Wrexham AFC Women are back at home, as they face The New Saints in derby action at The Rock this Sunday in the Genero Adran Premier (2pm kick-off).
For everything you need to know ahead of the match, read our preview, below.
The opposition
The New Saints broke into the top four last season, having beaten Pontypridd United to the final spot before the league split on goal difference.
They’ve started strongly again this season and find themselves in fifth place but are only one point off fourth-placed Aberystwyth Town and two points away from Wrexham and Swansea City as well.
In fact, if it wasn’t for a last-minute Swansea winner – then Sunday’s opponents would be sat third in the league on goal difference.
Caitlin Chapman has been at the heart of everything that TNS do going forwards this season and is their top goal scorer on three goals, but has also recorded the joint most assists in the league so far this season.
In the hot seat: Greg Draper
Greg Draper is a name closely linked with The New Saints, having scored 163 goals for the men’s first-team between 2011-2021.
The 34-year-old left Park Hall in the summer of 2021, stepping down a division to play for Guilsfield, before re-joining TNS as a coach.
A one-time New Zealand international, Draper was one of the most prolific forwards in the Welsh top-flight during the 2010s and stepped up to become TNS Women’s head coach in November 2022.
Since moving across to management, he has guided Sunday’s opponents to a top four finish and overseen a relatively successful start to the 2023/24 campaign.
What our manager said: Steve Dale
Ahead of the match, Dale said: “We’d like to put our home form right after the Cardiff match.
“We’ve had a draw and a defeat (at home), we’ve had some good results away from home, but we’d like to repay all the fans who come to watch us at home.
“They’ve strengthened over the summer, and they’re well established in this division, so it is important that we are ready for the challenge. We are looking forward to it and confidence within the group is high in training.
“The New Saints clearly want to build on what they did last year. They’re trying to make statements and trying to crack that top four - they want to establish themselves by getting decent results against the top teams.
“Of course, they’ll be disappointed to lose in the last minute against Swansea so they will have that burning desire to put it right this weekend.
“Anything can happen in a derby game. They will be a tough test – they’re a good attacking team and we’re mindful of what they can produce on Sunday,” concluded Dale.
Last time we met: TNS 2-1 Wrexham AFC Women
Rebecca Pritchard and Rosie Hughes were on target before Wrexham held off a TNS comeback to cause a cup upset and book their place in the FAW Women’s Cup quarter-finals.
Wrexham – who went into the game having lost both matches against Adran Premier opposition last season, without scoring in either game – showed the improvements in their squad since to pull off a famous win.
Pritchard – an FAW Women’s Cup semi-finalist with the original Wrexham Ladies – opened the scoring before Hughes rifled home a penalty; her 12th goal of the season.
TNS responded well after the break, but a combination of post, bar, goalkeeper Del Morgan and a resolute back four, kept the Saints at bay.
Ticket news
How to purchase tickets
Tickets cost just £3 for adults and £1 for under-16s. Please note, all under-14s must be accompanied by a paying adult.
There will be tickets on sale at the ground today, with tickets available to purchase from 12:30pm at the Rock.
Online ticket sales have now closed, meaning that the only way to purchase a ticket is in-person at the Rock from 12:30pm.
Ticket checks for concessions will take place at the ground and ID may be required at the gate.
All sales on the day will be cash-only, there are no provisions for card payments.
How to watch
Following the announcement that all non-televised Women’s matches, not selected for TV coverage will be live streamed, you can tune into today’s match wherever you are in the world.
In order to access the four-camera stream of Sunday’s match, you must have a registered account on iFollow Wrexham.
If you already have set up an account on iFollow Wrexham, all you need to do is log in and you will have access to the stream.
Live social media updates will be provided on the Club’s official X account, @WrexhamAFCWomen.
