Preview | JD Cymru Premier

It’s the final weekend of the JD Cymru Premier regular season and by Saturday afternoon we will know if it will be Aberystwyth Town or Flint Town United who will end the campaign relegated along with Airbus UK.

In the Top Six, The New Saints have been crowned champions, and Connah’s Quay have secured second spot therefore clinching their places in Europe, but there are still two tickets up for grabs for the JD Welsh Cup winners and the play-off 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, and with just one game left to play, Pen-y-bont and Cardiff Met are level on points in the 3rd and 4th positions.

TOP SIX

Cardiff Met (4th) v Bala Town (5th) | Saturday – 12:45

Cardiff Met will end the season with their highest ever finish in the JD Cymru Premier, but if they were to climb above Pen-y-bont on the final day, the Archers would be in a great position to qualify for Europe.

Finishing in 3rd has been enough to seal an European spot in each of the last eight seasons, and if the students can claim a better result than Pen-y-bont on Saturday then they will take the 3rd spot and will be cheering on The New Saints in next weekend’s cup final.

Bala Town have gone on a run of 11 league games without a win for the first time ever in the JD Cymru Premier, which means that Colin Caton’s crew will finish below the top three for the first time in four years.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for the Lakesiders as they are only one win away from qualifying for Europe – a victory against The New Saints next Sunday and Bala Town will have completed an historic cup-double.

The head-to-head record between these two teams is well balanced, but it’s whoever plays at home that has the advantage, as the away side has only managed two goals in the last nine meetings.

League form:

Cardiff Met: ✅❌❌❌➖
Bala Town: ❌❌❌➖➖

Pen-y-bont (3rd) v Newtown (6th) | Saturday – 12:45

The Pen-y-bont point saga continues, and despite the league’s decision to deduct the six-points for breaking substitution rules, the club have decided to take their appeal further.

But as it stands, Pen-y-bont have lost six points and are therefore level with Cardiff Met in the race to finish in 3rd place.

The New Saints are the only team to beat Pen-y-bont since the turn of the year (won nine, drawn five, lost two) and Rhys Griffiths’ side are determined to snatch an European spot for the first time in their history.

Newtown will most likely finish in 6th place, and after losing four of their last five games the Robins need to raise things up a gear if they are to be strong contenders in the play-offs.

Pen-y-bont have already beaten Newtown three times this season, and one more triumph would secure the club’s highest finish in the JD Cymru Premier.

League form:

Pen-y-bont: ➖❌✅➖✅

Newtown: ❌✅❌❌❌

The New Saints (1st) v Connah’s Quay (2nd) | Saturday – 12:45

The New Saints and Connah’s Quay both go into the final game of the season with no pressure and could afford to take their foot off the gas.

But that’s not in these teams’ nature, and Connah’s Quay will be keen to end the campaign as the only unbeaten side during the second phase.

The New Saints have broken the record for most goals scored in a season during the current 12-team format (108 goals) and top-scorer Declan McManus (27 goals) will want to add to the tally this Saturday.

Chris Venables (28 goals) holds the record for most goals scored in one season since the format change, and Scotsman McManus will be eager to break that record.

Ryan Brobbel leads the charge in the assist chart (18) while his teammate Daniel Redmond trails by just one (17), which could lead to arguments about who will be taking set-pieces this Saturday!

And in the fight for the Golden Glove, shot-stoppers Connor Roberts and Andy Firth are joint top with 18 clean sheets apiece before they face off on the final weekend.

League form:

The New Saints: ͏✅✅✅✅➖
Connah’s Quay: ➖✅✅✅➖

BOTTOM SIX

Aberystwyth Town (11th) v Caernarfon Town (8th) | Saturday – 12:45 (S4C)

For the first time in the 12-team format era, we are heading into the final game of the season not knowing who will finish in 11th place and be relegated from the league.

Aberystwyth are the unlucky side who go into the weekend in 11th position, but it’s goal difference alone that separates them and Flint Town United in the safety of 10th position, which means it’s all to play for on Saturday.

Flint Town United’s goal difference is +22 better than Aberystwyth’s, meaning that the Black & Greens must secure a better result than the Silkmen if they are to avoid relegation.

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 in his first season in a managerial role, Anthony Williams will be desperate to steer the Seasiders from the drop.

Caernarfon Town were celebrating on Wednesday night as Joe Faux netted an 86th minute winner in their re-arranged fixture with Flint Town United (Flint 2-3 Cfon) to secure the Cofis’ place in the league for next season.

Aberystwyth Town are on a run of five games without defeat and have beaten Caernarfon in their last two meetings which should give the Park Avenue faithful a reason to be hopeful ahead of their all-or-nothing final clash on Saturday.

League form:

Aberystwyth Town: ➖➖➖✅✅

Caernarfon Town: ✅❌✅➖❌

Airbus UK (12th) v Haverfordwest County (7th) | Saturday – 12:45

Following off-field uncertainty regarding the domestic license, Haverfordwest County have announced that they have received the license on appeal and will remain in the league for next season.

After picking up just two points from a possible 93, and losing another six for breaking league rules, Airbus UK will be glad to see the back of this long and exhausting campaign.

Airbus UK have inevitably broken the record as the worst performers to ever participate in the league and could also become the first time to go through a whole season without a single victory.

Haverfordwest County have won their last four meetings with Airbus and are preparing for their first appearance in the play-offs.

League form:
Airbus UK: ❌➖❌❌❌

Haverfordwest County: ➖✅✅➖✅

Pontypridd United (9th) v Flint Town United (10th) | Saturday – 12:45

Flint Town United were dealt a huge blow to their survival hopes as they fell to a defeat at the hands of Caernarfon Town on Wednesday night, which leaves the Silkmen level on points with Aberystwyth Town before the final game of the season.

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.

Over last summer, the coaching and playing staff left the club and new manager Lee Fowler was given the difficult task to rebuild ahead of their opening fixture away at Pontypridd on 13 August 2022.

Flint Town United were 1-0 winners on the day, and if they could repeat that result this Saturday on the closing weekend, then it should be enough to secure their place in the league.

Mathematically, Pontypridd United aren’t out of the woods yet, but it would take a 19-goal swing for Aberystwyth Town to catch them which means Andrew Stokes’ squad are more or less safe.

Flint Town United will believe they have what it takes to stay up as they’ve had the better of Ponty so far this season, winning twice and drawn once in three previous meetings.