There are only three rounds of matches left to play in the JD Cymru Premier season, and since The New Saints have already secured the championship, the attention has turned to the race for 2nd place and the battle to avoid relegation.
The New Saints have sealed their place in Europe, but there are three more tickets up for grabs which will be given to the league runners-up, the play-off winners, and the JD Welsh Cup winners.
If The New Saints were to do the double and beat Bala Town in the JD Welsh Cup final, then the 3rd placed team in the league would be granted the final European spot.
TOP SIX
Bala Town (5th) v Newtown (6th) | Friday – 14:30
Bala Town have gone nine league games without a win for the first time since September 2010, and the Lakesiders must bring that run to an end otherwise they could fail to finish in the top three for the first time in four years.
Things aren’t going well for Newtown either as the Robins have lost their last three matches and haven’t scored in four games.
Newtown have only won one of their 10 fixtures in 2023, but that victory came in their previous meeting with Bala Town back in February (New 3-2 Bala).
League form:
Bala Town: ❌➖➖❌❌
Newtown: ❌❌❌➖✅
Cardiff Met (4th) v Connah’s Quay (2nd) | Saturday – 14:30
Cardiff Met have gone six games without a win but are still in a favourable position to secure a European spot for the first time in three years.
Connah’s Quay are one of four clubs who are unbeaten since the league split (along with TNS, Pen-y-bont and Pontypridd) and the Nomads go into the weekend three points clear of Pen-y-bont who are now their only competition for the runner-up spot.
Cardiff Met have won only one of their previous 21 league meetings with Connah’s Quay (drawn seven, lost 13), and that solitary victory came on the opening weekend of this season (Met 2-0 CQ).
League form:
Cardiff Met: ❌❌➖➖❌
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅➖➖✅
Pen-y-bont (3rd) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 14:30
13 weeks have passed since Pen-y-bont originally broke league rules by bringing on an ineligible substitute, yet their punishment is still unconfirmed.
Pen-y-bont are currently on a run of 12 league games without defeat (won seven, drawn five), and despite the off-field uncertainty regarding a six-point deduction, the team are determined to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.
After hitting five past a helpless Newtown last Saturday, The New Saints have reached the 101-goal mark for the season, equalling their record set in 2016/17.
The clubs have met on 16 occasions, and although the matches tend to be very tightly contested, the Saints have never lost against Rhys Griffiths’ gang (won 12, drawn four).
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ✅➖✅➖➖
The New Saints: ͏✅✅➖✅➖
BOTTOM SIX
Haverfordwest County (7th) v Pontypridd United (9th) | Friday – 14:30
Haverfordwest County lead the race for 7th spot as the Bluebirds aim to reach the play-offs for the first time in their history.
Haverfordwest County have been effective at home and haven’t lost at Bridge Meadow since October, winning matches against Pen-y-bont and Connah’s Quay amongst others (won five, drawn two).
But no team has amassed more points than Pontypridd United since the split (15pts from a possible 21) but conceding a late equaliser against Aberystwyth Town last Saturday means that the league newcomers certainly aren’t out of the woods yet.
The teams have met three times this season and Ponty have certainly conquered thus far, picking up seven points from a possible nine against the Pembrokeshire Bluebirds.
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ✅➖✅✅❌
Pontypridd United: ͏➖✅➖✅✅
Aberystwyth Town (10th) v Airbus UK (12th) | Saturday – 14:30
Aberystwyth Town scored a 97th minute equaliser against Pontypridd United last Saturday, and it was goalkeeper Matthew Turner who was the unlikely hero after coming up for a corner and netting the goal that could potentially save the Seasiders’ season.
The Black & Greens have only lost once in their last six outings and have proven their determination to avoid relegation from the JD Cymru Premier for the first time in the club’s history.
After losing 28 of their 29 league games this season, along with a six-point deduction for breaking league rules, Airbus UK have already been relegated and will drop back down to the JD Cymru North.
It’s been a year to forget for the Wingmakers who will go down in history as the worst ever performers in the league’s history.
Aberystwyth Town have won their last five meetings with Airbus UK, including their 7-1 away win at Broughton in February.
League form:
Aberystwyth Town: ➖✅✅❌✅
Airbus UK: ❌❌❌❌❌
Flint Town United (11th) v Caernarfon Town (8th) | Saturday – 17:15 (S4C online)
Flint Town United are in real danger of dropping down into the second tier as they are currently one point below safety after losing their last two games.
Flint Town United were promoted in 2020, and despite finishing their first season in the top-flight in 11th place, the Silkmen dodged relegation as there was no promotion from tier 2 due to Covid postponements.
Last season, Neil Gibson led Flint Town United to a Top Six finish and a play-off final appearance where they eventually lost to Caernarfon Town in extra time.
But this year, Flint Town United and Caernarfon Town are going head-to-head in much different circumstances with both teams desperate to avoid relegation.
Caernarfon Town have had to settle for a place in the Bottom Six for the first time since their promotion in 2018, but a win for the Cofis on Saturday would guarantee their safety for next season.
New manager, Richard Davies has had a decent start to his tenure as a point away to Haverfordwest County was followed with a comfortable 4-0 home win against Airbus UK last Friday.
The teams have met three times this season and it’s been impossible to separate them as they’ve secured one win apiece and one draw.
League form:
Flint Town United: ❌❌➖✅➖
Caernarfon Town: ✅➖❌❌➖
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.
