All systems go for Neath's visit
Saturday 04 February 2012
IT'S all systems go for a return of Welsh Premier action to Park Hall on Saturday as the artificial pitch has beaten the ovenight freeze for the visit of Neath.
With the majority of fixtures already postponed, the clash of the league's only full-time sides is a mouthwatering start o the second phase of games.
Newly-confirmed in the manager's seat at The Gnoll, Kristian O'Leary is in charge of a Neath side that can boast an 11-match unbeaten run, culminating in a 3-1 Welsh Cup win at Flint Town United last weekend.
"I have to admit I am not a great fan of the surface, but at least we look like being guaranteed to play even with frost," O'Leary says.
"It's a disadvantage to visiting teams, but Saints are similarly disadvantaged playing away on grass, so perhaps it evens itself out."
The earlier meeting between the sides in Oswestry ended with a convincing 3-0 win for the Saints, when Neath had defender Kai Edwards red-carded, but O'Leary is convinced his side are now a much stronger unit.
"We were naive then, but we have learned a lot since, but we were also handicapped by injuries and a sending off," he added.
"I'm happy with what I've got, the lads are working hard and enjoying their football.
"The next three months are crucial and Europe is our target, but so it is for the top six and the bottom six, so it's all to play for with little margin for error."
O'Leary is without suspended midfielder Matty Collins in an otherwise full-strength squad, while TNS management duo Craig Harrison and Carl Darlington have Matty Williams and Chris Williams both sidelined with injury.
Photo: Greg Draper was among the scorers against Neath back in September.
Europe Menu
European record
8 August 1996 / Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 1-1 KS Ruch Chorzow (Poland)
22 August 1996 / Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Warsaw)
KS Ruch Chorzow 5-0 TNS
2000/2001 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
12 July 2000 / Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 2-2 Levadia Maardu (Estonia)
19 July 2000 / Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Tallin)
Levadia Maardu 2-2 TNS
2001/2 UEFA CUP
9 Aug 2001 / Qualifying round 1st leg (Lodz)
Polonia Warsaw 4-0 TNS
23 Aug 2001 / Qualifying round 2nd leg (Wrexham)
TNS 0-2 Polonia Warsaw
2002/3 UEFA CUP
15 August 2002 / Qualifying round 1st leg (Lodz)
Amica Wronki (Poland) 5-0 TNS
29 Aug 2002 / Qualifying round 2nd leg (Newtown)
TNS 2-7 Amica Wronki
2003/4 UEFA CUP
14 Aug 2003 / Qualifying round 1st leg (Manchester)
Manchester City 5-0 TNS
28 Aug 2003 / Qualifying round 2nd leg (Cardiff)
TNS 0-2 Manchester City
2004/5 UEFA CUP
15 Jul 2004 / Qualifying round 1st leg (Vaxjo)
Osters IF (Sweden) 2-0 TNS
29 Jul 2004 / Qualifying round 2nd leg (Wrexham)
TNS 1-2 Osters IF (Sweden)
2005/6 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
13 Jul 2005 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Anfield)
Liverpool 3-0 TNS
19 Jul 2005 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 0-3 Liverpool
2006/7 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
12 Jul 2006 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Anjalankoski)
MyPa-47 1-0 TNS
19 Jul 2006 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Newtown)
TNS 0-1 MyPa-47
2007/8 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
17 Jul 2007 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Newtown)
TNS 3-2 FK Ventspils
25 Jul 2007 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Ventspils)
FK Ventspils 2-1 TNS
2008/9 UEFA CUP
17 Jul 2008 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Marijampole)
FK Suduva 1-0 TNS
31 Jul 2008 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Newtown)
TNS 0-1 FK Suduva
2009/10 EUROPA LEAGUE
2 Jul 2009 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Reykjavik)
FRAM Reykjavik 2-1 TNS
9 Jul 2009 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Oswestry)
TNS 1-2 FRAM Reykjavik
2010 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
13 Jul 2010 / 2nd Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Dublin)
Bohemian 1-0 TNS
20 Jul 2010 / 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Oswestry)
TNS 4-0 Bohemian
27 Jul 2010 / 3rd Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 1-3 Anderlecht
3 Aug 2010 / 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Brussels)
Anderlecht 3-0 TNS
2010/11 EUROPA LEAGUE
19 Aug 2010 / 4th Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Sofia)
CSKA Sofia 3-0 TNS
26 Aug 2010 / 4th Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 2-2 CSKA Sofia
2011/12 EUROPA LEAGUE
30 Jun 2011 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Oswestry)
TNS 1-1 Cliftonville
7 Jul 2011 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Belfast)
Cliftonville 0-1 TNS
14 Jul 2011 / 2nd Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Oswestry)
TNS 1-3 FC Midjtylland
21 Jul 2011 / 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Herning)
FC Midtjylland 5-2 TNS