Greg Draper hopes to win ninth title by replicating 2012 final day success

For the first time in almost ten years, the Cymru Premier title will be contested on the final day.

League leaders Connah’s Quay, defending their title, play away at Penybont, meanwhile, The New Saints play host to Bala Town.

For TNS, final day drama is something that has been at a premium for them. In recent years they’ve won the league by huge margins but their noisy North Wales rivals have upset the status quo with their title pushes.

Before Connah’s Quay came Bangor City, who dramatically defeated the Oswestry side in a winner-takes-all match at Farrar Road in 2011.

A year later the same final day match up would happen however the venue would be Park Hall.

One player who played a big part that day was a young 21-year-old Greg Draper, who had excelled in his first season, scoring 18 league goals following a summer move from Basingstoke Town.

Remembering his thoughts prior to the match, Draper said: “The overriding emotion was excitement.

“They brought a lot of fans with them.

“That game was certainly the best atmosphere I played in the league itself.

“We expected a really tough game, it was a tough game, but a couple of early goals settled us down and we controlled the game from there on in.”

Watched by a packed crowd at Park Hall, a fearless Draper showed no nerves as he broke the deadlock early on to place a composed strike past Lee idzi.

“The first one Aeron Edwards put me over the top from the half-way line,” reminisced Draper.

“It was probably one of the only times he set me up in one of the nine years we played together!

“That was a nice finish, a little one on one and bent it round far post.”

Christian Seargeant, now assistant to Anthony Limbrick scored a free-kick before Chris Jones flicked on a through ball to Draper to head the ball in an empty net for the strikers’ second and TNS’ third.

He said, “The second came from a clearance.

“I remember Craig Jones on the half-way line going up for a header.

“I knew that he had a such a big leap on him that he probably win the header”, added Draper.

“So I took a gamble, luckily, he nodded it on, I sprinted clear from the halfway line, the ball was bobbling, I flicked it over Idzi who was caught in no man’s land.

There would be no let-up in the second half as Ryan Fraughan showed neat footwork to grab a fourth before Alex Darlington earned a penalty. The now Cefn Druids man missed his spot-kick but that wouldn’t take any gloss off the day.

Another penalty was awarded as Fraughan continued to cause the Bangor defence problems and this time it would be a chance for Draper to earn his hat-trick.

Draper duly delivered as he sent Idzi the wrong way to secure the match ball and the league title for the Saints, avenging their final day heartache from the previous year.

“It was probably one of my favourite hat-tricks to be honest, obviously one of the most important.

“That was one of my favourite hat-tricks, not only the reason for it being important but the first two goals I really enjoyed scoring them as well.”

It was a campaign which saw Draper and TNS win a domestic double after also winning the Welsh Cup. 

For a first season in Welsh football, it couldn’t have any better for the New Zealand international. 

“Club wise that was a really special season for me, said the nine-time league winner.

“Obviously, it was my first season aswell, so it was nice to justify why they signed me and brought me in. I was proud to do the job that they wanted me to do.

“I scored a lot of important goals that season. It was acknowledged by the lads for voting me as Player of the Season as well.

“That season paved the way for the next ten years.”

It was in their favour when they played Bangor nine years ago, all they needed was a draw, but tomorrow however they will be hoping for a big favour from Penybont.

Connah’s Quay hold a two-point advantage over TNS but know a win will be required should Anthony Limbrick’s men win their match.

Anthony Limbrick’s Saints have a goal difference that is 17 better off than the Nomads so if the two-side finish on level points the title will go to TNS.

Draper said, “It would be massive, last season was hugely disappointing having the league title taken away from us.

“We feel there was still a long way to go, it was a real disappointment the way it all worked out last season.”

He said, “We’ve only got ourselves to blame this season for the position we are in. We have dopped points in the crucial games.

“We look back to Connah’s Quay at home where they completely battered us 4-1 and deserved the three points.

“Following that, Caernarfon at home where we drew 0-0, I missed a penalty aswell.

“If Penybont do us a favour on Saturday and take points off Connah’s Quay and we do our job it would be a great achievement.

“Whoever wins it this season thoroughly deserves it whichever way it goes.”

With the introduction of the Europa Conference League in the coming season it adds more incentive than ever to win the title.

Draper recognises that it’s always been chairman Mike Harris’s goal to reach a European group stage.

He said, “This clubs always had the ambition of getting into the group stages of the European competions.

“The chairman’s always been very ambitious and that’s been his goal.

“We’ve got close with a couple of results but never really threatened knocking on that group stage door.

“The opportunity is massive; we want to focus winning the league title more than anything and the rewards come with that.”

(Featured Image: Will Cheshire)