Shropshire Star

Title party on hold for The New Saints

The New Saints have one hand on the Welsh Premier trophy – but won't be celebrating just yet despite a seemingly unassailable position at the top of the table.

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Last night's 3-1 home win over Newtown means it would now take a freak series of results to deny the Saints from lifting the title again, and taking their place in the elite Champions League in the summer.

In fact, to relinquish the crown now, the league leaders would need to lose their remaining four games, while squander a vastly superior goal difference of 35 that they hold on second-placed rivals Airbus UK.

To all intents and purposes, the Saints are poised to lift the Welsh Premier crown for an eighth time, eclipsing the previous best of seven titles won by the once all-conquering Barry Town side.

However, until they are mathematically sure, the celebrations are muted, with the league leaders looking to finish the job in their next league action against the Wingmakers at Park Hall in two weeks' time.

"It was weird afterwards as we've got one hand on the trophy, it's basically ours, but there is no celebrating yet until we get that one point," said head coach Carl Darlington.

"However, we could still afford a smile after defeating Newtown, it was an important win as it would now take some freak results to deny us the title. We would have to lose our last four games, while Airbus would have to win something like 10-0, 11-0 and 11-0 in their three games.

"So it was a strange feeling after the game, but we now move on and take a break from the league this weekend to focus on the Welsh Cup.

"We then get back to the league the following week against Airbus, and it would be fitting to seal the title against our main rivals."

Darlington admitted the league leaders were slow to start before eventually running out 3-1 winners against Newtown last night, Greg Draper scoring twice and defender Connell Rawlinson getting the other.

"It was a strange night as it took us a while to get going, we were a bit flat," he added.

"We're now nine points clear with four games left, and it will be great to create history by winning the league an eighth time."

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