Season 24/25
September Review: Moments of madness lead to hilarious goals
Saturday 7 September
Milton Keynes Dons 2 - 2 The New Saints (EFL League Two)
⚽ Thomas, Pickering
⭐ Draper
Travelling to one of the biggest (and emptiest) stadiums in the league, things couldn't have got off to a better start for TNS as they took the lead in less than five minutes, with Jaxon Thomas playing through his strike partner Ezra Bowman, who forced a parry that Thomas gobbled up on the rebound. From there though the first half became a hard slog for Saints, who conceded twice in just a matter of minutes; first to Connor Evans, who rounded William Bradley all too easily and slotted home, and second to Jonathan Leko, who took advantage of far too much space in the box to put the Dons ahead. The second half was much more positive, and midway through TNS got their equaliser, with man of the match Chris Draper breaking the defensive line to play the ball across to 17 year-old Logan Pickering, who scored his first senior goal. TNS will be pleased to take a point from a tough game.
Saturday 14 September
The New Saints 2 - 1 Bradford City (EFL League Two)
⚽ Pickering, OG (Diabate)
⭐ Pickering
As TNS returned home for a game against mid-table Bradford City, roles reversed with Andy Cook putting the Bantams ahead early doors, due to some slack defending from Saints. In the end though, TNS were by far the better side throughout the game, and an equaliser came midway through the first half. Logan Pickering, brimming with confidence after scoring his first senior goal, managed to latch onto a through ball and poked home his second in as many games. There was concern before the half time whistle though, as star striker Jaxon Thomas went off with a shoulder injury. In the second half, Saints continued their dominance and made it pay through the first of many bizarre goals for and against Saints in September. After getting clear, Pickering knocked the ball past City's keeper, only for defender Cheick Diabate to carry it over the line when it looked easier to make a clearance.
Saturday 21 September
Port Vale 2 - 1 The New Saints (EFL League Two)
⚽ Thomas
⭐ O'Connor
In what was probably Saints' weakest performance of the season so far, a first-half double from recently relegated Port Vale proved too much of a mountain to climb for Craig Harrison's team. The first was another comedy goal, with Ruori Paton crashing the ball off the crossbar, only for it to hit debuting goalkeeper Ryan Davies in the face and bounce into the net. That may have been an unfortunate own goal, but Paton managed to get one of his own shortly after, turning in a deep cross when his run wasn't picked up. TNS improved in the second half, with Jaxon Thomas (who passed a late fitness test) getting a consolation late on. It was another freak goal, as his shot was saved, only to bounce back off him over the helpless keeper. In the end though, it wasn't enough.
Saturday 28 September
The New Saints 1 - 1 Doncaster Rovers (EFL League Two)
⚽ Bowman
⭐ Davies
The final game of the month saw TNS welcome Doncaster Rovers to Park Hall, on what was a very soggy evening in Shropshire. It's testament to just how fantastic he was for the rest of the game that Ryan Davies still picked up the man of the match award, after gifting Doncaster the opener with a weak pass that Joe Ironside easily intercepted and tucked into the back of the net. Saints' equaliser also came as the result of a goalkeeping error, with Bowman's header bouncing off the wet turf and looping embrassingly over Rovers' keeper. Elijah Just, who disappointed in his first few games, was causing havoc here, but the score remained even at half time. In the second half, Doncaster were the better side, but Davies put his earlier error behind him, making numerous big saves to secure a point for TNS.
The State of Play
It was a mixed month for TNS, who picked up just one victory across four games, perhaps coming back down to earth after an impressive start. Despite this, they only fell to 6th in League Two, giving fans hope they'll remain contenders for at least a little while longer. The defence certainly struggled throughout the month, but as the starting lineup stabilises and familiarity grows, Harrison will hope his side can shore things up. October is a bumper month with seven games in total to play, including Saints' first foray into the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. This will really test the overall quality of the squad, with rotation all but guaranteed.
