It’s massive: an unprecedented northern summit meeting between two sides which are scoring goals for fun. Something’s got to give. If you’re not excited by this one, check your pulse. You might be already dead.

The Wrexham Angle

You can’t argue with 23 goals in the first four games of the season, and frankly it feels like that number ought to be higher: the one criticism you could make of Wrexham this season is that, having had to negotiate our way through a peculiar pre-season of two halves, we weren’t ruthless enough in the opening two games. Aberystwyth got away with conceding four in a one-sided game – they defended well against impossible odds but could have been punished far more heavily – and the Cardiff game felt more like it should have been 7-0 than 4-2.

There’s no way a lack of ruthlessness could be levelled at us in our last two matches though, so we’ve arrived for this remarkable top-of-the-table clash in ludicrously good form. Natasha Thomas and Katie barker’s hat tricks as they build on each grabbing a goal in each preceding match feels like it encapsulates the progression towards our peak which has happened in opening month of the season.

We’ve been able to make the most of our squad, subtly rotating without making a drama of it. We’re liable to make further changes for this game, with one big question being whether Mikayla Wildgoose, who has looked pleasingly up to speed in her two substitute appearances this season, is ready to start. We know Abbie Iddenden brings physicality and height to TNS’ attack: a duel with Wildgoose would be intriguing.

I think every game so far has, like, provided us a different challenge and TNS will be again a different challenge.

They’ve started really well and so have we, and it being a local derby just adds a bit of spice to the game. So, I think we’ll be prepared for it. But, yeah, it’s a difficult game and hopefully we can get three points.

-Lizzie Craven to Wrexham AFC

The other question revolves around the availability of Faye Knox. Her selection for the first Wales Under-23 training squad, which begins on Sunday, is a marvellous acknowledgement of her outstanding performances for us. It appears she will be available, but Wrexham have enviable options on the left if not. Mikayla Cook and Ava Suckley have both started the season well and are already amongst the goals.

Liv Fuller’s injury is a blow, but it doesn’t seem to be too serious, which is a great relief. Our strength in depth in the middle of the pitch is impressive and the combination of Lili Jones, Josie Smith and Bella Reidford is gelling nicely. Lizzie Craven was excellent at Briton Ferry and would expect to remain in goal.

Known injuries: Liv Fuller

Absent on international duty: Faye Knox (possibly!)

Possible debuts: –

Last Season

The View From The Other Side

The attraction of this fixture isn’t just the close proximity of the clubs, the controversial nature of the English side or the awkward relationship between both clubs which goes back well beyond the establishment of either women’s team. The astonishing goal power of both sides makes this a rare opportunity to enjoy two sides which are clearly in rare form go toe-to-toe. Twenty-two goals in their opening four games is quite a start, and last Sunday’s test against Swansea suggested they have gumption to go alongside their firepower. The doubt, going into their game against The Swans, was that they had been shooting fish in a barrel up until round four. Putting nine goals past Barry and hitting seven at Aberystwyth were both terrific achievements, but their 2-0 win at Cardiff Met on the opening day of the campaign might, in hindsight, be the most impressive result. It didn’t grab the headlines like their subsequent performances, but Met are showing early signs that they might be considerably more competitive than expected, and will finish above Barry and Aber.

Swansea were the first opponents TNS had come across who hoped to finish in the top four and qualify for the championship phase, though. The way they were defeated certainly wasn’t as decisive, but the 4-3 win offered evidence of an ability to beat stronger sides and dig deep to get results. They came from behind in the second half, and struck the winner in the fourth minute of injury time to illustrate that they are serious title contenders. Their impressive business in the summer is already bearing fruit.

We all know that they drafted in Iddenden and Hannah Snape, a pair of players whose release from Wrexham was an indication of the ambition we have, as players who put up excellent figures in the Adran Premier were replaced in a quest to aim higher than merely winning the league. They weren’t the only eye-catching arrivals though, with Helen Evans returning after joining then-champions Cardiff City a year earlier and Fiona Barry, the 2024-25 Adran Premier Young Player of the Season, treadingthe same path over the border.

Not that there wasn’t quality at Park hall already. Lexi Jones and Caitlin Chapman are already amongst the goals and Chapman has been chipping in with assists like nobody’s business, as usual.

Known injuries: –

Possible debuts: Molly France

Potential Milestones

Nat Clark’s 50^th Wrexham game.

LexiJones’ 50th TNS game.

Ava Suckley needs 3 more goals to become the second player to score 50 goals for Wrexham. Only Rosie Hughes has scored more.

Lili Jones needs two more assists to become the first Wrexham player to make 25 assists for the club.

We’ve never kept a clean sheet in the first three home league games of a season.

We’ve only kept three consecutive league clean sheets at home once, in the 2022-23 season.

Wrexham have won our first five league games of the season once, in 2022.

Wrexham have won our first four league fixtures in the Adran Premier for the first time.

Wrexham have never been involved in a goalless draw.

Wrexham’s record against TNS: P13 W9 D0 L4

Wrexham have won our last 3 games against TNS.

We have won our last 5 home games against TNS; the only exception was our first game against them, in the Welsh Cup in 2021.

Biggest win against TNS: 4-1 2025-26

Biggest loss against TNS: 0-3 2021-22

Biggest home win against TNS: 4-1 2025-26

Biggest home loss against TNS: 0-3 2021-22

Biggest attendance for game v TNS: 626 (h) 2023-24

Smallest attendance for game v TNS: 129 (a) 2022-23