Five rounds of matches remain in the JD Cymru Premier season, and the battle for the play-off places is heating up.
Last Tuesday, The New Saints secured their fifth consecutive league title by defeating Connah’s Quay Nomads with more or less the final kick of the match at Deeside Stadium.
Connah’s Quay remain 10 points clear in second place, and the Nomads could secure their place in Europe this weekend if results go their way.
Down in the Bottom Six, Haverfordwest County are four points clear in the race for 7th place, while Bala Town need an away victory against Flint Town United if they hope to climb out of the relegation zone.
TOP SIX
Caernarfon Town (4th) v Connah’s Quay (2nd) | Friday – 19:45
It was a weekend to remember for Caernarfon Town as they defeated Y Rhyl 1879 to secure their place in the Welsh Cup final for the first time in their history.
The Cofis will face Flint Town United in the final at Rodney Parade, Newport on 12 April, with the winners of the match claiming a place in European competition.
Despite failing to win any of their last six matches, Connah’s Quay Nomads remain 10 points clear in second place and could secure their place in Europe competition this weekend.
The attacking partnership of Rhys Hughes (13 goals, 11 assists) and Harry Franklin (12 goals, 10 assists) has been outstanding for Connah’s Quay this season, with both players reaching double figures for goals and assists in the league.
Just one point separates Caernarfon Town (4th) and Pen-y-bont (3rd), and Richard Davies would love to lift the Cofis above the Bluebirds before the end of the season to secure their highest-ever finish in the Welsh football pyramid.
The previous two meetings between the teams have ended in draws, and the Canaries have lost just one of their last eight matches against Connah’s Quay (3 wins, 4 draws).
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ͏➖➖❌❌✅
Connah’s Quay: ➖➖➖❌❌
Colwyn Bay (6th) v Barry Town United (5th) | Saturday – 14:30
Only two points separate Colwyn Bay and Barry Town United as both teams aim to finish as high as possible to secure a home tie in the play-offs.
Barry Town are on an excellent run, having won their last four matches against the top four teams in the table – without conceding a single goal.
One of those victories was the major upset against The New Saints in the final of the Nathaniel MG Cup, as the Dragons lifted one of Welsh football’s major trophies for the first time in 23 years.
Colwyn Bay are the last team to beat Barry Town, winning 1–0 at Jenner Park thanks to a goal from Nathan Peate.
The clubs have already met three times this season, and the head-to-head record is even, with both sides winning once and the other match ending in a draw.
League form:
Colwyn Bay: ͏➖✅❌✅❌
Barry Town United: ❌❌✅✅✅
Pen-y-bont (3rd) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 14:30
The New Saints have secured the JD Cymru Premier title for the 18th time in their history — and for the fifth consecutive season.
However, despite their league success, this season could still be considered a disappointing one for the Saints as only one trophy willbe heading to Oswestry, after the club had achieved at least a domestic double in 10 of their previous 12 seasons.
Of the last 12 campaigns, the Saints failed to win a double only in 2019/20 and 2020/21, largely because some competitions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, this is the first time since the 2012/13 season that all three major domestic competitions have been completed and TNS have failed to win at least two of them.
Even so, clinching the title with five matches remaining once again highlights how Craig Harrison’s side have dominated the league.
Pen-y-bont have been in the top three since August, but Rhys Griffiths’ team are at risk of slipping down the table after winning just one of their last 11 matches (vs Llanelli).
Pen-y-bont have not beaten another Top Six club since September (vs Colwyn Bay), and the squad have struggled to adapt following following the departures of both James Crole and Gabriel Kircough in January.
The Saints have won all three league meetings against Pen-y-bont this season, scoring six goals in the last two encounters, with both Rory Holden and Jordan Williams netting hat-tricks against the Bluebirds.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ➖❌➖❌❌
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
BOTTOM SIX
Haverfordwest County (7th) v Cardiff Met (10th) | Friday – 19:45
Haverfordwest County continue to lead the pack in the Bottom Six, but Tony Pennock will expect a response from his squad after the Bluebirds lost to Flint Town United in their last match.
Haverfordwest have kept six clean sheets in their last eight games, and after winning the play-offs last season, the Bluebird will be aiming to repeat that achievement this year.
Things are not going as well for Cardiff Met, who have slipped to 10th place — only six points above the relegation zone.
Since beating The New Saints twice in November, Cardiff Met have won only once (vs Llanelli), and the club are now on a run of nine matches without a victory (six draws, three defeats).
Haverfordwest County have not lost any of their last nine league matches against Cardiff Met, and eight of the last 11 meetings between the clubs in all competitions have finished level after 90 minutes.
If Haverfordwest County win and Bala Town lose on Saturday afternoon, the Bluebirds will secure their place in the league for next season.
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ✅✅✅✅❌
Cardiff Met: ➖❌➖➖➖
Llanelli Town (12th) v Briton Ferry Llansawel (8th) | Friday – 19:45
Briton Ferry Llansawel will head into the match full of confidence after losing just one of their last seven games, winning four and drawing two to open up a seven-point gap above the relegation zone.
Llansawel also have a game in hand, and Andy Dyer’s side will be looking up the table as they attempt to close the four-point gap to Haverfordwest County.
It has been an extremely disappointing season for Llanelli, who have managed just two wins from 27 league matches and have collected only 10 points so far.
However, one of those victories came away from home against Briton Ferry Llansawel, meaning it is unlikely to be a straight- forward evening for the hosts.
Llanelli Town are already certain to be relegated at the end of the season, but their form has imporoved slightly in recent weeks, with the Reds losing just one of their last three matches.
League form:
Llanelli Town: ❌❌➖❌➖
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ͏✅✅❌➖✅
Flint Town United (9th) v Bala Town (11th) | Saturday – 12:30 (Live online)
Bala Town have been members of the top flight for 16 years, and of the current clubs, only The New Saints have also remained in the league continuously since Bala’s first season in 2009/10.
However, after 12 years in the Top Six, Bala have missed out this year and the club is in danger of dropping to the second tier after winning just two of their last 18 league matches.
Bala Town have won only once since November, and that victory came away from home against Flint Town United, with former Silkman Cameron Ferguson starring in a 4–0 win at Cae y Castell.
Flint Town United and The New Saints are the only two clubs yet to lose a league game since the split, and Lee Fowler’s side have have opened up a seven-point gap between themselves and Bala Town in the relegation zone.
Bala Town had gone on a run of 15 matches without defeat against Flint Town United before that streak came to an end in January, when the Silkmen won 4–3 in a thrilling match at Maes Tegid.
The Flint Town squad will still feel elated following their 5-1 victory over Bangor City 1876 last Saturday, as they booked a place in the Welsh Cup final for the first time in 72 years.
League form:
Flint Town United: ✅✅➖➖✅
Bala Town: ❌➖❌❌➖
Match highlights will be available on Sgorio’s social media channels.
