On average, 31 points has been the amount needed to secure a place in the Top Six in previous years, and The New Saints have already crossed that threshold, with Connah’s Quay looking to do the same on Friday night.
Friday, 27 October
Connah’s Quay (2nd) v Caernarfon Town (3rd) | Friday – 19:45
Jordan Davies found the net yet again last Saturday in Connah’s Quay’s convincing 3-0 victory away at Pontypridd, as the striker regained his place at the top of the scorers’ chart, level with Newtown’s Aaron Williams (11 goals).
Connah’s Quay remain unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions (won nine, drawn two), and Neil Gibson’s gang look increasingly likely to be in the mix for European qualification.
Caernarfon Town are also in a favourable position, sitting in 3rd place following an emphatic 5-1 triumph over Cardiff Met where Adam Davies hit his eighth goal of the season, which is more than anyone scored for the Canaries last season.
But Connah’s Quay have already beaten Caernarfon Town twice this season, netting four goals in both games, and the Nomads haven’t lost in any of their last 13 meetings with the Cofis (won 10, drawn three).
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ✅➖͏➖✅✅
Caernarfon Town: ✅✅❌✅❌
Pen-y-bont (7th) v Aberystwyth Town (12th) | Friday – 19:45
After last weekend’s postponements because of the rain, Pen-y-bont and Aberystwyth Town will be keen to get back on track following difficult spells on the field.
Pen-y-bont have dropped into the bottom half for the first time in two years due to a run of three successive league defeats where they’ve conceded 11 goals.
Aberystwyth Town remain bottom of the table with just the one win in 12 matches, and the Black & Greens are in danger of losing their record as one of only two clubs who have been ever-present in the league since its formation in 1992.
Rhys Griffiths’ side will be firm favourites having won their last five meetings with Aberystwyth Town, scoring an average of three goals per game.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ❌❌❌✅✅
Aberystwyth Town: ❌➖❌✅❌
Saturday, 28 October
Colwyn Bay (11th) v Barry Town United (10th) | Saturday – 14:30
The league’s two newcomers go head-to-head on Saturday in a crucial battle at the foot of the table.
There’s just one point separating Colwyn Bay in the relegation zone, and Barry Town United in 10th, but Steve Evans’ Seagulls have two games in hand following recent postponements.
Colwyn Bay have only won once at home in the league since their promotion (vs Aberystwyth Town), but Barry Town have picked up just one point from a possible 18 on the road, with that draw coming against table-toppers TNS.
It ended 1-1 in the reverse fixture at Jenner Park back in August, with Tom Creamer scoring Colwyn Bay’s first ever goal in the top-flight in some style, with a spectacular volley from the centre circle.
League form:
Colwyn Bay: ͏❌➖❌❌✅
Barry Town United: ❌✅❌❌❌✅
Pontypridd United (9th) v Cardiff Met (6th) | Saturday – 14:30
Pontypridd United and Cardiff Met were scheduled to meet in the Nathaniel MG Cup quarter final on Tuesday night, but the match was called-off on late notice by the league’s board.
Both teams lost over the weekend, Pontypridd United conceding three at home to Connah’s Quay, while Cardiff Met were crushed at the Oval (Cfon 5-1 Met).
Pontypridd United are the league’s lowest scorers (4 goals in 13) with Andrew Stokes’ team netting a disappointing average of 0.3 goals per league game.
Cardiff Met have won their previous five encounters against Pontypridd United, keeping four consecutive clean sheets and have not lost to the Rhondda contingent since 2007.
League form:
Pontypridd United: ❌❌✅❌❌
Cardiff Met: ❌✅✅➖➖
Newtown (4th) v Haverfordwest County (8th) | Saturday – 14:30
Newtown’s remarkable run came to an end last Tuesday as the Robins lost for the first time since August with Cardiff Met clinching the win in injury time (Met 2-1 New).
Chris Hughes’ side had won eight consecutive games in all competitions before travelling to Cyncoed Campus where Newtown have never beaten the Archers (drawn three, lost nine).
But the Robins are unbeaten at home since their first game of the season where they lost on penalties against Guilsfield in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Tony Pennock was quite critical of his squad following Haverfordwest County’s 2-0 defeat at Bala Town last Saturday, and demanded a higher level of consistency from his players if they intend to compete for a ticket into the Top Six.
Newtown won 4-0 away at Haverfordwest County last month, with the league’s joint top scorer Aaron Williams grabbing a brace, but it was the Bluebirds that were celebrating after the last meeting at Latham Park, winning on penalties in the play-off final to secure European qualification.
League form:
Newtown: ❌✅✅✅✅
Haverfordwest County: ❌✅❌✅➖
The New Saints (1st) v Bala Town (5th) | Saturday – 17:15 (Live online)
The New Saints are into the Nathaniel MG Cup quarter final following a 9-0 demolition of Gresford Athletic in midweek, and the Oswestry outfit have now gone 18 games without defeat in all competitions (won 16, drawn two).
During that period, Bala Town and Barry Town United are the only clubs that have taken points off the champions, with the previous meeting between these teams ending goalless at Maes Tegid as Adrian Cieslewicz, Oliver Shannon, Ryan Valentine, and Craig Harrison were all shown red cards after an altercation by the dugouts.
Bala Town are up to 5th place having gone four games without a loss, and the Lakesiders set their sights on reaching the Top Six for a 10th successive season.
But The New Saints are unbeaten in 16 meetings with Bala Town (won 11, drawn five), and Colin Caton’s crew have never won away at Park Hall.
League form:
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
Bala Town: ✅➖✅❌❌
All goals can be viewed on Sgorio’s online accounts, and all the weekend’s highlights will be on Sgorio on Monday night at 10:05 on S4C.
