The league has been split into two and the Top Six sides are competing to secure European qualification while the Bottom Six battle to avoid relegation.
TOP SIX
The New Saints (1st) v Pen-y-bont (3rd) | Saturday – 12:45 (S4C online)
The FAW have launched an investigation into a possible breach of league rules by Pen-y-bont who seem to have played an ineligible player.
League rules state that clubs are allowed up to five substitutions, but if any club uses more than three substitutes in any match, then the additional ones must be Youth Substitutes.
It appears that Pen-y-bont have broken this rule and will therefore face a point deduction, as did Airbus UK earlier in the season.
This will be a considerable blow to Pen-y-bont’s hopes of finishing in 2nd place to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.
A 3rd placed finish could well be enough to claim an European spot, as it has in the last eight seasons, and since Pen-y-bont have gone unbeaten in nine games, Rhys Griffiths’ squad were on the right track before this unfortunate twist in the tale.
At the top of the league, The New Saints require only eight more points from their remaining eight games to clinch their 15th JD Cymru Premier title.
The New Saints have never lost a game against Pen-y-bont (won 11, drawn three), but recent meetings have been tight affairs.
Pen-y-bont were the team with the best record against the Saints during the first phase of the season, conceding only once over the two matches against the reigning champions (TNS 1-0 Pen, Pen 0-0 TNS).
The clubs will meet again next week in the JD Welsh Cup semi-final at Richmond Park, Carmarthen.
League form:
The New Saints: ✅❌✅✅✅
Pen-y-bont: ✅➖✅✅✅
Connah’s Quay (2nd) v Cardiff Met (4th) | Saturday – 14:30
Halfway through the season, after 16 games, Connah’s Quay were seven points clear of 3rd placed Bala Town, but now, after a run of six league matches without a win there’s only a single point between the Nomads and the chasing pack, and what seemed like a promising season could potentially turn into a disappointment.
And although Cardiff Met fell to their first defeat since November last Friday, a win for the Archers this weekend would lift them above the Nomads.
But Cardiff Met have won only one of their previous 20 meetings with Connah’s Quay (drawn seven, lost 12), and that solitary victory came on the opening weekend of this season (Met 2-0 CQ).
Since their promotion to the JD Cymru Premier in 2016, Cardiff Met have failed to win any of their 10 league matches at the Deeside Stadium (drawn three, lost seven).
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ➖➖❌➖➖
Cardiff Met: ❌✅✅✅➖
Newtown (6th) v Bala Town (5th) | Saturday – 14:30
After thrashing Aberystwyth Town 6-1 at the end of December, things haven’t gone so smoothly for Newtown in 2023 who are winless in five games having scored just the one goal.
It’s a similar story at Bala Town, who have scored only once in four league games, courtesy of Adam Roscrow’s equalising free-kick against 10-man Connah’s Quay last Saturday.
But the Lakesiders have won their last five meetings with Newtown without conceding a single goal, and Colin Caton’s crew are unbeaten in 11 games against the Robins (won 10, drawn one).
League form:
Newtown: ❌➖❌➖✅
Bala Town: ➖➖❌➖✅
BOTTOM SIX
Airbus UK (12th) v Aberystwyth Town (11th) | Friday – 19:45
Airbus UK were finally put out of their misery last Friday as their relegation back down to the JD Cymru North was confirmed.
Since the current league format was introduced, no club has ever found themselves relegated as early as February, but after losing 23 of their 24 league games this season the Wingmakers have inevitably plummeted out of the top-flight.
Aberystwyth Town are the other team dwelling in the bottom two, and the Seasiders are in real danger of facing relegation from the league for the first time in their history.
Aberystwyth Town are one of only two clubs who have been ever-present since the league’s formation back in 1992 (along with Newtown), and Anthony Williams will be desperate not to see the Black & Greens slip into the second tier.
The Seasiders have failed to keep a clean sheet in the league this season, and with just one win in 10 games, the Ceredigion clan go into the weekend one point behind Pontypridd United and the safety of the 10th position.
But Aberystwyth Town have won their last four meetings with Airbus UK, including their brace of 2-1 wins against the Broughton boys during the first phase.
League form:
Airbus UK: ❌❌❌❌❌
Aberystwyth Town: ➖❌✅❌➖
Caernarfon Town (7th) v Flint Town United (9th) | Friday – 19:45
Caernarfon Town have had to settle for a place in the Bottom Six for the first time since their promotion in 2018, but the Cofis will be determined to secure the 7th position which would guarantee their ticket to the end of season play-offs.
Caernarfon Town are the only Bottom Six side to win both of their league games since the split, and the Canaries had won five on the bounce against Flint Town United until the Silkmen beat the Cofis 2-1 through a 90th minute winner in December (Flint 2-1 Cfon).
Flint Town United have not won any of their previous eight league matches away from home (drawn one, lost seven), whilst Caernarfon Town managed to conquer all the Bottom Six sides at The Oval during the first phase.
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ✅✅❌✅❌
Flint Town United: ❌✅✅❌➖
Pontypridd United (10th) v Haverfordwest County (8th) | Saturday – 14:30
Both teams go into the weekend on the back of positive results after Pontypridd United fought back from 3-1 down to nick a point late on against Aberystwyth Town to stay out of the relegation zone.
And it was a vital victory for Haverfordwest County at home to Flint Town United as the Bluebirds went seven points clear of the bottom two and stayed within a point of Caernarfon Town in the race for 7th place.
Pontypridd United have won their last three home matches, while Haverfordwest County have lost their last five games on the road.
And it was Pontypridd United who came out on top in the double-header during the first phase, winning 3-2 at home before the 1-1 draw at Bridge Meadow in December.
League form:
Pontypridd United: ➖✅❌❌✅
Haverfordwest County: ✅❌✅❌➖
All goals can be viewed on Sgorio’s online accounts, and the weekend’s highlights will be on Sgorio on Monday night at 9:35 on S4C.
