JD CYMRU PREMIER WEEKEND PREVIEW 2023/24
The top three will travel down south over the weekend, whilst Aberystwyth Town and Barry Town United go searching for their first wins of the season.
Friday, 22 September
Cardiff Met (6th) v The New Saints (1st) | Friday – 19:45
The New Saints are leading the way in the JD Cymru Premier, two points clear of the summit and still unbeaten.
The champions enjoyed a hefty 5-1 victory over Haverfordwest County last Saturday, while Cardiff Met were thrashed 4-0 by Connah’s Quay.
And the Archers will have to be weary not to be on the wrong end of another hammering this Friday, as The New Saints scored 20 goals in four meetings with Cardiff Met last season.
Cardiff Met suffered their heaviest ever home and away defeat in the league at the hands of the Saints during the last campaign (Met 0-7 TNS, TNS 7-1 Met), but remarkably they were also the only team to beat the champions all season (Met 3-2 TNS).
Both teams secured their places in the Nathaniel MG Cup quarter finals on Tuesday night following comfortable victories against tier two sides (Afan Lido 0-4 Cardiff Met, TNS 4-1 Porthmadog).
League form:
Cardiff Met: ❌✅❌➖✅
The New Saints: ✅➖✅✅➖
Aberystwyth Town (12th) v Pen-y-bont (4th) | Friday – 20:00
Aberystwyth Town are bottom of the table having lost six out of seven league games so far with their solitary point coming from a goalless draw at Newtown.
And there was further frustration for the Seasiders on Tuesday night as they conceded in the 92nd minute to lose 1-0 at home to Pontypridd Town in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Aberystwyth Town and Newtown are the only remaining two clubs who have been ever-present since the league’s formation in 1992, but Anthony Williams has a difficult task ahead if he’s to steer the Black & Greens away from relegation once again this year.
Pen-y-bont are level on points with Caernarfon Town and Cardiff Met following the dramatic late win for Rhys Griffiths’ side against the Cofis last weekend (Pen 3-2 Cfon).
It will be a historic night for Chris Venables as he’s set to equal Wyn Thomas’ record for most appearances in the league (536 games).
Pen-y-bont will be firm favourites having won their previous four matches against Aberystwyth Town, netting at least three goals per game.
League form:
Aberystwyth Town: ❌❌❌❌➖
Pen-y-bont: ✅❌❌➖➖
Saturday, 23 September
Colwyn Bay (9th) v Newtown (7th) | Saturday – 14:30
After a sluggish start, Colwyn Bay have finally kick started their season, winning back-to-back games against Pen-y-bont and Aberystwyth Town.
Newtown were also slow out of the blocks, but three wins on the bounce has put the Robins within touching distance of the top half.
Newtown’s frontman, Aaron Williams has found his form, scoring five goals in his last three appearances, whilst the defence has tightened up significantly, keeping two consecutive clean sheets.
It will be a momentous occasion for ex-Robin Nick Rushton who will be going up against the club where he spent seven and a half seasons before joining the Bay.
League form:
Colwyn Bay: ✅✅❌❌❌
Newtown: ✅✅✅❌➖
Haverfordwest County (10th) v Connah’s Quay (2nd) | Saturday – 14:30
Haverfordwest County enjoyed a historical summer, beating Shkendija on penalties to secure their first ever European victory, but since that memorable night at the Cardiff City Stadium, Tony Pennock’s team have won just one in 10, losing 5-1 to TNS in their most recent outing.
The Bluebirds have lost successive league matches for the first time since December and will need to turn the corner quickly if they are to compete for a Top Six spot.
Connah’s Quay have reacted well since the 6-2 loss at the hands of The New Saints, with Neil Gibson’s men winning five from six after their opening day defeat against the champions.
The Nomads have scored an average of three goals per game, and are now only two points behind TNS, ready to pounce on any slip up.
Haverfordwest County came out on top in the last meeting between these sides back in January with Elliot Dugan scoring one of the best goals of the season for the Bluebirds, before Jordan Davies secured the victory from the spot (Hav 2-1 CQ).
27-year-old, Davies has since returned to Connah’s Quay from Pembrokeshire and is currently the league’s joint top-scorer with six goals in seven games.
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ❌❌✅➖➖
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅✅✅❌
Barry Town United (11th) v Bala Town (3rd) | Saturday – 14:30
Barry Town United are one of only two clubs who are yet to win a game in the JD Cymru Premier this season, and Steve Jenkins will be desperate to claim his first victory as Dragons’ manager.
Bala Town boasts the best defensive record in the league having conceded just two goals in seven games (0.3 goals per game), a clear sign that new keeper Kelland Absalom has habituated well since joining the Lakesiders over the summer.
But it’s at the other end of the field that Bala seem to be struggling, as they’ve only scored five in seven league games (one less than Barry) and have had to settle for three goalless draws already.
Bala Town failed to score yet again on Tuesday night and were made to pay the price, as the holders were knocked out of the Nathaniel MG Cup by tier two side Guilsfield (1-0).
Nevertheless, Bala remain unbeaten in the league, and Colin Caton’s crew will be confident having already beaten Barry Town United 1-0 earlier this season through a late Iwan Roberts strike.
League form:
Barry Town United: ❌❌❌➖➖
Bala Town: ➖➖✅➖✅
Caernarfon Town (5th) v Pontypridd Town (8th) | Saturday – 17:15 (Live online)
Caernarfon Town started the season strongly winning their two opening games, but the Cofis have slipped slightly since with just one victory in five fixtures.
Pontypridd Town have the lowest attacking record this season having scored just twice in seven games, but Andrew Stokes’ defence has been resilient, conceding only three goals to date.
Pontypridd’s matches have therefore been low scoring affairs this season, with less than one goal scored per league game on average (0.7 per game).
And it was another tight encounter in the Nathaniel MG Cup on Tuesday night as Jack Karadogan netted the only goal of the game in the dying seconds against Aberystwyth Town with Ponty keeping their sixth clean sheet in eight games in all competitions.
Pontypridd Town have won their previous three meetings with Caernarfon Town, and a win at the Oval would lift them above the Canaries.
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ❌✅❌➖͏͏͏➖
Pontypridd Town: ➖❌✅✅➖
