It is extremely tight at the top of the table with only one point separating the top three teams following Caernarfon Town’s first defeat of the season against Pen-y-bont on Saturday afternoon.
The New Saints have climbed to the summit on goal difference after securing three consecutive league victories, with the Cofis and Pen-y-bont hot on their heels.
At the bottom, Llanelli Town will be relieved to have claimed their first point of the season on Saturday, while Haverfordwest County are in troubled times after losing three on the bounce.
Tuesday, 23 September
Colwyn Bay (5th) v Bala Town (4th) | Tuesday – 19:45
Colwyn Bay are up to 5th place having gone on a run of five games without defeat, but manager Michael Wilde will be disappointed after the goalless game against bottom side, Llanelli Town on Saturday afternoon, especially as the Seagulls missed a penalty in the first half.
It was Colwyn Bay’s fifth draw in eight league games, and their only defeat to date came away from home against Bala Town in August.
After a strong start to the season, the momentum has turned against Bala Town who are now on a run of four games without a win in all competitions.
Despite their promising position, goals have been scarce for the Lakesiders who have only netted eight goals in eight league games.
Bala Town have won all three of their previous meetings with Colwyn Bay, including the 1-0 win at Maes Tegid earlier this season thanks to Dominic McGiveron’s brilliant strike.
League form:
Colwyn Bay: ͏➖➖✅✅➖
Bala Town: ✅✅➖❌➖
Connah’s Quay (6th) v Caernarfon Town (2nd) | Tuesday – 19:45
Connah’s Quay have moved into the top half after beating Haverfordwest County on Saturday, and John Disney’s side also have a game in hand.
But the Nomads haven’t been at their best at home recently, winning only one of their last five matches at the Essity Stadium.
After an excellent run of nine games without defeat in all competitions at the start of the campaign, the Cofis have dropped to second place following their first loss of the season against Pen-y-bont.
Caernarfon Town are the league’s top scorers with 25 goals, and frontman Adam Davies has scored eight of those, also chipping in with five assists.
September 2018 was the last time Caernarfon won away from home against Connah’s Quay, and since then, the Nomads have not lost in 12 home games against the Cofis (W8, D4).
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅❌➖✅
Caernarfon Town: ͏✅➖✅✅❌
Haverfordwest County (11th) v Barry Town United (7th) | Tuesday – 19:45 (Live online)
Haverfordwest County have fallen into the relegation zone after a frustrating spell of three successive league defeats.
Despite finishing in 3rd place last season, goals were scarce for Tony Pennock’s team (an average of 1.2 goals per game), and it is a similar story this year with the Bluebirds having only netted five goals in seven games to date.
To add to their woes, Haverfordwest County will need to manage without the services of their top scorer Ben Ahmun for this game as the striker was sent off against Connah’s Quay on Saturday, which was the Bluebirds’ sixth red card in 11 games in all competitions this season.
The battle between Barry Town United and Flint Town United ended goalless on Saturday afternoon as the Dragons kept their fourth clean sheet in five matches.
It finished 1-1 in both matches between these clubs last season, but in the last four years Haverfordwest County have not lost any of their 10 games against Barry Town United (W5, D5).
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ✅➖❌❌❌
Barry Town United: ➖➖❌✅➖
Briton Ferry Llansawel (8th) v Llanelli Town (12th) | Tuesday – 19:45
Briton Ferry Llansawel have slipped into the bottom half after failing to win any of their last four league outings.
Since winning 3-0 away from home against the Saints on the opening weekend, Briton Ferry Llansawel have not kept a clean sheet in their following seven games in all competitions.
Llanelli Town boss, Lee John will feel relieved that his side picked up their first point since their promotion in their goalless match against Colwyn Bay on Saturday, and the positive result should be a boost for the squad.
However, Llanelli have only scored three goals in eight league games, and the Reds have not scored in their last six games in all competitions.
Briton Ferry Llansawel have won their last five meetings with Llanelli Town, including a 4-2 victory at Stebonheath Park earlier this season, after Llanelli took a 2-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes.
League form:
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ͏✅❌➖❌➖
Llanelli Town: ❌❌❌❌➖
Cardiff Met (10th) v Pen-y-bont (3rd) | Tuesday – 19:45
It hasn’t been the ideal start to the campaign for Cardiff Met who still haven’t won a league game this season.
The Archers have managed to score in all of their games this season, but too many draws (5 out of 8) have proved costly for Ryan Jenkins’ squad.
Pen-y-bont have closed the gap on the league leaders with only a point separating the top three after Rhys Griffiths’ team became the first team to beat Caernarfon Town this season.
Noah Daley was the star of the show for the visitors in the rain at Maesdu Park on Saturday, netting twice to bring his total to seven league goals in six games this season.
Cardiff Met were the only club from the top-flight not to lose against Pen-y-bont last season, as the students beat the Blues twice and had three draws.
League form:
Cardiff Met: ͏➖❌❌➖❌
Pen-y-bont: ͏✅❌➖✅✅
The New Saints (1st) v Flint Town United (9th) | Tuesday – 19:45
Like last year, the Saints have taken their time at the start of the season before rising to their usual position at the top of the table, and after eight league games of this current campaign, the champions have stepped to the summit for the first time.
Only one goal separates the Saints and the Cofis at the top of the table with both clubs having won five, lost one and drawn two in the league this season.
The Saints have the league’s best defensive record having conceded just five goals in eight games, keeping five clean sheets.
After scoring countless goals at the start of the season, Flint Town United have not scored in their last two games and have fell back into the bottom half (Pen 5-0 FTU, FTU 0-0 Barr).
The Silkmen have not beaten the Saints in 30 years, and in the last six contests between the clubs the Oswestry outfit have scored an average of 5.8 goals per game, including emphatic wins of 8-1, 7-0 and 6-2.
League form:
The New Saints: ➖➖✅✅✅
Flint Town United: ❌✅✅❌➖
Highlights of all matches will be available on Sgorio’s social media accounts.
