There’s just a handful of matches remaining in the first phase of the JD Cymru Premier season before the table will be split into two, where the Top Six teams will secure their tickets to the European play-offs, while the Bottom Six will all be battling to avoid relegation.
The New Saints, Connah’s Quay, Bala Town and Cardiff Met have already sealed their place in the top half, and both Newtown and Pen-y-bont could pinch the last two spots on Tuesday night.
Tuesday, 3 January
Caernarfon Town (8th) v The New Saints (1st) | Tuesday – 19:45
A difficult run of games has left Caernarfon Town with no wins in seven matches in all competitions (lost six, drawn one), and it looks increasingly likely that the Cofis will have to battle in the Bottom Six for the first time since their promotion in 2018.
Caernarfon Town did in fact finish last year’s first phase in the bottom half, but following Connah’s Quay’s point deduction for fielding an ineligible player, the Cofis were bumped up to the Top Six at the Nomads’ expense.
The Canaries have four fixtures left to play before this season’s split, and will desperately try to close the seven-point gap between themselves and Pen-y-bont (6th), who they will face on Saturday.
But before then, Caernarfon have the small task of trying to stop the rampant Saints who have scored a whooping 27 goals in their last four league games (6.75 goals per game).
The New Saints are still unbeaten in the league this season, and the reigning champions have now gone 24 league games without defeat since March (won 20, drawn four).
Craig Harrison’s men have already beaten Caernarfon Town twice this season, and the Cofis are without a win in their last 10 meetings with the Oswestry outfit (drawn one, lost nine).
Newtown fans will also be keeping a close eye on this encounter as a defeat for Caernarfon Town would secure the Robins’ place in the Top Six.
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ❌❌❌❌➖
The New Saints: ✅✅➖✅➖
Pen-y-bont (6th) v Airbus UK (12th) | Tuesday – 19:45
If Caernarfon Town were to lose against The New Saints, then a victory for Pen-y-bont against Airbus UK would guarantee Pen-y-bont’s place in the top half for a third successive season.
But Rhys Griffiths’ gang haven’t been at their best recently, winning just once in their last five outings.
Nevertheless, Pen-y-bont will be confident of picking up the three points to make it five consecutive wins over the seriously struggling Airbus UK side.
Airbus UK will be determined not to reach the split on negative points with the Wingmakers in real danger of breaking the record as the worst team to ever play in the league.
A three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player against Caernarfon Town has left Airbus on -2 points, after losing 17 of their 18 league games since their promotion.
Airbus UK conceded a disconcerting 15 goals in their pair of losses to TNS last weekend (TNS 7-0 Air, Air 0-8 TNS), which leaves Jamie Reed with his work cut out to try and inject some optimism into the dressing room.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ➖❌✅❌➖
Airbus UK: ❌❌❌❌❌
Pontypridd United (11th) v Bala Town (3rd) | Tuesday – 19:45
The dizzy heights of the Top Six is out of reach for Pontypridd United, and it will be a battle for survival for Andrew Stokes’ side in their first season in the top-flight.
After a depressing run of five consecutive league defeats, Ponty will feel positive having picked up four points from their festive double-header against Haverfordwest County.
The league new-comers are now only a point behind a crumbling Aberystwyth Town team who currently sit in the safety of the 10th position.
Bala Town have claimed their place in the Top Six for the ninth successive season following a fantastic run of five wins on the bounce in all competitions.
Remarkably, this will be the first of three meetings between these two teams in the space of 11 days, as the league reverse fixture will be played at Maes Tegid on Saturday, before they go head-to-head again in the Welsh Cup fourth round a week later.
League form:
Pontypridd United: ➖✅❌❌❌
Bala Town: ✅✅✅✅❌
All goals and highlights can be viewed on Sgorio’s online accounts.
