Although the domestic season began last week for The New Saints, with the second round of the Nathaniel MG Cup, it’s the start of the league campaign this coming Saturday.

August 13 heralds the beginning of JD Cymru Premier 2022/2023, as Craig Harrison takes charge of his first game, on the road at Latham Park.

Both The New Saints and Newtown AFC qualified for European competition this season, courtesy of the former winning the league last season and the latter finishing third.

Although last time round there was a twenty-nine points gap between the sides come the end of the season, that was then and this is now.

The games between the Saints and the Robins are always keenly contested, and although The New Saints won three of the four encounters last season, nevertheless Newtown took all three points in March of this year at Park Hall.

The 1-0 defeat was just the second that the champions suffered all season.

This week’s JD Cymru Premier curtain-raiser is as you were last time round, when The New Saints collected all three points on opening day with a 4-1 win.

The game, on August 15, saw Ben Clark open the scoring in the 19th minute but his goal was cancelled by Aaron Williams four minutes before the break.

A strong second-half performance, with goals from Declan McManus (49), Blaine Hudson (58) and Jordan Williams (74) ensured that it was a winning start to the campaign for the visitors.

TNS will in green and white hooped shirts, green shorts and white socks this Saturday. The ‘keepers will be wearing blue and yellow shirts, blue shorts and black socks.

Owen Thomas is the appointed referee, assisted by Lewiss Edwards and Connor Thomas. John Jones is the fourth official and Craig Greenstock the referee observer.

We look forward to your support this weekend but, if you’re not at Latham Park in person, don’t miss out.

You can follow the action on TNS Radio, via our website home page or Facebook page.

Kick-off is 2.30 p.m.