CONTRACT UPDATE: Austin Carpenter extends for one more year
The New Saints are pleased to announce that they have come to terms on a one-year contract extension for centre back Austin Carpenter. The defender, who was due to go out of contract in 2025, has committed for another season.
Season 24/25
October Review: Rocky form on the road marks inconsistent month for Saints
Wednesday 2 October
Barrow 2 - 1 The New Saints (EFL League Two)
⚽ Pickering
⭐ Pickering
A first midweek trip in the league for Saints, to second placed Barrow, set the tone for a month of frustrating away results. If the first half was a fairly even affair, with both teams keeping the other quiet, Barrow took hold of the game in the second half. Newby opened the scoring for the home team, cutting through the defence and slotting past Ryan Davies to put the Cumbrians ahead. League Two stalwart Dom Telford doubled Barrow's lead, whipping a strike into the bottom corner after some speedy build-up play. TNS did give themselves hope in the final ten minutes, Logan Pickering getting free and poking what was ultimately a consolation into the net, but Barrow were well worth their victory in the end.
Saturday 5 October
The New Saints 2 - 1 Crewe Alexandra (EFL League Two)
⚽ Ward, Thomas
⭐ Bowman
In this rematch from earlier in the season, when Crewe dumped TNS out of the Carabao Cup, Saints got a measure of revenge and first league win in three games. After being reintroduced to the side, winger Emmanuel Ward repaid Craig Harrison's faith by tucking away the opening goal after receiving a cutback from Ezra Bowman. The celebrations didn't last long, though, as Chris Long quickly equalised for the Railwaymen, taking advantage of some chaos in the Saints' box to funnel a low shot underneath Davies for 1-1. TNS were ahead once again before half time though, Bowman adding to his assist tally with a delicious through ball that Jaxon Thomas finished with aplomb. The second half was a bit on a non-event by comparison, as TNS comfortably saw out the game to continue their strong home form.
Tuesday 8 October
Doncaster Rovers 2 - 3 The New Saints (BSM Trophy, Group Stage)
⚽ Pickering 3
⭐ Pickering
With Doncaster opening their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign with a win away to group favourites Bolton Wanderers, the pressure was on TNS to get their tournament off to a good start. Harrison shuffled the pack significantly for this game, but the risk paid off as Saints came out on top in a hugely entertaining game. It didn't start well though, with Kyle Hurst finding space on the left and clipping a high shot over William Bradley, returning in goal for the first time in a month. It wasn't long until Saints found an equaliser, Chris Draper bursting down the left and laying the ball across to Logan Pickering for the first of a scintillating hat-trick. Shortly after, Pickering put TNS ahead, breaking free of the Rovers defence just beyond the halfway line and finishing his long run superbly. After half time, Pickering complete his hat-trick, gathering the ball just inside of the box and rumbling it into the bottom corner to complete his hat-trick. Evergreen striker Billy Sharp did pull one back late on, but TNS have a foothold in the group and just need a point at home to Bolton to confirm their place in the second round.
Saturday 12 October
Tranmere Rovers 2 - 1 The New Saints (EFL League Two)
⚽ Thomas
⭐ Davies
TNS slumped to another away defeat on the Wirral, never really troubling a well-organised Tranmere Rovers team. Saints went behind in the first half after some more sloppy defending, Josh Hawkes getting too much space in the box to fire the ball into the top corner. It could have been a lot worse for TNS before half time, but Ryan Davies was on spectacular form, pulling off a host of fantastic saves (especially in a one-on-one situation with an on-rushing Josh Davison) to keep Saints in the game. Unfortunately, Tranmere doubled their lead shortly after the break, Connor Jennings dribbling into the box and finding space to fire a second into the bottom corner. Once again, TNS managed to get a route back into the game, Jaxon Thomas slamming home a cutback, but an equaliser wasn't forthcoming.
