Unlucky Welsh saints are out to storm back

The unbeaten Saints were left out in the cold when their Boxing Day encounter at home to the Druids was abandoned when they led 3-1 as heavy snow gradually covered the 3G pitch at Park Hall.

Ground staff tried to clear the lines, but the snowfall became too prolonged and the game was called off after 68 minutes by referee Ashley Jones.

It has now been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 6 – but before then the sides meet in the return fixture at the Rock tomorrow in the first game of 2015.

Last week's abandonment saw the Saints' lead at the top of the table trimmed to nine points, Aberystwyth Town moving up to second with a 3-1 victory at Carmarthen Town.

But TNS are still strongly placed, with manager Craig Harrison keen that his side forget their annoyance when they renew acquaintance with the Ancients tomorrow (2.30pm).

"It was frustrating as we had them under the cosh before the snow came," he said. "We were in cruise control, so we need to go there on New Year's Day and replicate that performance.

"We gave away a poor goal early on, but showed good character to come back.

"The safety of players is paramount, but the frustrating thing was the length of time it took to come to the decision.

"We were stood about for eight or nine minutes talking about whether the game should continue when we could have been playing."

After falling behind when keeper Paul Harrison failed to deal with a back-pass, the Saints hit back through Adrian Cieslewicz's deflected strike, a Mike Wilde header and Aeron Edwards' 25-yarder.

The Druids will be without midfielders Ryan Kershaw and Ryan Edwards who, on loan from TNS, will not be permitted to play against their parent club.