This Saturday the JD Cymru Premier will be split in two, but who will join The New Saints, Pen-y-bont, Newtown, Flint Town United and Bala Town in this season’s Top Six….
Saturday, 26 February
Cefn Druids (12th) v Haverfordwest County (11th) | Saturday – 12:45
While the race for the Top Six reaches its climax, the battle to avoid relegation is just getting started as the bottom two go head-to-head at The Rock this Saturday.
Following a run of 10 league games without a win, Haverfordwest County have dropped into the relegation zone and are now four points from safety.
But Cefn Druids are in a much worse position after an appalling spell of 30 league games without a win, picking up just two points this season.
Since the league was restructured in 2010/11 no club has ever ended Phase One with less than 11 points, but that will certainly be the case for Cefn Druids, who could become the first team not to win any of their opening 22 league fixtures.
10 April 2021 was the last time Cefn Druids won a league match, which was also a home game against Haverfordwest County, and Andy Turner will be desperate to repeat that result against the Bluebirds to bring their dreadful run to an end.
League form:
Cefn Druids: ❌❌❌❌❌
Haverfordwest County: ❌➖➖❌➖
Cardiff Met (8th) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 12:45
The unstoppable New Saints are 21 points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier after winning 18 of their 21 league games this season, and after beating Guilsfield in the Welsh Cup quarter final last weekend Anthony Limbrick will be targeting a league and cup double in his first full season in charge at Park Hall.
Cardiff Met lost four league games on the bounce in November, but the Archers have now gone seven league games without defeat (won two, drawn 5).
The New Saints have won their last three meetings with Cardiff Met, including their convincing 5-0 victory at Oswestry earlier this season.
If Connah’s Quay were to lose points for breaking the leagues’s rules then Caernarfon Town and Cardiff Met could come into the mix for the last Top Six spot, therefore this match is a must-win for the Archers if they are to compete for the top half.
League form:
Cardiff Met: ➖✅➖➖͏➖
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
Pen-y-bont (2nd) v Flint Town United (4th) | Saturday – 12:45
Pen-y-bont and Flint Town United have sealed their place in the Top Six, and the next target for the two teams will be to challenge for 2nd place which would secure European qualification.
Both clubs are aiming to get into Europe for the first time in their history, and there’s a chance that finishing 3rd could be enough if one of the top two in the league go on to win the JD Welsh Cup.
Flint Town United were the surprise package as they had a flying start to the season, but the chasing pack has since caught up with the Slikmen and now there are only four points separating the five clubs in the race for the runner-up spot.
Neil Gibson’s gang beat Pen-y-bont 3-1 in the reverse fixture back in November, but the Flintshire men have only won two in nine since that win.
Pen-y-bont on the other hand, have only lost once in 10 games since the defeat at Cae-y-Castell and have managed to book a place in the Welsh Cup semi-final.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ❌✅͏͏➖✅➖
Flint Town United: ❌✅➖➖❌
Bala Town (5th) v Aberystwyth Town (9th) | Saturday – 12:45
Bala Town will host Aberystwyth Town at Maes Tegid for the second Saturday on the bounce.
And it was Colin Caton’s crew who were celebrating last weekend as Dean Ebbe’s double booked Bala Town’s place in the Welsh Cup semi-final (Bala 2-1 Aber).
Dean Ebbe has scored five goals in three games since joining the Lakesiders on loan from The New Saints, and with captain Chris Venables also returning to the squad following a lengthy suspension Bala Town will surely be pushing for that elusive 2nd spot.
After seven games without defeat, Bala Town have sealed their place in the Top Six for the eighth year running, while Aberystwyth Town will be spending the second half of the season in the Bottom Six.
League form:
Bala Town: ✅➖✅✅➖
Aberystwyth Town: ➖❌✅✅➖
Barry Town United (10th) v Caernarfon Town (7th) | Saturday – 12:45
Caernarfon Town have reached the Top Six in every season since their promotion to the top-flight in 2018, but the Cofis go into the final game of Phase One three points behind Connah’s Quay (6th) and two points above Cardiff Met (8th).
Mathematically, Caernarfon Town still have a very slim chance of getting into the top half, but the Canaries will be aware that 6th placed Connah’s Quay are facing a possible 18-point deduction (pending appeal), which could open the door for the 7th placed side.
For the first time since the 2017/18 season, Barry Town United will not be competing in the Top Six after winning just one of their last eight matches.
But it was the Dragons who came out on top in the previous meeting between these two sides as Kayne McLaggon and Jordan Cotterill’s first-half strikes secured the points for Gavin Chesterfield’s men (Cfon 1-2 Barry).
League form:
Barry Town United: ❌❌✅❌➖
Caernarfon Town: ✅✅❌❌➖
Newtown (3rd) v Connah’s Quay (6th) | Saturday – 12:45
Connah’s Quay are three points clear of Caernarfon Town in the hunt for the final Top Six spot, and as the Nomads have an 11-goal advantage over the Cofis it’s highly unlikely that Caernarfon Town will be able to make up the lost ground on Saturday.
But the black cloud over Connah’s Quay is the charge for an alleged breach of Cymru Premier Rules which could result in an 18-point deduction.
The matter has been referred directly to independent arbitration and a date for the hearing is yet to be confirmed.
The off-field issues may have started to affect performances on the pitch as the Welsh champions lost 2-0 to second-tier side Colwyn Bay on Saturday, shutting the door on the potential route of reaching Europe via the Welsh Cup.
Newtown are without a win in their last four outings, but Chris Hughes’ side did claim an impressive victory at the Deeside Stadium in their previous meeting with Connah’s Quay in October.
League form:
Newtown: ✅➖❌➖͏͏➖
Connah’s Quay: ✅❌➖❌✅
Highlights of all matches will be available on Sgorio’s online accounts.
