ANDY MORRISON believes there is a 'fresh energy' to the top-flight with The New Saints' dominance under severe threat.

Saints have seven consecutive titles - and eight in nine seasons - but they are down in third place with 13 matches played having lost three games before the first week of November since records began.

Instead, Morrison's Connah's Quay Nomads are in top spot, ahead of Barry Town United, who visit the Deeside Stadium tomorrow, on goal difference, the duo two points clear of Scott Ruscoe's reigning champions.

Morrison, who has been involved in Welsh football since for close to seven years, is enjoying looking at the top-flight table and not seeing Saints several points clear at the summit.

"It will be a great game against Barry," said Morrison. "It's the top two teams and that's fantastic. It's great for the league that people are talking about a realistic title challenge and that nobody is running away with it.

"It adds an energy to the league that has probably been lacking for a while."

Morrison's words were echoed by Wales C manager Mark Jones, who feels that the title race could go right down to the wire with 'three or four' serious contenders.

"It's absolutely brilliant," said Jones of what looks to be the first genuine title race for a few years.

"TNS have been class for the last seven years and you've got to take your hat off to them, but every champion sees their time come to an end. Is this the season it might happen?

"There are a few good runners and there are 20 games to go. I think there will be three or four still in it, even up to the last week or two."

Barry Town defender, Macauley Southam-Hales, meanwhile, is relishing the chance to take over at the top with victory at the Deeside Stadium.

"It's going to be a quality game," said the 22-year-old. "We are going up there knowing what to expect - it's going to be a battle, it's going to be a fight, but I think we play football but we can also mix it with the big boys as we've shown.

"It's going to be tough, don't get me wrong, but we've got a great bunch of lads playing the right way, so who knows what we can get up there."

Southam-Hales will have to keep a Nomads attack that scored six times against Llanelli last weekend.

Callum Morris and Michael Bakare started the ball rolling for Nomads, before doubles from Michael Wilde and Andy Owens, who has signed a full-time contract at the Flintshire club - much to the delight of Morrison.

"We've lost a couple of full-time players, so it's great to make another addition going forward," said Morrison, who has seen Craig Jones leave by mutual consent.

"I think Andy can only get better as we work with him and improve him. His natural physicality and strength is immense and when we improve on his quality of decision making we could have a very, very good player.

"I'm really pleased with Andy and what he's given us since he came in."

Captain George Horan should be fit to return for Nomads, who also have Ryan Wignall free from suspension.

Simon Spender insists that now is the time for The New Saints to piece together a winning run.

Saints have come under pressure after slipping to third in the table following two games without victory, the latest a 1-0 defeat at Aberystwyth.

Former Wrexham full-back Spender wants to put that right against Caernarfon this evening.

He said: “We expect it to be a tough game, but we need to start picking up points and start winning now.”

Saints boss Scott Ruscoe echoed Spender’s thoughts, saying: “We’re stuttering. We are doing well one week and average the next.

“At a time where we want to pick points up and open up a gap it’s not happening, so there’s things to work on.”

Caernarfon make their way to Park Hall wary of a reaction from the reigning champions.

Visiting boss Sean Eardley said: “They are conceding goals and possibly under-performing, but they are going to be hurt and it’s made our task 100 times more difficult.

“We will give it our all.”

Bala Town are fourth in the table, three points behind Saints and five points off top spot, but boss Colin Caton has played down his side’s title chances.

Ahead of tonight’s trip to Llandudno, Caton said: “It’s difficult for us to be title contenders, but we can obviously put the top teams under pressure.”

While the top four sides are being talked about as title challengers, fifth placed Newtown host rock-bottom Llanelli tomorrow, while Aberystwyth face Cardiff Met in a battle for the top six on Sunday.

Aber boss Nev Powell is not getting carried away by his side’s victory over TNS, saying: “We are doing okay, it’s only another three points and we won’t get carried away with it.

“We are on 20 points now and we’ve got another 10 to go to hopefully get in that top six, which will be our aim.

“But there’s a lot of points to play for and some tough games ahead.”