After the excitement of the JD Welsh Cup second round the attention turns back to the league and there are several crucial fixtures in the JD Cymru Premier this weekend.
The league will be split into two after 22 games, and now that we’re a quarter way through the season the race to reach the top half will begin to intensify as all clubs look to secure their place in the league for next season and claim a spot in the European play-offs.
Friday, 14 October
Caernarfon Town (6th) v Flint Town United (7th) | Friday – 19:45
Caernarfon Town and Flint Town United have secured their places in the JD Welsh Cup third round with victories over Flint Mountain and Caersws respectively.
But the third-round draw hasn’t been too kind on both teams as they’ve been drawn away against the highest-ranked opponents possible (TNS v Cfon, Bala v Flint).
Both Caernarfon Town and Flint Town United are level on points in mid-table, but the Cofis have a game in hand following their appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
Caernarfon Town have an impressive record against Flint Town United as the Canaries have won six of their seven meetings since the Silkmen were promoted, including Caernarfon’s play-off final win in extra time last season (Cfon 2-1 Flint a.e.t).
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ❌❌✅✅❌
Flint Town United: ➖❌➖➖❌
Pontypridd United (9th) v Newtown (11th) | Friday – 19:45
After a difficult start to the campaign, both Pontypridd United and Newtown welcomed the distraction of the cup competition and saw off Chepstow and Cardiff Corries on Saturday.
The two teams have been drawn away in the next round with Newtown facing a difficult derby match at Aberystwyth, while Pontypridd will travel to Ruthin Town.
Only two points separate these two teams in the bottom half as both clubs have lost five of their nine league games this season.
There’s six years since these clubs last met in September 2016 where Newtown came out on top in a League Cup clash (Pont 2-4 New).
League form:
Pontypridd United: ✅➖❌✅❌
Newtown: ❌❌➖❌✅
Aberystwyth Town (10th) v Haverfordwest County (8th) | Friday – 20:00 (S4C online)
There was heartbreak for Haverfordwest County on Saturday as they were knocked out of the JD Welsh Cup by third tier side, Trethomas Bluebirds.
Aberystwyth Town scraped through by the skin of their teeth with a penalty shoot-out win against Pencoed Athletic of tier four.
There’s only two points between these two teams with both clubs winning just three of their opening nine league matches.
Haverfordwest County enjoyed their last visit to Park Avenue with an emphatic 6-0 away win back in March, but only a month later Aberystwyth Town got their own back with a 1-0 win at Bridge Meadow.
League form:
Aberystwyth Town: ❌✅❌✅❌
Haverfordwest County: ❌✅➖❌❌
Saturday, 15 October
Airbus UK (12th) v Pen-y-bont (4th) | Saturday – 14:30
With no wins from their opening nine league games, and after sacking manager Steve O’Shaughnessy, there was further disappointment for Airbus UK last week as they were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player in their match against Caernarfon Town.
Therefore, the Wingmakers are now on minus two points, 11 points behind the safety of the 10th position and have a mountain to climb if they are to avoid dropping straight back down to the JD Cymru North.
But Airbus did have reason to celebrate on Saturday as the Broughton boys won 3-0 away at Queens Park to reach the Welsh Cup third round where they will welcome Trefelin.
Pen-y-bont will head to Conwy Borough after knocking out Risca United, and Rhys Griffiths’ gang will be full of confidence this Saturday after winning their last three meetings with Airbus UK.
League form:
Airbus UK: ❌❌➖❌❌
Pen-y-bont: ➖➖✅✅❌
Connah’s Quay (2nd) v Cardiff Met (5th) | Saturday – 14:30
Cardiff Met were left red-faced on Saturday as they lost 2-1 to Pill FC of the fourth tier while Connah’s Quay comfortably saw off Denbigh Town at Central Park (Den 1-5 CQ).
The Nomads will face Colwyn Bay in the third round, hoping to get revenge on the Seagulls who knocked Connah’s Quay out of the cup last season.
In his first league game at the helm for Cardiff Met, Ryan Jenkins managed to inspire the Archers to their first ever league triumph over Connah’s Quay (Met 2-0 CQ).
Before that win on the opening weekend Cardiff Met had failed to win any of their previous 18 league meetings with the Nomads (drawn seven, lost 11).
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅✅❌✅
Cardiff Met: ✅❌❌❌✅
Bala Town (3rd) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 14:30
Bala Town and The New Saints both booked their place in the JD Welsh Cup third round – Bala Town hammering Hawarden, and the Saints scraping their way through on penalties against Chirk AAA.
These were the league’s top two finishers last season, and the two clubs are in good form as Bala have won five on the bounce in all competitions, while the Saints have won their last five league fixtures.
The New Saints are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Bala Town (won six, drawn four), and Colin Caton’s crew will need to change the pattern if they are to stay within touching distance of the champions.
League form:
Bala Town: ✅✅✅➖✅
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
All goals can be viewed on Sgorio’s online accounts, and the weekend’s highlights will be on Sgorio on Monday night at 10:05 on S4C.
