To say last season was a fairytale for TNS would be a huge understatement.
Having been cobbled together for their first season in the Adran Premier, they survived relegation on the final day. After clawing away from danger, last season saw the Saints well and truly rocket up the table.
Clinching a top four spot on the final day of phase one, Greg Draper’s side kicked on and put together some impressive results against Cardiff City, Swansea City, and Cardiff Met.
Midfielder Caitlin Chapman, who recorded 13 assists last term, described just how magical the previous season was.
“Last season was amazing,” Chapman said.
“You couldn’t write it into words what we did. Only two seasons ago we came up into the Adran Premier, and we were battling relegation in our first season. Then last season to get into the top four, you really can’t describe that feeling.”
Chapman and the rest of her team ended the season with a whirlwind 5-4 victory away to Cardiff Met.
The win against the Archers was a real statement of intent from TNS; a sign that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Adran Prem.
“Picking up those three points has really given us a lot of confidence heading into this season. The results in the second phase showed us what we actually can do.
“We are a team that do believe a lot in ourselves, and everything is just getting better and better, and getting that result at the end of the season did so much for our confidence.
“Going into this season, we know we can compete with the best, we know we can get there, but it’s going to be a good season.”
Now heading into their third season together, confidence is high amongst the squad. They’ve strengthened well in the transfer window, with Kirstie Kural joining from Connah’s Quay and Ella Hartley arriving from Brighouse Town among their most notable signings.
But perhaps the biggest factor this transfer window is that the core of the squad have all stayed at Park Hall. Chapman believes that the group is going to go to another level this season, especially with how close knit they are.
“As a team, we are a family. To me, they are my second family. We’re getting to know each other so much more with every game. Obviously, we know each other a lot, but we’re getting used to how everyone plays, and everything is just clicking really well.”
With so many positives heading into the season, attention turns to what we can expect from them this campaign.
Teams will now know what to expect from the Saints, but Chapman says the squad are aiming high, and Europe is well in their sights.
“Hopefully we’ll get into the top four comfortably this season and not take it down to the final game like we did last time. We also want to push and get into that Champions League spot, That may take a little longer to come about, but we want to push for it.”
The Green and Whites will begin their quest to finish in the top four with a trip down to the valleys to face Pontypridd United.
TNS claimed the top four spot at the expense of Ponty on goal difference last year. Revenge will most certainly be on the cards for the Dragons, and Chapman knows it’ll be a tough game.
“I reckon they will probably see it as a revenge game, but we’re not going to go in easy. We know we will compete against them, and it’s just one of those games that we need to just graft and get what we can from it.”
After the game against Pontypridd, the Saints will have another two away games, one against Met and one against Cardiff City.
With the league being so southern-centric, the travelling certainly takes its toll on teams like TNS and Aberystwyth Town.
“You do get used to it during the season, but it’s something that we’re going to have to take on the chin. It’s all part and parcel of being in this league, and we’re so used to doing all the travelling by now.
“That first game might be tough because it will be our first trip down south for a while. But we’ll get back into that routine of being up early, travelling and stuff pretty quickly. It’ll be tough, but we’ve just got to take it and go with it.”
For all the teams in the south, there is a luxury for Chapman and her teammates this season, with fellow North Walian side Wrexham being promoted into the league.
On paper, the encounter seems like a very interesting one, and the Northern Ireland international is hoping her side can claim local bragging rights against the Red Dragons.
“It’s going to be like a little derby for us and it’s going to be very interesting. We have played them before, and we have won and lost against them.
“Again, it all depends on the day and who performs, but more likely than not this season, we will always show up and perform. The players that have come in will drive us, and everything is going to be really good.”
A trait that is very obvious to see with this TNS squad is that confidence is high and, with the trajectory that they’re on, they will be competing for the Adran Premier title sooner rather than later.
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