The champions have moved to the top of the table after ending Barry Town United’s perfect run last weekend, with Rhys Hughes scoring the only goal of the game in the final minutes to secure three vital points for The New Saints.
There are only four points separating The New Saints and sixth-placed Pen-y-bont, who are the only two clubs who remain unbeaten following their opening seven games.
In the Bottom Six, there are four clubs still waiting for their first victories of the season (Ammanford, Trefelin, Flint Town United and Holywell Town).
The other two teams sitting in the Bottom Six are Haverfordwest County and Briton Ferry Llansawel, and they will meet in a crucial clash at Bridge Meadow on Friday.
Friday, 11 September
Airbus UK (8th) v The New Saints (1st) | Friday – 19:45
After six consecutive victories, The New Saints have moved to the top of the league for the first time this season.
Craig Harrison’s side have managed to keep five clean sheets in their seven league games, conceding just three goals so far (0.4 goals per game).
Airbus will also be more than happy with their results, with the newcomers sitting in the top half after winning back-to-back matches in the top flight for the first time since 2015.
The New Saints have won their last 11 encounters against Airbus, scoring an average of 5.5 goals per game during that run.
April 2016 was the last time Airbus beat The New Saints (Air 3-2 TNS), but since then the Oswestry outfit have claimed some emphatic victories over the Broughton bunch, including the biggest-ever away win in the Cymru Premier in November 2019 (Air 0-12 TNS).
League form:
Airbus UK: ͏✅❌❌✅✅
The New Saints: ͏͏✅✅✅✅✅
Cambrian United (10th) v Holywell Town (16th) | Friday – 19:45
Holywell Town secured their first point following a home draw against Trefelin last Friday (Hol 1-1 Tre), but John Haseldin’s side remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
It is no surprise that Holywell Town have the weakest defence in the league (conceding 3.8 goals per game), but the north-east club have scored in every game so far.
Cambrian United have made a solid start to their first season in the top flight, beating both Haverfordwest County and Flint Town United, and earning draws against Briton Ferry Llansawel, Pen-y-bont and Cardiff Met.
Cambrian United have not lost at home since December, and Liam Williams will be hoping his side can maintain that record in their first-ever meeting with Holywell Town.
League form:
Cambrian United: ͏✅✅❌➖➖
Holywell Town: ͏❌❌❌❌➖
Haverfordwest County (12th) v Briton Ferry Llansawel (11th) | Friday – 19:45 (Live online)
After a dismal start to the season in which they lost five games in a row, the tide has now turned at Haverfordwest County, with the Bluebirds picking up four points from their last two games and climbing to 12th place.
However, no team has scored fewer goals than Tony Pennock’s side (3 goals in 7 games), and the forwards will need to start firing if they are to climb out of the Bottom Six.
Briton Ferry Llansawel have not been at their best recently, losing three games in a row, with Andy Dyer expecting more from his side (defeats against Cardiff Met, Barry Town United and Airbus).
Haverfordwest County have won five of their last six meetings with Briton Ferry, and three points for the west-Walians would see them climb level on points with their opponents.
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ͏❌❌❌✅➖
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ͏❌͏✅❌❌❌
Ammanford (13th) v Caernarfon Town (4th) | Friday – 19:45
Ammanford are one of four clubs still waiting for their first victory of the season after picking up just two points from a possible 21 after seven games.
Caernarfon Town, on the other hand, have made an excellent start to the season and have won five of their seven games so far, winning all of their away games.
No team has scored more goals than the Cofis (18), with striker Zack Clarke scoring half of those goals (9 goals in 7 games), putting him at the top of the goalscoring charts.
This will be the first meeting between the clubs since January 2020, when the Canaries won 0-4 at The Rec in the fourth round of the Welsh Cup.
League form:
Ammanford: ͏❌❌➖❌❌
Caernarfon Town: ͏✅✅✅❌✅
Trefelin (14th) v Pen-y-bont (6th) | Friday – 19:45
After winning the Cymru South title last season, Trefelin’s results have been disappointing this year, and Andy Hill’s side are still waiting for their first victory in the top flight.
Inconsistency has caused problems for Pen-y-bont this season, and although the side remain unbeaten, Rhys Griffiths will be frustrated that his team failed to beat Flint Town and Cambrian United recently.
The New Saints (3) are the only team to have conceded fewer goals than Pen-y-bont (5), but scoring is the main challenge for the Bluebirds, with seven teams having scored more than them this season (1.6 goals per game).
The clubs met in the second round of the Nathaniel MG Cup last season, with Pen-y-bont securing a comfortable 1-6 victory at Ynys Park.
League form:
Trefelin: ͏❌❌➖❌➖
Pen-y-bont: ͏ ✅✅➖➖✅
Barry Town United (2nd) v Llandudno (5th) | Friday – 19:45
Barry Town United’s perfect start came to a cruel end last Saturday as The New Saints scored a fortunate late goal to snatch all three points (TNS 1-0 Barr).
Steve Jenkins’ side have therefore dropped to second place, but securing a spot in the Top Six is the Dragons’ main objective this season, according to their manager, and their six consecutive victories at the start of the campaign have put them in a strong position to achieve that goal.
Llandudno will also be targeting a place in the Top Six after an excellent start to the season, with the newcomers winning five of their seven games since promotion.
The clubs have not met since November 2018, when Barry Town United won 2-1 at Jenner Park, and the Dragons have won four of their last five encounters against Llandudno.
League form:
Barry Town United: ͏✅✅✅✅❌
Llandudno: ͏✅❌✅❌✅
Flint Town United (15th) v Cardiff Met (7th) | Friday – 19:45
Flint Town United have made a very poor start to the season, picking up just one point from a possible 21 so far, and the Silkmen need a victory to move out of the relegation zone.
Lee Fowler’s side have not won in their last 13 competitive games (4 draws, 9 defeats), since beating Bangor 1876 5-1 in the Welsh Cup semi-final at the beginning of March.
Cardiff Met are among the league’s top scorers (18 goals in 7 games), with Jasper Payne proving to be a good asset for the Archers, scoring six goals so far.
The two most recent meetings between the teams have ended in draws, including the final game of last season, when the point was crucial for Flint Town to avoid relegation (Met 2-2 Flint).
League form:
Flint Town United: ͏❌❌➖❌❌
Cardiff Met: ͏❌❌✅✅➖
Saturday, 12 September
Colwyn Bay (9th) v Connah’s Quay (3rd) | Saturday – 17:30
Colwyn Bay will be rather disappointed to be sitting in the bottom half of the table after the opening seven games, and their results will need to improve if they are to reach the Top Six for a second consecutive season.
Despite the draw against Haverfordwest County last Friday, Connah’s Quay have made a strong start, with the Nomads beginning the weekend three points behind the league leaders, The New Saints.
Connah’s Quay are one of three teams to have scored 18 goals in their opening seven games, while Callum West has shone as the league’s leading creator (6), as well as scoring four goals himself.
The clubs met four times last season, with three of those games ending in draws, but Colwyn Bay have never beaten Connah’s Quay in the league.
League form:
Colwyn Bay: ͏❌✅❌✅❌
Connah’s Quay: ͏✅✅✅✅➖
