Summer signing is up for the cup with The New Saints

The New Saints take a break from their table-topping league campaign to turn their focus to chasing FAW Welsh Cup progress tonight.

Craig Harrison's side, six points clear as Cymru Premier leaders, have been handed a second-round trip to Airbus UK Broughton this evening (7.45pm).

The teams have already met in the league this season, with TNS emerging 2-0 winners at eighth-placed Airbus last month.

That's one of eight clean sheets Saints have kept in 13 Cymru Premier games this season, with Dynel Simeu and Jack Bodenham quickly building an impressive central defensive partnership.

Simeu, who joined TNS in the summer, said he and Bodenham ‘complement each other very well’, while he also highlighted the contribution of goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd.

Former Oldham Athletic defender Simeu reflected on a fine save made by Shepperd when Saints, who eventually ran out 6-1 winners, led 2-1 in their latest league game at Holywell last Friday night.

Asked about his central defensive partnership with Bodenham, Simeu said: "Yes, I think we complement each other very well, and it's not just us. The backline, Shepps, I think at 2-1, he made an incredible save. Without that, the game changes.

"Ultimately, a player like Shepps for example didn't have to do much, but when he's called upon you have to make big saves, so credit to him.

"And together with Bods, I think from after Europe we've just had a great understanding of each other, playing alongside, good communication, and ultimately no-one's trying to be the hero.

"We're sharing what we have to do, and what you have to do for the team, and I think it's just complementing each other well."

TNS have won the Welsh Cup 10 times, most recently in the 2024-25 campaign, but they were knocked out in the third round by Cardiff Met last season.

Tonight's tie is a repeat of the 2016 Welsh Cup final when Saints beat Airbus 2-0 at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.