After a 73-day-break the JD Cymru Premier season will resume on Tuesday night as Pen-y-bont (6th) make the journey to Latham Park to face Newtown (11th) live on Sgorio’s online outlets.
Tuesday, 2 March
Newtown v Pen-y-bont | Tuesday – 20:00 (Facebook Live / YouTube)
It’s been over 10 weeks since the last league fixture and Newtown manager, Chris Hughes has used his time wisely to bolster his struggling side by adding six new signings to his squad, including four ex-Newtown players.
Former Robins captain, Shane Sutton is arguably the most impressive capture as he returns to Newtown following a three and a half year spell with Vanarama National League North outfit Telford United.
The 32–year–old centre half was the Newtown skipper when the club won the 2015 play-offs, before going on to beat Maltese side, Valletta in the Europa League qualifiers.
Chris Hughes will be hoping that Sutton can tighten up a leaky Newtown defence who have only kept one clean sheet in 15 games this season.
Also returning to mid-Wales are Alex Fletcher, Lifumpa Mwandwe and Callum Roberts (on loan from Connah’s Quay), as well as attacking duo Rhys Hesden and Jonathan Letford.
The visitors, Pen-y-bont have enjoyed a successful season so far, and after narrowly avoiding relegation last term, Rhys Griffiths’ side are now real contenders for the Top Six.
A win for Pen-y-bont on Tuesday night would see them climb above Caernarfon Town and Barry Town United into 4th place, with a game in hand.
All five of Pen-y-bont’s defeats this season have come against the top three sides (TNS, Connah’s Quay and Bala Town), while they’ve only conceded four goals in their other nine fixtures.
Newtown have only won twice in 15 games this season, against Cefn Druids and Flint Town United, but three points this Tuesday would lift them above those two clubs, out of the relegation zone, and into 9th place.
Recent league form:
Newtown: ➖❌❌❌➖
Pen-y-bont: ❌➖✅✅❌
