Six games left in the league season and after a few shock results last weekend there’s still plenty to play for at each end of the table.
TOP SIX
Caernarfon Town (6th) v The New Saints (1st) | Friday – 19:45
After claiming the league title with seven games left to play, Newtown were able to capitalise on The New Saints’ complacency last Friday and become the first team to win away at Park Hall in almost a year.
Caernarfon Town were the last team to keep a clean sheet at Park Hall in a goalless draw back in April 2021, and The New Saints were unbeaten in 14 games until Friday’s shock defeat (won 12, drawn two).
Following a 2-0 loss at Bala Town last weekend, Caernarfon Town are now six points behind that elusive runners-up spot.
The New Saints haven’t lost any of their last six meetings with the Canaries (won five, drawn one), and the Oswestry outfit scored nine goals in two games against the Cofis during the first phase of the season (TNS 5-3 Cfon, Cfon 0-4 TNS).
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ✅✅❌✅❌
The New Saints: ➖✅✅➖❌
Newtown (3rd) v Flint Town United (5th) | Saturday – 12:45
Both teams enjoyed unexpected victories last weekend to keep their European dreams alive.
Nick Rushton netted the only goal of the game against The New Saints to keep Newtown just two points behind 2nd placed Bala Town, and Mark Cadwallader’s winner against Pen-y-bont brought Flint Town United’s run of seven games without a win to an end.
Flint Town United won their home game against Newtown in the first phase of the season (4-1), but it was the Robins who won the reverse fixture in December (2-0) with Flint forward Michael Wilde seeing a red card in both matches!
Three points for the Silkmen would leave Neil Gibson’s gang level on points with Newtown, but it will be a tough ask as Flint Town United haven’t won a league game at Latham Park in 25 years (1995/96).
League form:
Newtown: ❌❌✅❌✅
Flint Town United: ➖❌❌❌✅
Pen-y-bont (4th) v Bala Town (2nd) | Saturday – 14:30
A slip-up at Cae-y-Castell last Saturday meant that Pen-y-bont now trail Bala Town by three points in the race for European qualification.
Pen-y-bont have won just one of their last six league matches, while Bala Town have lost only once in 11 league games.
A penalty shoot-out was needed to separate these two teams in the JD Welsh Cup semi-final last month, and it was an historic night for Rhys Griffiths’ side as Pen-y-bont came out on top and secured their place in the final for the first time in their history.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ➖❌➖✅❌
Bala Town: ➖✅❌✅✅
BOTTOM SIX
Connah’s Quay (10th) v Aberystwyth Town (9th) | Friday – 19:45
Aberystwyth Town claimed a momentous win against Barry Town United last Friday night which brought the Black & Greens’ run of six games without a win to an end and opened up a five-point gap between themselves and the drop zone.
There was also a sigh of relief from the Nomads’ camp as they climbed out of the bottom two following their goalless draw at Haverfordwest County.
Connah’s Quay will be confident of continuing their fine form of six league games without defeat, as the Nomads are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Aberystwyth Town (won eight, drawn one).
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ✅➖✅✅➖
Aberystwyth Town: ➖➖❌❌✅
Cardiff Met (8th) v Haverfordwest County (7th) | Saturday – 14:30
Cardiff Met will want to put last Saturday’s disappointment behind them as soon as possible as the Archers became the first team to lose against Cefn Druids in the JD Cymru Premier this season.
It was Cardiff Met’s first league defeat since November as Dr Christian Edwards’ students had gone 11 games without a loss.
Haverfordwest County are enjoying an impressive spell of six games without defeat and are leading the chase for 7th spot to secure a place in the end of season play-offs, where a ticket to next season’s Scottish Challenge Cup will be up for grabs.
This will be the fourth meeting between the teams this season, and on past experiences it could go either way (Cardiff Met won one, Haverfordwest County won one, drawn one).
League form:
Cardiff Met: ➖➖͏✅➖❌
Haverfordwest County: ✅✅✅✅➖
Barry Town United (11th) v Cefn Druids (12th) | Saturday – 14:30
It’s been a long time coming, but after 11 months and 34 league games without a win, Cefn Druids finally had reason to celebrate last Saturday as Andy Turner’s Ancients won 2-0 against Cardiff Met.
The three points has doubled the Druids points tally this season, and despite already being relegated the victory will surely give the squad a well-needed boost ahead of their remaining fixtures.
The Druids may have been celebrating last weekend, but there was a sombre mood in the Barry Town United camp as they slipped into the relegation zone for the first time this season as they extended their poor run to seven games without a win.
But Gavin Chesterfield will be hopeful ahead of Saturday’s match as the Dragons have won eight of their previous nine matches against Cefn Druids.
League form:
Barry Town United: ❌❌❌➖❌
Cefn Druids: ❌➖❌❌✅
Highlights will be available on Sgorio’s online accounts and on S4C at 5:30 on Monday afternoon.
