TNS manager Scott Ruscoe insisted only domestic success will help his side get over their Irn-Bru Cup heartache.

The Saints were punished by two late strikes as Dumbarton hit back and sentenced the Oswestry club to a second Irn-Bru Cup semi final exit in succession last weekend.

The Saints will bid to pick themselves up at Connahs Quay Nomads on Saturday (2pm).

TNS boast a commanding lead at the top of the table and could still complete a domestic clean sweep.

“This is a time where the big games come thick and fast,” said Ruscoe. “We’re in a good position in the league with eight games to go and we need only three or four wins. That’s our main objective now.

“We don’t want anyone dwelling on the Irn-Bru defeat or that disappointment will run into next week against Nomads. It’s up to us to keep the players positive and pick ourselves up to go again.

“The players are dejected but the nature of the goals we conceded means they can put this one to bed quite quickly. You can take everything out of it but a semi-final is a one-off game. We dominated possession but we probably didn’t do enough to put it out of sight.”

TNS face the Nomads the following week as well in the JD Welsh Cup quarter finals.

Ruscoe said: “It’s a dress rehearsal for another big game which is one we want back as we fell at the final hurdle last year and one we’ve dominated before.

“We want to keep going. I enjoyed the Welsh Cup. I won a few as a player and I want to win one as a manager.”