TNS manager Scott Ruscoe has thrown down the title gauntlet to JD Cymru leaders Connahs Quay Nomads.

The Oswestry side slipped to a 1-0 defeat in Deeside as the Nomads extended their lead at the top of the table to four points with seven games left of the season.

Ruscoe insisted the title would not be leaving Park Hall and predicted Nomads to slip up in their remaining games, including the reverse fixture later in the campaign.

Ruscoe said: "We are being pushed but we’ve been pushed by better teams than Connah’s Quay.

"We’ll beat Connah’s Quay at home and they’ll drop a point or two, I think we’ll be alright."

Ruscoe was adamant his title rivals could win their seven remaining games.

“I’m more than hopeful with seven games, they’re not going to win seven games in a row, no doubt about it, no chance."

The Saints manager conceded his side had struggled in Connahs Quay.

Ruscoe said: "We’re not ready to play long balls, we tried in the first-half and I thought we were excellent at standing against the long balls.

"With ten seconds to go we’ve conceded and it’s knocked the stuffing out of us.

"We looked to get the ball down but the pitch isn’t conducive to play football.

"The wind is as bad as you’re going to get it and it was difficult for us to get any momentum.

"When you’re 1-0 up it’s easy to be compact, take your time and dig in.

"Credit to them, they’ve got a bit of quality in the first-half to score that goal, we didn’t have enough to get back into the game."