After an unexpected pause the JD Cymru Premier returns this weekend with crucial clashes at the top and bottom of the league.
Friday, 16 September
Aberystwyth Town (11th) v Connah’s Quay (6th) | Friday – 20:00
Aberystwyth Town have had a sluggish start to their season, losing four games on the bounce, and the defeat to Bala Town on their last outing was especially disappointing considering that the opposition’s captain Chris Venables was sent off just 90 seconds after kick-off.
It could be another challenging night for Aberystwyth Town as the Seasiders are on a run of 11 games without a win against Connah’s Quay (drawn two, lost nine).
Connah’s Quay have won all three of their home matches without conceding a single goal, but the Nomads are still searching for their first point on the road after losing away to the two front-runners Cardiff Met and The New Saints in August.
Saturday, 17 September
Caernarfon Town (3rd) v Haverfordwest County (8th) | Saturday – 14:30
Caernarfon Town will be keen to continue their perfect record at home when the Bluebirds visit the Oval on Saturday.
Haverfordwest County were top of the league after three games, but a couple of 3-2 defeats in the space of a week (vs Pen-y-bont and Newtown) has seen the Bluebirds plummet down to 8th spot.
This will be the second meeting between these two teams this season following Haverfordwest County’s 1-0 win against the Cofis on the opening weekend with Jordan Davies heading in the only goal of the game late into the second half.
Cardiff Met (2nd) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 14:30
Five games into the new season and there’s just one point separating the two front-runners ahead of their match-up at Cyncoed Campus on Saturday.
Current champions, TNS are the only unbeaten side in the league, and Craig Harrison’s men have showed their grit, conceding just once in five games this season.
Cardiff Met have also kept four clean sheets in five games, and the league’s top scorer Sam Jones will be looking to add to the six goals he’s already netted in August.
The Archers won’t fear the arrival of the champions as The New Saints don’t have the best of records at Cyncoed Campus, winning just once in their last five visits to the capital.
Pontypridd United (10th) v Airbus UK (12th) | Saturday – 14:30
The two newly-promoted teams will meet for the first time on Saturday in what could potentially be a season-defining fixture.
Airbus have had a slow start as Steve O’Shaughnessy’s boys have lost all five matches since returning to the top-flight.
Pontypridd United have the lowest attacking return in the league as the newcomers have netted only twice in five games, with both goals coming in their solitary win against Aberystwyth Town.
We’re still very early in the season but a win for either side this weekend could be the well-needed boost that might kick-start their campaign, but a defeat could be a gloomy indication of a long relegation battle ahead.
Flint Town United (4th) v Bala Town (7th) | Saturday – 14:30
After five consecutive away games, followed by last weekend’s postponement, Flint Town United will finally play their first match on their new 4G surface at Cae-y-Castell this Saturday.
Nine of the current 12 JD Cymru Premier clubs now have artificial pitches, and the Silkmen will have to settle in quickly to their new surroundings as three of their next four league games are at home.
But the Bala boys will be full of confidence as they’ve won all seven of their meetings with Flint Town United since the Silkmen were promoted in 2020.
Newtown (9th) v Pen-y-bont (5th) | Saturday – 17:15 (S4C)
Back-to-back victories against Caernarfon Town and Haverfordwest County has ignited Newtown’s season who started off with three games without a goal.
Like Connah’s Quay and Caernarfon Town, Pen-y-bont can boast a 100% record at home, but are yet to pick up a point away from home this season.
Pen-y-bont did come away with three points after their last trip to Latham Park in March, but that was Rhys Griffiths’ side’s only win in six meetings with the Robins (drawn one, lost four).
Pen-y-bont haven’t won an away game in any competition since beating Newtown last season and will therefore be eager to end the unwanted record on Saturday.
All goals can be viewed on Sgorio’s online accounts, and the weekend’s highlights will be on Sgorio on Tuesday night on S4C.