Season 24/25
August Review: Saints get off to an encouraging start at Park Hall
Saturday 10 August
The New Saints 1 - 0 Cheltenham Town (EFL League Two)
⚽ Draper
⭐ Bradley
Despite concerns over pre-season form, TNS got off to a winning start at Park Hall, with Chris Draper scoring a sensational winner in the first half, arrowing a shot into the top right corner from just inside the box. However, the real star of the game was goalkeeper William Bradley, who single handedly earned TNS three points with a succession of brilliant saves. Cheltenham could not get the ball past him, despite their best efforts.
Tuesday 13 August
The New Saints 1 - 1 Crewe Alexandra, 3-4 on Penalties (Carabao Cup R1)
⚽ Thomas
⭐ Thomas
After the jubilation of an opening day win at home, the Park Hall faithful came crashing down to earth after being dumped out of the Carabao Cup. Harrison shuffled the pack for this fixture, but things unravelled quickly for TNS when Crewe's Jack Powell followed up on the rebound of a good strike well saved, but unfortunately parried, by William Bradley. TNS secured a first half equaliser through striker Jaxon Thomas, who pounced on some suspect defending by Crewe to pinch the ball in the box and level things up. The second half was a fairly tense affair, with neither team looking to make an error. With no extra time to be played in this competition, the teams went straight to penalties. In the end, misses from captain Lloyd Jenkins and 17-year old striker Logan Pickering sealed Saints' fate.
Saturday 17 August
The New Saints 3 - 1 Chesterfield (EFL League Two)
⚽ Bowman 2, Thomas
⭐ Bowman
In a rare case of two straight home games to start the season, TNS capitalised with a superb victory over an impressively mounted Chesterfield side. The match got off to a similar start as the midweek exit from the cup, with Liam Mandeville following up on an almost identical rebound to slot the opening goal. This sparked a determined Saints team back into life, as they went on to dominate the rest of the game. Bowman got the equaliser before half-time, bundling it home awkwardly after an initial save. If the result was in doubt at half time, things soon swung Saints' way, with Jaxon Thomas thumping home a top corner finish to finish a powerful run into the box. Chesterfield threw men forward to pursue their own equaliser, which TNS ultimately punished late in the game when substitute Reuben Andrews got free and tucked the ball back to Bowman, who knocked in a sitter for his brace.
Saturday 24 August
Grimsby Town 0 - 1 The New Saints (EFL League Two)
⚽ Bowman
⭐ Bradley
After three consecutive games at home to start the season, TNS finally got on the road, arriving at Blundell Park in Cleethorpes for their first away match of the season. Grimsby will not be able to believe they lost this one, as it was one way traffic for most of the game. Despite peppering the Saints' goal, William Bradley put in a tremendous performance, along with the entire back line, to keep The Mariners at bay (no pun intended). In the end, the difference was an Ezra Bowman goal on the break in one of the few opportunities TNS had all afternoon. Three straight league wins to open the season tasted all the sweeter after getting a result here.
Saturday 31 August
The New Saints 0 - 1 Notts County (EFL League Two)
⭐ Lloyd Jenkins
The run had to end at some point, but Saints will be disappointed to come away with a loss in their final game of the month. While TNS defended admirably throughout the contest, with Lloyd Jenkins standing out in particular, a late goal from Jevani Brown, a menace to Saints all game, was enough to seal three points for the much-fancied Notts County, who also came into the weekend unbeaten. TNS had some good opportunities throughout the game, but squandered chances and a concerning amount of fatigue hindering the defence (Jenkins had to come off at 70 minutes due to pure exhaustion) left Craig Harrison in no doubt that further reinforcements will be needed before the deadline passes.
The State of Play
After one month and four games in the league, The New Saints find themselves fifth in League Two, occupying one of the coveted play-off positions. Harrison and his team are not getting ahead of themselves after a strong start, and will continue to take each game as it comes. The cup exit was probably the biggest disappointment, but a long run in the competition was probably unlikely. Still, playing a team in your division at home and failing to advance to the next round is nothing if not an opportunity missed. September will be a challenging month, with trips to MK Dons and recently relegated Port Vale amongst the fixtures.