Saturday 19 October
The New Saints 3 - 0 Carlisle United (EFL League Two)
⚽ Pickering, Thomas, Just
⭐ Just
TNS were in fine form back at home against Carlisle, just a few places below Saints in 9th. The home team hit the front early, Thomas breaking into the box and striking low, only for the goalkeeper to parry it into the path of an on-rushing Logan Pickering to open the scoring. Saints doubled the lead quickly, Elijah Just dribbling down the left past three players and finding Thomas with a cutback to cap a brilliant opening 20 minutes. Carlisle shored things up but TNS were never in danger on the day. After half time, TNS confirmed the win, Elijah Just finding himself in acres the space on the left of the box to strike a third low and hard in the bottom right corner. TNS could have added more, but a 3-0 win is hard to argue with.
Tuesday 22 October
Accrington Stanley 1 - 0 The New Saints (EFL League Two)
⭐ Jenkins
The prospect of travelling to relegation-fighting side Accrington presented an opportunity for TNS to break their streak of losses away from home in the league, making this the most frustrating result of the month. Unlike the previous away games in October, Saints were always in this one, holding a lot of the ball but rarely creating good opportunities in front of goal. Accrington made TNS pay in the second half with one of their rare chances, Alex Henderson breaking into the box unsighted and crashing home what would go on to be the winning goal. Saints pressed forward for an equaliser, but some admirable defending from the relegation-threatened Stanley meant this would be another away trip to forget for Craig Harrison's team.
Saturday 26 October
The New Saints 1 - 1 Gillingham (EFL League Two)
⚽ Draper
⭐ Draper
The month culminated with the visit of promotion-chasing Gillingham, sitting in third position. This was a pretty topsy-turvy contest, but Saints got off to the better start and went ahead after Emmanuel Ward went on a mazy run and hit the post, the rebound falling to Chris Draper to tap home. TNS were the better team in the first half and could have added to their tally, but the score remained 1-0 until the half-time whistle. Gillingham responded well in the second half and ultimately equalised through Elliott Nevitt, who broke through Saints' defensive line and fired the leveller low into the right corner. Both teams had good chances to snatch the win in the final 30 minutes, but neither could beat the respective goalkeepers. Given the form of Gillingham, TNS will probably consider this a positive result.
The State of Play
It was another inconsistent month for Harrison's Saints team, who have lost four straight away games in the league, but have only lost once at home all season. On a positive note, TNS held on to the position of 6th in League Two and have now played every other team in the top eight, perhaps suggesting there is an easier run of fixtures to come. Next month marks the beginning of Saints' first ever FA Cup campaign, with Notts County (the only team to beat New Saints away so far) returning to Park Hall for a first-round tie. League One's Bolton Wanderers will also be visiting Park Hall in November to decide whether or not Saints will progress through to the second round of the BSM Trophy.
November Review: Two trips to Wales end in misery for Saints
Saturday 2 November
The New Saints 3 - 2 Notts County (FA Cup, 1st Round)
⚽ Sigurðsson, Carpenter, Draper
⭐ Carpenter
For their very first FA Cup game, TNS welcomed Notts County, still the only team to defeat Saints at home in 90 minutes, back to Park Hall. What would be a triumphant first foray into the football's oldest club competition started well, with Icelandic prospect Össur Sigurðsson firing in an opener (and his first for the club) after a strike well saved by Alex Bass floated into his path, just metres from goal. Saints would keep a much tighter grip on this game than when County last came to visit, and midway through the second day half, some necessary breathing room came when Austin Carpenter, up for a corner, took advantage of a chaotic set piece to bundle home a second for TNS. Josh Martin got one back for County after cutting in off the left, only for Chris Draper to smash home a goal of the season contender from 25 yards to confirm a Saints victory. Curtis Edwards pulled one back late on, but it wasn't enough for County.
Saturday 9 November
Newport County 3 - 0 The New Saints (EFL League Two)
⭐ Herbert
It was a woeful day out in South Wales for TNS, in what was a first trip back to more familiar surroundings since the transfer to the English Football League. Bobby Kamwa stole the show on the day, and scored the first midway through the first half, making the most of some lacklustre marking to run free of Saints' defence and boulder home a powerful strike that Ryan Davies was helpless to stop. Any attempt made by Saints to pull themselves back into this one were met with fierce opposition from Newport, and they doubled their lead in the first half through another Kamwa goal. The second half represented an improvement from TNS, but they could still do very little to trouble the hosts. Substitute Kiban Rai sealed it for Newport in the second half, putting salt in the Saints' fans wounds to send them home truly deflated.
