After ten rounds of matches the JD Cymru Premier table has started to take shape as reigning champions The New Saints lead the way, while the two newly promoted sides, Airbus UK and Pontypridd United make up the bottom two.
Behind the champions are Connah’s Quay (2nd) and Pen-y-bont (3rd) who both failed to reach Europe last year but will be determined to make the cut this season and will go head-to-head this weekend.
And right down the bottom, Jamie Reed will take charge of Airbus UK for the first time as they make the short trip to face Flint Town United on Saturday.
Friday, 21 October
Caernarfon Town (5th) v Aberystwyth Town (8th) | Friday – 19:45
Caernarfon Town have had a pleasing start to their campaign, and after beating Flint Town United last weekend, Huw Griffiths’ gang sit in 5th place with a game in hand.
Aberystwyth Town claimed a vital victory against Haverfordwest County last Friday as the Black & Greens shot up to 8th position, trailing the Cofis by just three points.
Neither Caernarfon Town nor Aberystwyth Town have drawn a league game this season, and the Ceredigion outfit are yet to keep a clean sheet this term.
Caernarfon Town have lost only once in their last nine meetings with Aberystwyth Town (won five, drawn three), and after winning seven of their last eight league games at home, the Cofis will be full of confidence at the Oval this Friday.
Recent league form:
Caernarfon Town: ✅❌❌✅✅
Aberystwyth Town: ✅❌✅❌✅
Saturday, 22 October
Haverfordwest County (9th) v Bala Town (4th) | Saturday – 14:30
With just one win from their last nine outings there haven’t been many happy faces at Haverfordwest County lately.
The west Wales Bluebirds led the way after the opening three games, but since then Haverfordwest County have lost five of their seven league fixtures, as well as losing to lower league opposition in both the Nathaniel MG Cup and the JD Welsh Cup.
Bala Town on the other hand secured their place in the Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final on Tuesday with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Gresford Athletic.
It was the Lakesiders’ sixth win in seven games with the solitary defeat coming against the champions, TNS last Saturday.
The last two meetings between these clubs have ended in draws, but Bala Town have never lost away at Bridge Meadow (won five, drawn three).
Recent league form:
Haverfordwest County: ❌❌✅➖❌
Bala Town: ❌✅✅✅➖
Pen-y-bont (3rd) v Connah’s Quay (2nd) | Saturday – 14:30
It promises to be a tightly fought battle at Bryntirion this Saturday with just one point separating these two European hopefuls.
Connah’s Quay booked their place in the Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final on Tuesday with a 2-0 win against Ruthin Town.
The victory meant that the Nomads’ winning streak has extended to seven games with Neil Gibson’s side conceding only once during this strong spell.
Despite the impressive form, it’s surprising to see that only the bottom two have scored less league goals than Connah’s Quay this season (12 goals in 10 games).
It will be a tough challenge for Pen-y-bont who have only scored once in their last four meetings with Connah’s Quay and have never won at home against the Nomads (drawn three, lost one).
Recent league form:
Pen-y-bont: ✅➖➖✅✅
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅✅✅❌
Newtown (10th) v Cardiff Met (6th) | Saturday – 14:30
After a shaky start to the season, Chris Hughes will be hoping that his Newtown boys have turned the corner following two consecutive wins and 12 goals scored for the Robins.
Newtown have won just one of their five matches at Latham Park this season (vs Cfon), and they will need to improve that record if they are to bring European football back to mid-Wales next summer.
Cardiff Met have lost their grasp on the front-runners after losing four of their last five league fixtures and failing to find the net in all four defeats.
But the students did have reason to celebrate on Wednesday night as they saw off Ammanford to secure their place in the Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final for the fourth time in five attempts.
Recent league form:
Newtown: ✅❌❌➖❌
Cardiff Met: ❌✅❌❌❌
The New Saints (1st) v Pontypridd United (11th) | Saturday – 14:30
The New Saints start the weekend four points clear at the summit with a game in hand, and although we’re only halfway through October it’s difficult to see anyone catching up with the Oswestry outfit this season.
Since their goalless draw with Newtown on the opening weekend, the Saints have won eight league games on the bounce, and Craig Harrison’s crew seem to have gone up a gear in the last month, scoring 22 goals in four matches (Met 0-7 TNS, TNS 6-2 Flint, TNS 4-1 New, Bala 0-5 TNS).
It’s extremely compact in the bottom half with just two points separating Pontypridd United (11th) and Flint Town United (7th), therefore Andrew Stokes won’t be feeling too disheartened with his side’s position in their first season in the top-flight.
Nevertheless, no team have scored fewer league goals than Pontypridd United’s eight goal total, which is one less than TNS’ striker Declan McManus’ current tally (9).
Recent league form:
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
Pontypridd United: ❌✅➖❌✅
Flint Town United (7th) v Airbus UK (12th) | Saturday – 17:15 (S4C online)
Airbus UK have appointed 35-year-old Jamie Reed as their new manager a day after the prolific goal-scorer decided to hang up his boots at his most recent club, Witton Albion.
Following a handful of appearances for Wrexham, Jamie Reed made his name as one of the JD Cymru Premier’s best strikers when he scored 42 league goals in 52 games for Bangor City between 2009-11.
Reed went on to play for seven JD Cymru Premier clubs as well as many others across the border, but he could be about to take on his toughest assignment yet as he begins his managerial career with the mammoth task of saving Airbus UK from relegation.
A three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player has left Airbus on minus two points, 13 points behind the safety of the 10th position which leaves the Wingmakers with a mountain to climb if they are to avoid dropping straight back down to the JD Cymru North.
In his first game at the helm, Jamie Reed will hope to capitalize on Flint Town United’s recent dip in form as Lee Fowler’s Silkmen are without a win in six league games since their last victory against Airbus UK back in August.
Recent league form:
Flint Town United: ❌➖❌➖➖
Airbus UK: ❌❌❌➖❌
All goals can be viewed on Sgorio’s online accounts, and the weekend’s highlights will be on Sgorio on Monday night at 10:30 on S4C.
