After a busy weekend of Welsh Cup fixtures, the attention turns back to the league and on Friday night there are crucial games taking place at both ends of the table.
Friday, 19 November
Connah’s Quay (2nd) v Caernarfon Town (5th) | Friday – 19:45
A magnificent run of 11 consecutive victories in all competitions has kept Connah’s Quay in the race for the championship, but The New Saints remain seven points clear.
Since arriving at the Deeside Stadium from Caernarfon, experienced striker Michael Hayes has certainly impressed, netting six goals in his last four appearances.
Two of those goals came in Connah’s Quay’s 4-0 conquest over Colwyn Bay last Saturday as Neil Gibson’s men booked a place in the JD Welsh Cup fourth round where they will travel to Llanelli Town.
The Nomads have won their last 16 competitive matches at the Deeside Stadium, conceding only two goals at home since February, therefore it could be a difficult evening for Caernarfon Town who are without a win in their last 10 meetings with Connah’s Quay (drawn two, lost eight).
The Cofis have lost three of their last four games, including their Welsh Cup exit against The New Saints last Friday, and the fixtures don’t come any easier for Huw Griffiths’ side who face Connah’s Quay, Newtown, and The New Saints next.
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅✅✅✅
Caernarfon Town: ❌✅❌✅✅
Aberystwyth Town (8th) v Pontypridd United (11th) | Friday – 20:00
Down near the bottom of the table there’s just two points separating the five clubs between the 7th and 11th positions in the battle to avoid the drop.
Aberystwyth Town have won their last four home league games by a 2-1 score-line, but Anthony Williams’ men haven’t won away from home in the league since beating Airbus on the opening weekend (Air 1-2 Aber).
The Seasiders are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season, whilst Ponty have scored four goals on each of their last two away trips, which includes their narrow victory against Ruthin Town in the Welsh Cup last Saturday (Ruth 3-4 Pont).
Pontypridd United will travel to Bala Town in the next round, but there was no room for Aberystwyth Town in the hat after they were knocked out by Newtown.
Andrew Stokes’ squadron have won their last two games against the Black & Greens, with the most recent win being their first ever victory in the JD Cymru Premier back in August (Pont 2-1 Aber).
League form:
Aberystwyth Town: ❌✅ ❌✅❌
Pontypridd United: ❌✅❌❌✅
Saturday, 20 November
Airbus UK (12th) v Haverfordwest County (9th) | Saturday – 14:30
Airbus are the only team who are yet to win a league game this season, and the Wingmakers go into the weekend 16 points away from safety.
But Jamie Reed’s side secured their place in the Welsh Cup fourth round on Saturday with a 2-1 win against Trefelin and they now face a trip to Pontardawe Town in January.
Following five consecutive defeats there was finally a reason to celebrate for Haverfordwest County in their latest match as they brought their disappointing streak to an end at Flint Town United (Flint 0-1 Hav).
The Bluebirds have won their previous two matches against Airbus UK, which includes their comfortable 3-0 win at the Bridge Meadow Stadium earlier this season.
League form:
Airbus UK: ❌❌❌❌❌
Haverfordwest County: ✅❌❌❌❌
Cardiff Met (6th) v Bala Town (3rd) | Saturday – 14:30
Cardiff Met are in danger of dropping into the bottom half of the table for the first time this season following a period of poor results in the league (six defeats in eight games).
Bala Town on the other hand have won nine out of their last 11 games in all competitions, with the solitary defeat coming against the champions, The New Saints.
The Lakesiders sealed their place in the next round of the Welsh Cup with a 2-0 triumph over Flint Town United last Saturday, and the Gwynedd gang will host Pontypridd United at Maes Tegid in the fourth round.
Bala Town have already beaten Cardiff Met once this season (Bala 2-0 Met), and the Archers have failed to score in their last three meetings with Colin Caton’s crew.
League form:
Cardiff Met: ❌❌✅❌✅
Bala Town: ✅➖✅❌✅
Flint Town United (7th) v Newtown (10th) | Saturday – 14:30
There’s only one point between Flint Town United and Newtown with both clubs eager to break away from the bottom two and close the gap on the Top Six.
After beating Pontypridd and Newtown in their opening two games of the season, Flint Town United have struggled of late, winning just two of their last 11 league games, with both victories coming against bottom of the league side, Airbus UK.
And since their goalless draw against The New Saints on the opening weekend, Newtown have gone 14 games without a clean sheet in all competitions.
But the Robins did secure a spot in the Welsh Cup fourth round with a 3-1 away win at Aberystwyth last Saturday, but they face the tough task of travelling to the home of the holders, The New Saints in the next round.
League form:
Flint Town United: ❌❌✅❌➖
Newtown: ✅❌❌✅❌
Pen-y-bont (4th) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 17:15 (S4C arlein)
The New Saints are seven points clear at the top of the table and the champions have now gone 19 league games without defeat (won 17, drawn two).
Since their goalless draw with Newtown on the opening weekend, the Saints have won 12 league games on the bounce, and the Oswestry organization have lost just one of their last 32 JD Cymru Premier matches (TNS 0-1 Newtown – 25/03/22).
During this ongoing remarkable run the Saints have won 27 games, lost once, and drawn four matches, with one of those draws coming against their opponents this Saturday (TNS 3-3 Pen – 12/03/22).
Pen-y-bont have failed to win any of their previous 13 meetings with TNS (drawn two, lost 11), with the latest defeat coming via an injury time Ryan Brobbel goal earlier this season (TNS 1-0 Pen).
A dominant 3-0 win at Conwy has seen Pen-y-bont move on to the Welsh Cup fourth round to face Gresford Athletic, whilst The New Saints’ prize for conquering Caernarfon is a home fixture against Newtown.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ✅➖❌✅➖
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.
