This Saturday, Connah’s Quay’s new boss Craig Harrison will welcome his old club The New Saints to the Deeside Stadium.
The Nomads have had a poor start to the season, and after a run of five league games without a win, the champions are now 10 points behind Anthony Limbrick’s Saints.
Saturday, 9 October
Connah’s Quay (8th) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 12:45
There was disappointment for Craig Harrison in his first game in charge last Saturday as an 88th minute equaliser from Haverfordwest’s Ben Fawcett denied him the perfect start to life as Nomads manager.
This is Connah’s Quay’s worst start to a campaign since 2015/16, and their longest run without a win in one season since 2014/15
The Nomads will play five of their next six fixtures at home which should give Craig Harrison a chance to settle into his new role at the Deeside Stadium, starting with the big clash this Saturday which will be a special occasion for Craig Harrison who won the league a record six times during his time at The New Saints (2011-17).
It was another comfortable victory for the Saints at home against Aberystwyth Town last Friday (3-0), which extends their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions (won 8, drawn 1).
But the Oswestry outfit have failed to win on any of their last four games at the Deeside Stadium and have failed to score on their last three visits.
The New Saints’ Australian boss Anthony Limbrick has a win percentage of 76% in the JD Cymru Premier, which is slightly better than Craig Harrison’s record during his time at Park Hall (73%).
But Craig Harrison won 78% of his matches against Connah’s Quay during his time at the helm for TNS, whilst Limbrick has failed to win any of his previous two meetings with the Nomads.
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ➖➖❌❌͏͏➖
The New Saints: ✅✅➖✅✅
Aberystwyth Town (10th) v Caernarfon Town (4th) | Saturday – 14:30
After losing five out of seven league games, scoring just four goals, Aberystwyth Town are dangerously close to the relegation zone.
The Black & Greens have only scored in two of their seven league fixtures, and Antonio Corbisiero’s men went on to win both those games (vs Barry Town United and Newtown).
Caernarfon Town on the other hand are in fine form and have only lost one of their last seven matches in all competitions.
The Cofis have also only lost one in seven against Aberystwyth Town, and the Canaries haven’t been defeated at Park Avenue since November 2008 (won 3, drawn 1 since then).
League form:
Aberystwyth Town: ❌❌❌✅❌
Caernarfon Town: ❌➖✅✅➖
Cardiff Met (5th) v Haverfordwest County (11th) | Saturday – 14:30
Cardiff Met failed to win any of their opening three league fixtures, but with six wins from their last seven games in all competitions, the Archers have shot up the table into 5th spot.
But Haverfordwest County will be a tough team to break down as the Bluebirds are unbeaten in their last four outings, which includes an impressive win against Flint Town United and a draw with the champions, Connah’s Quay.
Having said that, Haverfordwest County haven’t won any of their last nine games away from home in the JD Cymru Premier (lost 8, drawn 1).
It’s been a decade since the Bluebirds last won away from home against Cardiff Met (lost 4, drawn 1 since then).
League form:
Cardiff Met: ➖✅✅❌✅
Haverfordwest County: ❌❌❌✅➖
Bala Town (2nd) v Cefn Druids (12th) | Saturday – 14:30
There was late drama at Cae-y-Castell last Friday night as David Edwards struck in added time to clinch all three points for Bala Town against Flint Town United.
Bala Town are the only club in the league who haven’t lost a domestic game this season (won 8, drawn 3), and it’s looking like the Lakesiders will be The New Saints’ biggest threat this season with four points separating the top two sides.
Things seem as gloomy as ever for the Druids who have lost their last 16 league matches, which is the worst ever run in the JD Cymru Premier in its current 12-team format.
Bala Town won both matches against Cefn Druids last season but had to rely on a 91st minute winner from ex-Druid, Nathan Peate to claim the points at Maes Tegid last September.
League form:
Bala Town: ➖✅✅✅✅
Cefn Druids: ❌❌❌❌❌
Flint Town United (3rd) v Barry Town United (7th) | Saturday – 14:30
After a fantastic start to the season and a spell at the summit, Flint Town United have now lost two league games on the bounce, dropping down to 3rd place, seven points behind The New Saints.
Barry Town United have also lost their last two league games and have fallen into the bottom half of the table.
But it’s so tight in mid-table with only three points separating Flint Town United (3rd) and Connah’s Quay (8th), therefore a win for Barry Town United would lift them above Neil Gibson’s Silkmen.
Gavin Chesterfield’s Dragons have won all three of their previous matches against Flint Town United, including their emphatic 6-3 victory at Jenner Park in their last meeting.
League form:
Flint Town United: ✅❌✅❌❌
Barry Town United: ✅✅✅❌❌
Newtown (6th) v Pen-y-bont (9th) | Saturday – 14:30
Newtown welcome Pen-y-bont to Latham Park on Saturday, a club that has only won one of their eight meetings with the Robins.
Newtown have only drawn one of their last 17 league games, and that draw was in the reverse fixture against Pen-y-bont back in August (1-1).
The Robins’ new frontman, Aaron Williams is on fire and has already notched 16 goals in all competitions this season following his hatrick against Barry Town United last Saturday.
Pen-y-bont are in 9th position having won only one of their seven league games, but only The New Saints and Bala Town (0) have lost fewer games than Rhys Griffiths’ side (1), as the Bryntirion team have picked up five draws against five strong sides this season.
Pen-y-bont have only lost one of their last nine games in all competitions, and a victory could lift them as high up as 4th place.
League form:
Newtown: ✅✅❌❌✅
Pen-y-bont: ➖❌➖✅➖
Highlights of the weekend’s matches will be on Sgorio this Monday at 5:30.
