The JD Cymru Premier season continues following a short break for the JD Welsh Cup third round weekend.
And what a weekend it was too as the holders of the cup, The New Saints were knocked out of the competition, along with last year’s runners-up, Connah’s Quay.
The results mean that for the first time in 13 years this year’s final will not include either The New Saints or Connah’s Quay.
But back to the league and with just five games left until the split only The New Saints have sealed their place in the top half with the champions currently nine points clear at the top of the table.
31 points is the usual amount needed to reach the Top Six, and Pen-y-bont have passed that target while Caernarfon Town and Connah’s Quay are hot on their heels.
In mid-table, only two points separate Cardiff Met (6th), Barry Town United (7th) and Bala Town (8th) in the race to reach the Top Six, and two of those clubs will meet on Saturday afternoon.
And in the battle to avoid the drop it will be a crucial contest between Briton Ferry Llansawel and Flint Town United on Saturday, as there is only a point separating the two struggling sides.
Friday, 28 November
Barry Town United (7th) v Haverfordwest County (10th) | Friday – 19:45
Barry Town United are through to the fourth round of the Welsh Cup after an emphatic 6-0 away win against Llanelli Town on Friday night.
Steve Jenkins’ team are therefore on a run of seven games without defeat in all competitions and have kept an impressive five clean sheets during that period.
However, Barry Town start the weekend in the bottom half having won only four of their 16 league fixtures this season (25%).
Halfway through the campaign and Haverfordwest County are in a real fight to avoid relegation this year with only one point separating the Bluebirds, Briton Ferry Llansawel and Flint Town United between 9th and 11th place.
Haverfordwest County have only won one of their 15 away games in all competitions in 2025 (0-1 vs Briton Ferry), but the performances have improved for Tony Pennock’s team recently.
Barry Town United have already beaten Haverfordwest County twice at the Bridge Meadow this season, winning 3-2 in a league fixture in September before winning 2-0 at the beginning of November in the quarter-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup, with forward Ieuan Owen scoring in both games for the Dragons.
League form:
Barry Town United: ❌➖➖✅➖
Haverfordwest County: ✅➖❌➖✅
The New Saints (1st) v Caernarfon Town (3rd) | Friday – 19:45 (Live online)
The dream of back-to-back domestic trebles is over for The New Saints after losing 2-1 against Cardiff Met in the third round of the Welsh Cup last Friday.
It’s the first time since 2007 that the Saints have fallen out of the competition this early, but the double is still on the cards as Craig Harrison’s crew are nine points clear at the top of the league and have reached the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Unlike the Saints, Caernarfon Town managed to win their cup tie as the Cofis defeated Penrhyncoch 4-0 to progress to the fourth round for the first time in four years.
Caernarfon Town have only lost one of their last eight matches, and that loss came against TNS in the quarter-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup earlier this month (TNS 3-0 Cfon).
The Saints have also beaten Caernarfon in the league earlier this season and have therefore won 16 of their last 17 meetings with the Cofis.
League form:
The New Saints: ✅✅✅❌✅
Caernarfon Town: ͏➖✅✅➖➖
Saturday, 29 November
Colwyn Bay (5th) v Pen-y-bont (2nd) | Saturday – 14:30
Both Colwyn Bay and Pen-y-bont progressed comfortably to the fourth round of the JD Welsh Cup after 3-1 victories against Carmarthen Town and Cambrian United of the JD Cymru South.
As half of the top-flight teams have failed to reach the fourth round, including The New Saints and Connah’s Quay who were the last two winners of the competition, Colwyn Bay and Pen-y-bont will now view the Welsh Cup as a realistic route to reach Europe this year.
Nobody has conceded fewer goals than Colwyn Bay in the JD Cymru Premier this season (0.9 goals per game), and the Seagulls are on the right track to claim a place in the Top Six in their first season since their promotion back to the top-flight.
Caernarfon Town were the last club to reach the Top Six in their first season after winning promotion, in the 2018/19 season.
Despite losing three of their last five league outings, Pen-y-bont are pretty safe of reaching the Top Six for the fifth time in six seasons.
Pen-y-bont have won their last three meetings with Colwyn Bay including a 1-0 win at the Dragonbet Stadium in September thanks to Jac Clay’s strike.
League form:
Colwyn Bay: ͏➖✅❌✅❌
Pen-y-bont: ͏❌❌✅❌✅
Llanelli Town (12th) v Connah’s Quay (4th) | Saturday – 14:30
It was a disappointing weekend for Llanelli Town and Connah’s Quay as both clubs crashed out of the JD Welsh Cup.
It was a 6-0 thrashing for Llanelli Town against Barry Town United, while Connah’s Quay were beaten 2-1 by JD Cymru North leaders Llandudno.
This is the first time in 12 years that Connah’s Quay have lost in the third round of the Welsh Cup, and John Disney was frustrated in the manner that the Nomads’ run of eight games without defeat came to an end.
After picking up a point against Caernarfon Town in their last league outing, the 6-0 loss against Barry Town United will be a heavy blow for Llanelli Town who are eight points adrift of safety.
The Nomads have won their previous 11 contests against Llanelli Town, including a 3-0 triumph at Cae y Castell in October.
League form:
Llanelli Town: ❌❌❌❌➖
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅➖✅✅
Briton Ferry Llansawel (9th) v Flint Town United (11th) | Saturday – 14:30
It’s a real six-pointer at the Old Road as only one point separates Briton Ferry Llansawel in 9th place, and Flint Town United in the relegation zone.
Briton Ferry Llansawel have not played since November 7th when the Reds won 2-0 against Bala Town securing their first win at home in the league this season.
Flint Town United have only won two of their last 11 league fixtures (vs Llanelli and Briton Ferry), and Lee Fowler’s squad have won just once away from home in the league this season (vs Llanelli).
But Flint Town United have an excellent record against Briton Ferry Llansawel as the Silkmen have not lost any of their previous five matches against the Reds (W4, D1).
Flint Town United defender and captain, Harry Owen clearly enjoys going up against Briton Ferry as he’s scored six goals in five games against Andy Dyer’s men.
Harry Owen scored both goals against Briton Ferry in the reverse fixture at Cae y Castell this season to secure a 2-1 win for his team in September.
League form:
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ͏✅❌❌❌✅
Flint Town United: ✅❌❌➖❌
Bala Town (8th) v Cardiff Met (6th) | Saturday – 14:30
Cardiff Met are the in-form side at the moment with the Archers having won seven of their last nine games, including two consecutive victories against The New Saints.
After knocking the Saints out of the cup, Cardiff Met will look to go all the way this year and get their hands on the trophy for the first time in their history.
Cardiff Met go into the weekend in 6th place, and with momentum on their side, the Cyncoed crew will be determined to reach the top half for the fourth successive season.
Bala Town have reached the Top Six in each of the last 11 seasons, but the Lakesiders are in danger of missing out this year for the first time since the 2013/14 campaign.
Scoring goals has been Bala Town’s main issue, as only Llanelli Town (0.5 goals per game) have netted fewer than Steve Fisher’s side (0.7 goals per game).
Cardiff Met are on a run of six games without defeat against Bala Town, and the students have only lost one of their last 12 meetings with the Gwynedd gang (W6, D5).
League form:
Bala Town: ❌➖✅❌❌
Cardiff Met: ͏✅➖✅❌✅
The highlights of the games will be available on Sgorio’s social websites and the best of the weekend’s action on S4C on Monday night.
