A goalless draw between Bala Town and The New Saints on Wednesday night means that both teams remain unbeaten in the JD Cymru Premier, and only three points seperate the top five in the table.
Friday, 15 September
Colwyn Bay v Aberystwyth Town | Friday – 19:45 (Live online)
Following an unexpected victory away at Pen-y-bont last Saturday, Colwyn Bay will be looking to build on the impressive result with another three points at home on Friday.
Alex Downes headed in the only goal of the game in the 76th minute at the SDM Glass Stadium to secure Colwyn Bay’s first ever win in the JD Cymru Premier.
Aberystwyth Town are bottom of the table having lost five out of six league games so far with their solitary point coming from a goalless draw at Newtown.
This will be the first meeting between the two clubs with the Seagulls looking for their first point at home in the top-flight, while the Black & Greens go searching for their first league win on the road since March (Cfon 0-1 Aber).
League form
Colwyn Bay: ✅❌❌❌➖
Aberystwyth Town: ❌❌❌➖❌
Saturday, 16 September
Connah’s Quay v Cardiff Met | Saturday – 14:30
Connah’s Quay have reacted well since the 6-2 loss at the hands of The New Saints, with Neil Gibson’s men winning four from five after their opening day defeat against the champions.
Striker Jordan Davies has started the season strongly since his return to the Nomads, and he currently leads the goal-scoring chart with six goals in as many games.
In terms of the keepers, it’s Cardiff Met’s Alex Lang that is setting the standards with five clean sheets in six games, conceding only twice in the league.
But Cardiff Met have only won one of their previous 22 league meetings with Connah’s Quay (drawn seven, lost 14), and since their promotion in 2016 the Archers haven’t won any of their 11 league fixtures away against the Nomads.
League form
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅✅❌✅
Cardiff Met: ✅❌➖✅➖
Pen-y-bont v Caernarfon Town | Saturday – 14:30
Pen-y-bont started the season efficiently with back-to-back wins against Newtown and Haverfordwest County, but the Bryntirion boys have been frustrated in recent weeks.
Rhys Griffiths’ side are on a run of four games without a win, scoring only once in four appearances, becoming the first team to ever lose against Colwyn Bay in the JD Cymru Premier.
Caernarfon Town have been the surprise package with new signings Zack Clarke and Adam Davies netting four goals apiece, and Marc Williams also topping the league’s assist chart (4).
But the Canaries have won just once in their previous seven league trips down south, and Pen-y-bont won both fixtures against the Cofis last season which included a convincing 5-1 triumph at home in January.
League form
Pen-y-bont: ❌❌➖➖✅
Caernarfon Town: ✅❌➖͏͏͏➖✅
Pontypridd Town v Bala Town | Saturday – 14:30
Pontypridd Town have the joint-lowest attacking record this season having scored just twice in six games, but Andrew Stokes’ defence has been resilient, conceding only three goals to date.
After losing several influential players over the summer there were concerns that Bala Town could struggle during a spell of transition, but the goalless draw against the champions on Wednesday leaves the Lakesiders only two points behind the league leaders.
Bala Town boasts the best defensive record in the league, along with Cardiff Met, having conceded just two goals in six games so far this season.
These teams have met on four occasions with Bala winning all three games at Maes Tegid, but Pontypridd Town came out on top in their only previous meeting at home against the Lakesiders.
League form
Pontypridd Town: ❌✅✅➖❌
Bala Town: ➖✅➖✅➖
Newtown v Barry Town United | Saturday – 14:30
After a slow start Newtown have won two games on the bounce against Cardiff Met and Haverfordwest County to climb up to 8th spot.
Newtown have won two consecutive matches for the first time in 2023, and Chris Hughes will be keen to continue that form in their upcoming fixtures against Barry Town United, Colwyn Bay and Pontypridd Town.
Barry Town United are one of only two clubs who are yet to win a game in the JD Cymru Premier this season, and Steve Jenkins will be desperate to claim his first victory as Dragons’ manager.
October 2019 was the last time Barry Town United beat Newtown (New 2-3 Barr), and the Robins are unbeaten in six meetings since (won four, drawn two).
League form
Newtown: ✅✅❌➖❌
Barry Town United: ❌❌➖➖➖
The New Saints v Haverfordwest County | Saturday – 14:30
The New Saints still lead the way following the stalemate at Maes Tegid, but will be without their top goal-scorer, Adrian Cieslewicz for the upcoming fixtures after his red card for a fracas that also led to the dismissal of manager Craig Harrison, along with Bala Town’s Oliver Shannon and Ryan Valentine.
The Saints are still unbeaten, but having already dropped four points, this is the club’s worst start in the league since the 2019/20 season.
Haverfordwest County enjoyed a historical summer, beating Shkendija on penalties to secure their first ever European victory, but since that memorable night at the Cardiff City Stadium, Tony Pennock’s team have won just one in nine, losing 4-0 to Newtown last Saturday, their first defeat at home in the league since October 2022.
The New Saints have won 12 of the previous 13 meetings between the two teams, losing just once in 24 games against the Bluebirds.
League form
The New Saints: ➖✅✅➖✅
Haverfordwest County: ❌✅➖➖❌
