TNS return to JD Cymru Premier action at league whipping boys Cefn Druids on Friday.

The Cefn Mawr club have endured a torrid few years and only escaped relegation last season due to all other tiers of Welsh football being scrapped due to the pandemic.

However the club appear doomed for the drop this season.

Saints manager Anthony Limbrick refused to underestimate Druids ahead of the Friday night clash having struggled to grind down their rivals in last week’s reverse fixture before prevailing 5-1 winners.

Limbrick said: “It was not the best performance from us and we are not too happy with how we played

“We had a good little period during the second-half but was not happy with our first-half performance by any means and unhappy at the goal we conceded at the end. It was sloppy from us and we know we are better than this.”

Limbrick insisted while the performance fell well below standards he was happy his players eventually broke the resolve of a well-organised Cefn Druids an eased to a comfortable win to go 19 points clear at the top.

He said: “We had some disappointed players in the changing rooms but I would say credit to the players for being clinical and getting us through the game.”

Limbrick praised Druids and expressed surprise at their lowly league standing with the club adrift at the foot of the table.

He said: “There are no easy games which you could see was true against Druids who were outstanding and had great organisation and competed.

“They stopped up switching play really well and we could not get around the sides of them.

“We had to change at the break and bring on three players and that is credit to Druids. They kept going in the second-half, deserved their goal and were a credit to their manager.

“For us it was about being professional and our standards. We do not talk about points or tables, we look at our performances and what we have done well and what needs to be improved.”

Meanwhile Limbrick called on his players to end the first phase on a high, saying: “It is an important period for us with the last two games before the split and want to finish strongly.”