistle, as well as Craig Harrison, club media interviewed Connor.
A key eleven days for cup competitions
The victory against East Fife means that as well as leading the way in the JD Cymru Premier, we are still in three cup competitions.
Spanning a period of eleven days, in addition to the SPFL Trust Trophy we also play Ruthin Town and Gresford Athletic in the JD Welsh Cup and Nathaniel MG Cup respectively.
Whether staff or players the desire to win at The New Saints is very focused, and regardless of the fixture, as Craig Harrison so often says, the next game is the most important one because it’s the next one.
With a trio of league fixtures as well during the remainder of the month, the plan will be come November, to continue heading the JD Cymru Premier and to be in all three cups.
Lead image courtesy of Brian Jones.
