Saints boss Scott Ruscoe has reiterated his target of a perfect end to the Welsh Premier League first phase – despite dropping two points to Bala Town on Friday night.

Chris Marriott was sent off in the first half while TNS led 1-0 and they were pegged back in the second half, but Dean Ebbe missed a penalty to give the 10-men all three points.

However, Ruscoe is adamant the panic button is nowhere near being pushed – despite trailing leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads by five points – and is expecting his players to cope with the Christmas period better than their rivals.

“Looking ahead over the next four games, it is 12 points needed – that’s the bottom line,” he said.

“But I think we’re ok at the moment; there’s no panic button. There’s no concern from me as everyone’s has these spells and we can take it.

“Over the next four games or so we’ve told the lads where we think they need to be.

“There’s 45 points to play for. I’ve seen where the lads are at the minute as I look at them every day in training. I know the players, I know what they’re good at and there’s only two or three in overall league that I would pick to come to my squad.

I know we’ve got the best squad and the best club that goes with it – I’m 100 per cent happy with it all, hand on heart. These other teams, while they’re on a good enough run, I don’t think they will have enough to sustain it.

“I hope we’ll go to Llandudno with the mentality of getting plenty of goals. They’re not in great form and lost to Newtown over the weekend. We’ll certain have the mentality of three points minimum.”