Eight games into the JD Cymru Premier season and the league has started to take it’s familiar form with The New Saints, Pen-y-bont, Connah’s Quay and Bala Town occupying the top four spots.
Current champions, The New Saints have gone three points clear with game in hand, whilst newly promoted Airbus UK are already six points adrift at the bottom of the pile.
Friday, 30 September
Airbus UK (12th) v Bala Town (4th) | Friday – 19:45 (S4C online)
With just one point from their opening eight fixtures and after losing a crucial clash with fellow strugglers Aberystwyth Town on Tuesday night, the feeling is a little blue at Airbus UK.
Almost five years since his appointment as Airbus manager, Steve O’Shaughnessy has been relieved of his duties, and while the Wingmakers look for a permanent replacement, assistant-manager Mark Allen will step up to take charge.
March 2016 was the last time Airbus UK beat Bala Town in a 3-0 JD Welsh Cup quarter final win as the Wingmakers reached the final for the only time in their history.
Since then, Bala Town are unbeaten in five meetings with the Broughton bunch (won four, drawn one), including a 1-0 win in their previous encounter back in November 2019 where Chris Venables secured the points with a 95th minute winner.
After winning only one of their opening four league games this season, the Lakesiders have started to ascend the table following a run of five games without defeat in all competitions (won four, drawn one).
League form:
Airbus UK: ❌➖❌❌❌
Bala Town: ✅✅➖✅❌
The New Saints (1st) v Newtown (10th) | Friday – 19:45
Craig Harrison has settled in quickly since returning to Park Hall, and with the Saints scoring 13 goals in their last two league outings the champions will be incredibly hard to stop this season.
Newtown on the other hand have been far from convincing and with just two wins from their opening eight league games the Robins are only a point above the bottom two.
But Newtown are the only team to take a point from The New Saints this season as they played out a goalless draw at Latham Park on the opening weekend.
League form:
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
Newtown: ❌➖❌✅✅
Saturday, 1 October
Connah’s Quay (3rd) v Haverfordwest County (7th) | Saturday – 14:30
With five wins from their last six games in all competitions, and three consecutive clean sheets, Connah’s Quay have climbed up to 3rd place.
Haverfordwest County brought their run of five games without a victory to an end as they claimed a deserved 1-0 win against Cardiff Met on Tuesday night.
Connah’s Quay are currently on a run of nine games without a loss against Haverfordwest County (won seven, drawn two), and the Bluebirds haven’t won away against the Nomads since August 2003.
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅❌✅✅
Haverfordwest County: ✅➖❌❌❌
Cardiff Met (6th) v Aberystwyth Town (9th) | Saturday – 14:30
The start of season buzz has begun to dim at Cyncoed Campus as Cardiff Met have now lost three league games on the bounce without scoring a single goal.
Aberystwyth Town secured a vital victory against Airbus on Tuesday night which saw Anthony Williams’ side climb out of the relegation zone (Aber 2-1 Air).
Cardiff Met have already beaten Aberystwyth Town twice this season (league and cup), and the students have lost only once in their last 12 meetings with the Black & Greens (won eight, drawn three).
League form:
Cardiff Met: ❌❌❌✅✅
Aberystwyth Town: ✅❌✅❌❌
Pontypridd United (11th) v Caernarfon Town (5th) | Saturday – 14:30
Pontypridd United picked up a good point at Pen-y-bont in midweek and Andrew Stokes’ men will be eager to build some momentum to drag themselves out of danger.
The goals have been few and far between for the newcomers who have only netted four goals in eight games since their promotion to the top-flight.
Caernarfon Town came out on top in the reverse fixture back in August as two quick-fire goals in the second half from Sion Bradley and Joe Faux sealed the points for the Cofis.
League form:
Pontypridd United: ➖❌✅❌❌
Caernarfon Town: ❌✅✅❌✅
Flint Town United (8th) v Pen-y-bont (2nd) | Saturday – 14:30
The confusion surrounding Flint Town United’s newly laid 4G pitch has been cleared, and the measurements have been confirmed to be correct, therefore Lee Fowler’s outfit will get to play at home this Saturday.
Flint Town United started the season strongly winning three out of four, but the Silkmen have dropped to 8th place following a run of four league games without a win.
Pen-y-bont won the reverse fixture earlier this season as player-manager, Rhys Griffiths headed in the winner at the SDM Glass Stadium (Pen 2-1 Flint).
League form:
Flint Town United: ❌➖➖❌✅
Pen-y-bont: ➖✅✅❌✅
All goals can be viewed on Sgorio’s online accounts, and the weekend’s highlights will be on Sgorio on Monday night at 9:30 on S4C.
