Having mentioned that, though, TNS are warming up for two big matches in the next few weeks, including the visit of Aberystwyth in the Welsh Cup, and our trip to Llansantffraid next Saturday.
Their mid-Walian rivals, Newtown, have also risen up through the ranks of the league placings and are now in fifth spot. Their comfortable victory over Holywell Town saw them leap up two places, and follows on the heels of their 3-2 victory at Bangor City the previous week.
Newtown have not been the most prolific of sides in terms of scoring, but have ground out results, losing just the once so far.
Meanwhile, Carmarthen Town fell two places to seventh spot, despite taking part in a five goal extravaganza at the Oval in Caernarfon last week. Matthew Cable and Paul Burrows scored the goals for them, first equalising the game at 1-1 before going ahead just before half-time. Unfortunately, for the West Walian side, their North Walian counterparts scored twice in the second half and took all three points.
That goal took Burrows's goal tally to five this term, but it wasn't enough to keep them in the top third of the table.
The same applies to Haverfordwest County, who occupy the half-way spot in the table. They moved up a place, despite drawing at home with Bangor City last Saturday. The Bluebirds appear to have built upon their progress last year, when they avoided relegation on the final day of the season. Richard Gay has been their top striker this year, scoring in the LoW, as well as in the League of Wales Cup.
After their home win over Carmarthen, Caernarfon moved up to tenth place, a two place rise. Jason Sadler put the Canaries ahead in the match, only to see Carmarthen come back into the game and even go ahead. However, the Cofis had other ideas, and second-half goals from Steve Fisher and Emrys Williams earnt them the three points. Ironically, Emrys, the club's central defender is also the top scorer, having got three so far in the LoW.
Caersws dropped to eleventh after they lost at home to us at the Recreation Ground last Saturday, with their usually formidable defence breached four times, as compared to three in the rest of the season so far. Hugh Clarke, returning from Rhayader Town, has been the top scorer so far, alongside Sean Jehu.
Afan Lido remain just outside the bottom third, dsepite a 2-0 defeat on their travels to Conwy last week. They can consider themselves unlucky to have returned empty-handed, with the goals having been conceded in the final 15 minutes of the match. Lido have yet to gain a point at home, with their two victories coming here at Jenner Park and at the Cardiff Athletic Stadium. They'll certainly need to improve their home form if they want to climb the table.
Meanwhile, their conquerors last week are right behind them. Matt Corcoran and Robbie Williams were the goalscorers for the Musselmen. Corcoran netted after 75 minutes and Williams made sure of the points a few minutes later, making it 2-0. Those were Conwy's first points since their visit to Jenner Park over a month ago.
Another club unused to being so far down the table are Bangor City. Following John King's departure from the Farrar Road hot-seat last week, goalkeeper Lee Williams is in charge as caretaker manager. Williams actually scored a fortnight ago, taking a free-kick against Newtown, and hitting it over the head of his opposing number.
His first competitive match was an away match at Haverfordwest, where City came away with a point in the nil-nil draw, taking their tally to four points from five matches. Whoever takes over at Bangor in the current turmoil will almost certainly be expected to turn the results around, and take the team away from the relegation zone.
In sixteenth place are Rhyl, whose only points came from a 3-1 win over Rhayader Town. They were on the wrong end of a hammering at Total Network Solutions, who are managed by the former Lilywhite boss, Dr.Andy Cale. Rhyl impressed in the early part of last season, but, by and large, have disappointed in the past few years. Little appears to be different, and the Lilywhites have taken several hammerings already this year.
Currently bottom of the pack are Rhayader Town, who join us at Jenner Park today. The fixture list dictates that the sides who play us have a free week beforehand, so Rhayader didn't play last week. Their results have hardly been impressive so far this year, but there is enough there for fans to gain some encouragement, despite their poor start to the season.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
All material on this page is written by the Yellow Dragon, and published in the Barry Town Matchday
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