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
Cardiff Met (4th) v Newtown (6th) | Friday – 19:45 (S4C Online)
Despite losing their last two matches, Cardiff Met are still in a strong position to compete for an European spot, and that’s mostly down to their fantastic home record.
Cardiff Met have only lost twice in 24 games at Cyncoed Campus, and the Archers have already beaten the likes of The New Saints, Connah’s Quay, Bala Town and Newtown at home this season.
Newtown have never won away at Cyncoed, and Cardiff Met are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with the Robins (won four, drawn three), which includes three victories this season.
But Newtown did collect a well-needed three points during their last outing, as they came from behind to win 3-2 against Bala Town and keep their top-three ambitions alive.
That was the Robins’ first victory in 2023, and if Newtown were to win again on Friday, then who knows if Chris Hughes’ troop could make a late push for an automatic European spot.
League form:
Cardiff Met: ❌❌✅✅✅
Newtown: ✅❌➖❌➖
The New Saints (1st) v Bala Town (5th) | Friday – 20:00 (Match Postponed)
After beating Connah’s Quay and Pen-y-bont in last weekend’s semi-finals, Bala Town and The New Saints have booked their tickets to this season’s JD Welsh Cup final on April 29.
Bala Town managed to defeat the Saints in the 2016/17 final, and the Lakesiders will hope to cause another upset to complete their cup-double, having already lifted the Nathaniel MG Cup in January.
But The New Saints are unbeaten in their last 12 meetings with Bala Town (won eight, drawn four) and Colin Caton’s crew have never won at Park Hall.
At the top of the league, The New Saints require only seven points from their remaining seven league games to clinch their 15th JD Cymru Premier title.
The Saints haven’t lost a domestic match at home in almost a year (TNS 0-1 Newtown), winning 12 of their 13 league games at Park Hall this season (1-1 vs Pen-y-bont).
Bala Town have gone five league games without a win for the first time since November 2021, but the 3-2 semi-final triumph over Connah’s Quay should have lifted the mood for the Gwynedd gang.
This will be The New Saints’ 1,000th JD Cymru Premier fixture, and if results go their way, then they may be in a position to lift the trophy next Friday away at Connah’s Quay.
League form:
The New Saints: ➖✅❌✅✅
Bala Town: ❌➖➖❌➖
Pen-y-bont (3rd) v Connah’s Quay (2nd) | Saturday – 14:30
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 in two fixtures.
A potential six-point deduction would 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.
Connah’s Quay currently sit in 2nd place, but with only one win in seven league games the Nomads need to be weary that the remaining pack are chasing their tails.
Pen-y-bont had gone 10 games without a loss before last weekend’s defeat to The New Saints, therefore both teams will be eager to get back on track this Saturday following their semi-final disappointments.
It will be a tough challenge for Pen-y-bont who have only scored once in their last five meetings with Connah’s Quay and have never won at home against the Nomads (drawn three, lost two).
League form:
Pen-y-bont:➖ ✅➖✅✅
Connah’s Quay: ✅➖➖❌➖
BOTTOM SIX
Aberystwyth Town (11th) v Haverfordwest County (8th) | Saturday – 14:30
In the Bottom Six, only six points separate Aberystwyth Town in the relegation zone, and Caernarfon Town (7th) who are aiming for the play-offs.
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.
But the confidence will be high at Park Avenue following Aberystwyth Town’s 1-7 annihilation of Airbus UK a fortnight ago, which equalled the Seasiders’ biggest ever victory in the JD Cymru Premier.
Nevertheless, Aberystwyth Town are still waiting for their first clean sheet in the league this season, and the Ceredigion clan have conceded three goals or more in 11 of their 25 matches (44%).
Haverfordwest County have shown glimpses of real quality this season, but their away form has impacted drastically on their league position as the Bluebirds have lost their last six fixtures away from home.
These teams met twice in the first phase with the home side winning on both occasions, but it’s almost exactly a year since Haverfordwest County recorded their biggest victory in the JD Cymru Premier with a 0-6 away win at Aberystwyth Town as Touray Sisay stole the show with a hat-trick for the Bluebirds.
League form:
Aberystwyth Town: ✅➖❌✅❌
Haverfordwest County: ❌✅❌✅❌
Pontypridd United (10th) v Caernarfon Town (7th) | Saturday – 14:30
Pontypridd United and Caernarfon Town are the two teams with the best record in the league since the split (won two, drawn one), and there’s just five points between them in the Bottom Six.
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.
Pontypridd United have won their last four home matches, giving them a solid opportunity to stay up in their first season in the top-flight.
Caernarfon Town have lost away from home to every club in the Bottom Six this season (apart from Airbus), including the 3-1 defeat at Pontypridd in October.
League form:
Pontypridd United: ✅➖✅❌❌
Caernarfon Town: ➖✅✅❌✅
Flint Town United (9th) v Airbus UK (12th) | Saturday – 14:30
On 22 October 2022, Jamie Reed took the reins in his first match as Airbus UK manager with the club sitting at the bottom of the table on -2 points following a three-point deduction for playing an ineligible substitute.
Airbus narrowly lost 1-0 away to Flint Town United in Reed’s first match, and as he prepares to return to the Essity Stadium, not only have the Wingmakers not added a single point to the board, but they also now face a further three-point deduction for breaking the same rule again.
It’s no shock that Airbus will end the campaign on the bottom of the table, but the club must begin the difficult task of preparing and building a squad that can compete in the JD Cymru North next season.
Flint Town United have a fine record at home as the Silkmen have lost only once in seven games, which was against the champions, The New Saints.
No team has scored more in their three league games since the split than Flint (11), with young striker, Zack Clarke, on loan from Chester, netting five of those 11 goals.
League form:
Flint Town United: ➖❌✅✅❌
Airbus UK: ❌❌❌❌❌
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.
