There are only two rounds of fixtures left to play in the JD Cymru Premier league season, and there is still plenty at stake across the table.
The New Saints have won the championship for the 17th time in their history, and for the fourth consecutive season.
Pen-y-bont have sealed second place for the first time ever, and if the Saints manage to beat Connah’s Quay in the final of the Welsh Cup next month then Pen-y-bont will qualify for Europe.
A win for Haverfordwest County on Friday would be enough to confirm 3rd place, which could be an advantage for the club when the play-offs come around at the end of the season.
In the Bottom Six, the race to reach the play-offs could come to an end on Sunday when Connah’s Quay host Barry Town United.
And at the bottom of the table, the battle is almost over for Newtown who have parted ways with manager Callum McKenzie this week following one win in 15 since his takeover.
The Robins are on the brink and must win their last two games and hope that Briton Ferry Llansawel lose their last two if they are to miraculously avoid the drop.
TOP SIX
Cardiff Met (5th) v Haverfordwest County (3rd) | Friday – 19:45
The race for second place might be over but Haverfordwest County can confirm 3rd place this Friday with a win against Cardiff Met.
The teams from 4th to 6th place will have to get through the quarter-final round in this year’s play-off games, while the club in 3rd place will have a significant advantage.
Should Connah’s Quay win the Welsh Cup, then the team that finishes 3rd in the league will enter the semi-finals of the play-offs.
But if the favourites, The New Saints were to win the Welsh Cup then the team that finishes 3rd will step straight into the play-off final.
Playing fewer games would certainly be an advantage for Haverfordwest County, but on the other hand it will be a challenge for Tony Pennock to maintain the fitness of his squad as there is a month gap between the last game of the regular season and the play-off final.
Haverfordwest County have not finished 3rd for 21 years, which was their best season ever in the Welsh Premier League (2003/04), therefore it would be a great success for the club if they emulate that this year.
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.
But with just one win in their last seven games, Haverfordwest County have not been at their best since the split, although that one win did come against Cardiff Met in February.
The most recent matches between these clubs have been extremely close, and none of the teams have managed to score more than once in the previous seven contests (Met 0-0 Hav, Met 1-1 Hav, Hav 1-1 Met, Hav 1-1 Met, Met 0-0 Hav, Hav 1-0 Met, Hav 1-0 Met).
Scoring goals has been a significant problem for Cardiff Met recently as they have failed to net in four of their last five games.
Cardiff Met have not scored in their three meetings with Haverfordwest County this season either and the Archers have not won a league game against the Bluebirds since December 2022.
League form:
Cardiff Met: ͏❌✅➖❌➖
Haverfordwest County: ✅❌➖❌͏➖
The New Saints (1st) v Bala Town (6th) | Friday – 19:45
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.
The New Saints’ excellent run of 15 consecutive victories finally came to an end when they lost 1-0 against Pen-y-bont a fortnight ago.
Momentum is certainly not on Bala Town’s side as the club have secured only two points from a possible 24 since the split and have gone on a run of eight games without a win.
But Bala Town did manage to win their two league fixtures against The New Saints in the first phase of the season, but the champions won 2-0 at Maes Tegid in February with Leo Smith scoring the opening goal after just 12 seconds of play.
League form:
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅❌
Bala Town: ❌❌➖❌➖
Pen-y-bont (2nd) v Caernarfon Town (4th) | Sunday – 14:30
After beating the New Saints two weeks ago, Pen-y-bont have secured second place, which is their highest ever finish in the JD Cymru Premier.
Pen-y-bont are therefore certain to avoid the semi-finals of the play-offs, and if The New Saints were to win the Welsh Cup, then Rhys Griffiths’ team will step straight into Europe.
Caernarfon Town have only won one of their nine away games at the SDM Glass Stadium, and that victory came in March 2022 (Pen 0-3 Cfon).
The recent games between the teams have been full of goals with an average of five goals scored in the last seven contests.