Wednesday 13 November
The New Saints 3 - 1 Bolton Wanderers (BSM Trophy, Group Stage)
⚽ Sigurðsson 2, Bowman
⭐ Sigurðsson
TNS just needed a point to confirm their place in the next round of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, but ended up going better than that to hurl League One's Bolton Wanderers out of the competition. The scoreline probably flattered TNS, but the home side got off to the better start, Össur Sigurðsson following up his FA Cup goal with the first of a sensational brace, getting clear and smashing in a top corner thunderbolt from just inside the box. Bolton had some fantastic chances in the first half and should have levelled on multiple occasions, but striker Dion Charles just couldn't seem to figure out where the net was. Saints capitalised once again to go two ahead, after some lovely interplay saw Elijah Just lay the ball across for Ezra Bowman to net an easy finish. Into the second half, Bolton's pressure finally paid off, with Eoin Toal heading home from a set piece. TNS finished the stronger though, and another elegant top-corner finish from the Icelander sent TNS storming through to the second round.
Saturday 16 November
The New Saints 2 - 2 Salford City (EFL League Two)
⚽ Thomas 2
⭐ Thomas
Next to visit Park Hall were struggling Salford City, who despite the talent in their squad have flattered to deceive so far this season. TNS looked to carry the momentum from their midweek victory into this fixture, and Jaxon Thomas put away the opener after being nicely played through with a lovely ball by Ethan Herbert. However, it didn't take long for Salford to respond, with Dan Chesters popping up in the box to latch onto a cross and steer home an equaliser. Things went even more askew for Saints early in the second half, when former Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn had the freedom of Park Hall to burst through the defence and put Salford ahead. Substituted on, hero of midweek Sigurðsson made a key contribution by sending a lofted through ball into the path of Jaxon Thomas, who did go on to equalise neatly and give TNS a point.
Saturday 23 November
Walsall 0 - 0 The New Saints (EFL League Two)
⭐ Davies
After five straight losses on the road, Saints will have probably accepted a point at mid-table Walsall before kick-off. The away team were perhaps equally fortunate to get that point as they were unfortunate not to steal it at the death, when the ball feel kindly into the path of Jaxon Thomas following a deflection. However, despite running through one-on-one, Thomas couldn't hold his nerve to beat the keeper. Speaking of excellent goalkeeping, Ryan Davies was on fantastic form throughout the game, although it was (in general) a better defensive effort than usual from Saints. Part of that may be down to the returning Jason Parr, back for his first game following time out with a foot injury.
Saturday 30 November
Wrexham 3 - 0 The New Saints (FA Cup, 2nd Round)
⭐Just
After their first round triumph, Saints could hardly have wished for a more tantalising game at this point in the competition, only travelling a few miles down the road (and across the border) to face Wrexham. Although the home side were easily favourites, TNS put up a steady fight initially, only for it all to be undone when James Jones found space in the box to nestle in the opener. Facing an uphill battle, Saints had to make a play for the game in the second half and ultimately became too loose at the back, Paul Mullin scoring a double after the break to send TNS packing out of the cup. The result was not unexpected, but TNS will have hoped to create more opportunities on the day.
The State of Play
Split between league and cup football, it was a strange and challenging month for TNS, who have now failed to win for five league games in a row but sit just outside the play-offs, a respectable 8th in League Two. Saints will look forward to a home tie in the second round of the BSM Trophy against League One team Stockport County, but also have a busy month of league action to contend with, facing the remaining six teams left to play for the first time this season. All six currently sit in the bottom half of the table, so Saints will hope to pick up their form over the coming weeks, with the January transfer window looming.
