There are only three rounds of fixtures left to play in the JD Cymru Premier league season, and there is still plenty at stake all across the table.
The New Saints have won the championship for the 17th time in their history, and for the fourth consecutive season.
If the Saints manage to beat Connah’s Quay in the final of the Welsh Cup, then the club that finishes 2nd in the table will claim a place in Europe, and Pen-y-bont could secure that position this Saturday.
In the Bottom Six, the race to reach the play-offs is heating up after Connah’s Quay closed the gap on Barry Town United to just two points.
And at the bottom of the table the battle is over for Aberystwyth Town who have confirmed their relegation from the top-flight for the first time ever, whilst Newtown are also nearing the brink before traveling to Jenner Park on Friday.
TOP SIX
Haverfordwest County (3rd) v Caernarfon Town (4th) | Saturday – 14:30
With just one win in their last six games, Haverfordwest County have failed to close the gap on Pen-y-bont in the race for 2nd spot.
The Bluebirds will therefore be keen to hold on to 3rd place in order to guarantee a home fixture in the play-offs.
Three points for Caernarfon Town would shorten the gap between themselves and Haverfordwest County down to two points, which will be the aim for the Cofis following their emphatic result against Bala Town last Friday.
The 5-0 demolition of Bala Town was the Canaries’ biggest win since a 5-0 victory against Airbus UK in December 2019.
Caernarfon captain Darren Thomas scored twice in that game against Airbus, and the 38-year-old came on as a substitute last Friday making his 400th appearance for the Cofis.
Haverfordwest County have the best defensive record in the league (conceding 0.7 goals per game), and with 15 clean sheets already this season Zac Jones has secured the Golden Glove this year.
Haverfordwest County are unbeaten in their last six contests against the Cofis, including a dramatic last-minute victory at the Oval on the opening weekend of the season (Cfon 1-2 Hav).
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ➖✅❌➖❌
Caernarfon Town: ❌✅❌❌✅
Pen-y-bont (2nd) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 14:30
The New Saints have completed the double for the second season in a row (JD Cymru Premier JD and Nathaniel MG Cup), and the next target for the Oswestry men is to achieve the treble for the first time since 2015/16.
Pen-y-bont can secure second place if they pick up a point on Saturday, or if Haverfordwest County fail to beat Caernarfon Town.
Pen-y-bont and the New Saints have conceded the same number of goals this season (28 goals in 29 games), but the champions have scored 34 goals more than Rhys Griffiths’ team.
The New Saints have only conceded one goal in their last nine games, scoring 31 goals in the process.
Craig Harrison’s side will be full of confidence after winning 15 games in a row and having won six of their previous seven contests against Pen-y-bont, including a comfortable 4-0 victory at Park Hall last month.
But Pen-y-bont did manage to defeat the Saints in September with Clayton Green and Chris Venables scoring two headers for the Bryntirion boys at the SDM Glass Stadium.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ͏❌❌✅➖✅
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
Bala Town (6th) v Cardiff Met (5th) | Saturday – 14:30
By now, Bala Town are certain to finish below the 3rd position, and with Cardiff Met also unlikely to rise into the top three, these two clubs will enter the play-offs at the quarter-final stage this season.
Bala Town and Cardiff Met Town will therefore need to win three play-off matches if they are to secure a place in Europe over the summer.
Bala Town are the only team to have managed to do this in the past, and that was in 2012/13 when they finished 7th before beating Connah’s Quay, Bangor City and Port Talbot to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.
But momentum is certainly not on Bala Town’s side as the club have secured only one point from a possible 21 since the split, suffering their heaviest defeat away from home in the league since November 2017 last Friday (Cfon 5-0 Bala).
Moral won’t be sky high in the capital either as the Archers were also on the wrong end of a hammering last weekend (Met 0-6 TNS).
Cardiff Met have only lost one of their last nine contests against Bala Town (W4, D4), winning twice and drawing once against Colin Caton’s crew this season.
League form:
Bala Town: ❌❌❌➖❌
Cardiff Met: ͏✅❌✅➖❌
BOTTOM SIX
Barry Town United (7th) v Newtown (11h) | Friday – 19:45
Barry Town United have stumbled in the race for 7th place after losing late on against Flint Town United last Saturday, and now there are only two points between the Dragons and Connah’s Quay.
Newtown are extremely close to the brink having won just one of their last 18 games (Aber 0-1 New), and Callum McKenzie’s side are now three points below Briton Ferry Llansawel and the safety of 10th place.
Remaining fixtures in relegation battle:
Newtown: Barry (a), Aber (h), FTU (a)
Briton Ferry: CQ (h), FTU (h), Barry (a)
However, the Robins had gone on a run of four games without defeat (W1, D3) before their loss against Connah’s Quay last Friday.
The head-to-head record has been equal between the teams after three games this season with Newtown winning once, Barry Town winning once, and the last game ending in a draw.
Robins forward Aaron Williams has an excellent scoring record against the Linnets, as he has hit nine goals in the last seven meetings between the clubs.
League form:
Barry Town United: ➖❌✅✅❌
Newtown: ͏ ➖✅➖➖❌
Aberystwyth Town (12th) v Flint Town United (9th) | Friday – 20:00
Aberystwyth Town’s unbroken run in the Welsh Premier League is about to come to an end as the Seasiders confirmed their relegation to the second tier by losing against Briton Ferry Llansawel last weekend.
Aberystwyth Town were one of the 20 original clubs that played in the inaugural season of the Welsh Premier League in 1992/93, and it’s only themselves and Newtown who have managed to continuously stay in the top tier since.
But after 33 seasons at the highest level, it is possible that the two mid-Wales clubs will fall together into the second tier this year.
After a late win against Barry Town United last Saturday, Flint Town United are getting closer to the shore, and another three-points at Park Avenue this Friday would confirm the Silkmen’s place in the league for another season.
Flint Town United have won their three games against Aberystwyth Town so far this season, without conceding a single goal.
League form:
Aberystwyth Town: ͏❌❌❌❌❌
Flint Town United: ͏✅✅➖❌✅
Briton Ferry Llansawel (10th) v Connah’s Quay (8th) | Saturday – 14:30
Like the game at Jenner Park, this will be a crucial match for both clubs for different reasons with one team fighting to avoid the drop, and the other desperate to reach the play-offs.
Briton Ferry Llansawel go into the weekend three points above Newtown, while Connah’s Quay are two points behind Barry Town United in the race for 7th place.
After beating Newtown on Friday, Connah’s Quay have extended their run to six consecutive wins and momentum is certainly in the Nomads’ favour.
Briton Ferry Llansawel have not won a home game since the beginning of December and their remaining three fixtures are against the three clubs above them.
Briton Ferry Llansawel won 1-0 away from home against Connah’s Quay last month, but the Nomads scored five goals on their last visit to the Old Road in August (BFL 1-5 CQ).
League form:
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ✅❌❌➖✅
Connah’s Quay: ͏ ❌✅✅✅✅
Highlights of all matches will be available on Sgorio’s online accounts.
