Scott Ruscoe has backed his The New Saints team to show their championship credentials despite falling further behind in the Welsh Premier League title race over the weekend.

Friday’s 1-1 draw at Bala Town saw the defending champions fall five points behind pace setters Connah’s Quay to leave the top of the table wide open heading into the festive period.

Connah’s Quay and Barry Town United both pressed ahead at the top of the table with wins at Cefn Druids and Carmarthen respectively, but Ruscoe says time is on The New Saints’ side as they bid to secure an eighth-straight league title.

“Like I’ve said over the last three or four weeks, it’s important we keep doing the right things – keep training, because training has been brilliant for the last two weeks and you keep putting performances in,” he said, speaking after the Bala game.

“We’re just past the halfway stage now but there is a long way to go.

“We won the league by 14 point last year and we’re a few points behind now, which we need to make back, but if we play those teams and beat them, it’s no problem.”

FESTIVE TITLE RACE FIXTURES
Connah’s Quay: Dec 22, Cardiff Met (H); Boxing Day, Bala Town (A); New Year’s Day, Bala Town (H)
Barry Town: Dec 22, Caernarfon Town (H); Boxing Day, Cardiff Met (A); New Year’s Eve, Cardiff Met (H)
The New Saints: Dec 22, Llandudno (A); Boxing Day, Cefn Druids (H); New Year’s Day, Cefn Druids (A)

1	Connah’s Quay Nomads	17	11	3	3	40	15	25	36
2	Barry Town United FC	17	11	2	4	29	23	6	35
3	The New Saints	17	9	4	4	40	12	28	31
4	Newtown	17	8	4	5	32	22	10	28
5	Bala Town	17	8	4	5	32	26	6	28
6	Aberystwyth Town	17	8	3	6	23	29	-6	27
7	Caernarfon Town	17	7	5	5	21	18	3	26
8	Cardiff Metropolitan University	17	6	3	8	24	23	1	21
9	Cefn Druids	17	4	5	8	21	24	-3	17
10	Carmarthen Town AFC	17	4	4	9	22	35	-13	16
11	Llanelli Town AFC	17	3	2	12	17	54	-37	11
12	Llandudno FC	17	2	3	12	12	32	-20	9