This Tuesday night, The New Saints could be crowned JD Cymru Premier champions for the fifth consecutive season as an away win against Connah’s Quay would be enough to secure the title.
Craig Harrison’s squad will be extremely disappointed after failing to lift the Nathaniel MG Cup over the weekend following an unexpected defeat against Barry Town United in the final.
But what better way to respond three days later than by securing the championship at the home of their main rivals, Connah’s Quay.
In the race for the runners-up spot, and the second ticket to Europe, Connah’s Quay are 10 points above Pen-y-bont, but neither team have won in their last five games, and so the rest of the pack are closing the gap.
TOP SIX
Connah’s Quay (2nd) v The New Saints (1st) | Tuesday – 19:45 (Live online)
The New Saints have completed a domestic double in each of the last four seasons (a treble in 2024/25), but after losing in the final of the Nathaniel MG Cup on Saturday night, and exiting the Welsh Cup in the third round earlier in the campaign, the JD Cymru Premier title is now the only trophy still available to the Saints.
A victory for the Oswestry outfit on Tuesday night would be enough to secure the championship — with five games still left to play.
However, despite their league success, this season could still be viewed as a disappointing one for the Saints, given that they have achieved at least a domestic double in 10 of their previous 12 campaigns.
Of the last 12 seasons, only in 2019/20 and 2020/21 did they fail to secure a double — largely because certain competitions were cancelled due to Covid-19.
Therefore, this is the first time since the 2012/13 season that all three major domestic competitions have been completed and The New Saints have failed to win at least two of them.
There is also a flat feeling around Connah’s Quay Nomads, because although the Nomads are comfortably in second place, the team have failed to win any of their last five matches.
The league’s top scorer, Jordan Williams, will be eager to add to his 23 goals so far as the powerful striker has scored five goals in his last five games against Connah’s Quay, including the winning goal in the 2024/25 Welsh Cup final.
However, Connah’s Quay were celebrating after the most recent meeting between the sides on New Year’s Eve, with Callum West scoring a superb solo goal in a 3–1 victory for the Nomads at the Deeside Stadium.
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ➖➖➖➖❌
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
Barry Town United (6th) v Pen-y-bont (3rd) | Tuesday – 19:45
It was a special and emotional night for Barry Town United on Saturday as the Dragons lifted one of Welsh football’s major trophies for the first time in 23 years.
Ieuan Owen was the hero for Barry Town, scoring both goals in a 2–0 victory, as the side managed by Steve Jenkins and Andy Legg defeated The New Saints for the first time in six and a half years.
The surprise win means Barry Town United’s remarkable run continues, with the club having won three consecutive matches without conceding a goal (vs Caernarfon, Connah’s Quay and TNS).
Just four points separate Barry Town in 6th place and Pen-y-bont in 3rd, as Rhys Griffiths’ side have struggled in recent weeks.
Pen-y-bont have won only one of their last 10 matches (against Llanelli Town), and the Bryntirion boys have not beaten a fellow Top Six club since September (1–0 vs Colwyn Bay).
However, Pen-y-bont are unbeaten in their last 14 league matches against Barry Town United (eight wins, six draws), and Noah Daley was the star at Jenner Park in August, scoring a hat-trick on his league debut for Pen-y-bont (Barry 2–3 Pen).
League form:
Barry Town United: ✅❌❌✅✅
Pen-y-bont: ➖➖❌➖❌
Match highlights will be available on Sgorio’s social media channels.