Caernarfon Town will have to be wary of Pen-y-bont’s top scorer and the league’s main goal contributor, James Crole, as he contributed to six goals in his last two games against the Cofis (3 goals, 3 assists).
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ͏❌✅➖✅✅
Caernarfon Town: ✅❌❌✅➖
BOTTOM SIX
Newtown (11th) v Aberystwyth Town (12th) | Saturday – 12:45 (S4C)
Newtown and Aberystwyth Town are the only two clubs that have been ever-present in the Welsh Premier League since the very first season in 1992/93, but by Saturday afternoon both clubs’ time in the top tier may come to an end.
Aberystwyth Town are already certain to finish at the bottom of the table and fall into the second tier after losing 10 of their last 11 games.
And Newtown’s fight is almost over, as the Robins need to win their last two fixtures to avoid the drop and hope that Briton Ferry Llansawel lose their remaining two games.
Remaining fixtures in relegation battle:
Newtown: Aber (h), FTU (a)
Briton Ferry: FTU (h), Barry (a)
It’s a huge task for Newtown who have only won one of their last 19 matches (Aber 0-1 New), and the Robins haven’t won at home since September, losing seven and drawing four at Latham Park since then.
That is the record that has led to Callum McKenzie’s departure this week after he picked up only one win from 15 matches in his time at the helm.
But Newtown have won seven of their last nine contests against Aberystwyth Town, and the Robins will have to go full guns blazing on Saturday, or their unbroken run in the top-flight will come to an end.
League form:
Newtown: ͏ ✅➖➖❌❌
Aberystwyth Town: ͏❌❌❌❌❌
Briton Ferry Llansawel (10th) v Flint Town United (9h) | Saturday – 14:30
Whatever the result of the early kick-off between Newtown and Aberystwyth Town, Briton Ferry Llansawel know that a point against Flint Town United would be enough to confirm their place in the league for next season.
Should Newtown drop points against Aberystwyth Town then Briton Ferry Llansawel will be safe, but the fate of Andy Dyer’s team is in their own hands after a brilliant win against Connah’s Quay two weeks ago.
For the first time since their promotion Briton Ferry Llansawel have won two league games in a row and kept two clean sheets in those games (Aber 0-1 Llan, Llan 1-0 CQ).
Flint Town United are safe for another season having lost just one of their last six games (W4, D1) and a victory for the Silkmen on Saturday would see them win three games in a row in the JD Cymru Premier for the first time since August 2021.
Flint Town United have not lost any of their three meetings with Briton Ferry Llansawel this season and captain Harry Owen has scored four goals in the last two games between the teams, including a hat-trick of headers at the Essity Stadium in February.
League form:
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ❌❌➖✅✅
Flint Town United: ͏✅➖❌✅✅
Connah’s Quay (8th) v Barry Town United (7th) | Sunday – 14:30
It will be a crucial match at the Essity Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the race to reach the play-offs as a point would be enough for Barry Town United to seal 7th place.
Five points separate the two teams which means that Connah’s Quay need to beat Barry and Aberystwyth in their final two league games to climb above the Dragons.
If Barry were to lose on Sunday, then Andy Legg’s team would need to beat Briton Ferry Llansawel in their final game to ensure that they finish above Connah’s Quay.
Barry Town United won both their matches against Connah’s Quay in the first phase of the season, but the Nomads were victorious in the most recent battle between the teams in February (Barr 0-2 CQ).
Finishing in 7th place would guarantee the club’s place in the quarter-finals of the play-offs, away from home against the team that finishes 4th in the table (currently Caernarfon Town).
Connah’s Quay had won six games in a row before their unexpected 1-0 defeat away at Briton Ferry Llansawel two weeks ago.
Despite their promising position, Barry have only kept one clean sheet in their last 23 matches (BFL 0-0 Barr) and kept only two clean sheets in their 35 games in all competitions this season.
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ͏ ✅✅✅✅❌
Barry Town United: ❌✅✅❌✅
Highlights of all matches will be available on Sgorio’s online accounts.
