The New Saints, Caernarfon Town and Pen-y-bont are setting the bar high with a 100% record in the JD Cymru Premier, whilst the only two teams who are yet to pick up a point will go head-to-head on Saturday in the mid-Wales derby.
Friday, 25 August
Bala Town v Connah’s Quay | Friday – 19:45
Following a goalless draw at Cyncoed Campus last Saturday, Bala Town and Cardiff Met are the only two teams who haven’t conceded a single goal this season.
And although Connah’s Quay also kept a clean sheet against Aberystwyth Town on Friday night, the Nomads currently have the worst defensive record in the league after conceding six against The New Saints on the opening weekend.
These clubs met on six occasions last season with Bala winning twice in the cups but failing to win any of the four league meetings with Connah’s Quay (Bala won two, CQ won two, drawn two).
Ex-Nomads, Aeron Edwards and Joe Malkin will be eager to impress for the Lakesiders against their former club, whilst Neil Gibson’s new signing, Jordan Davies will be hoping to find the net for the third successive match.
League form:
Bala Town: ✅➖
Connah’s Quay: ❌✅
Pontypridd United v Pen-y-bont | Friday – 19:45
Pontypridd United are one of three teams who are still searching for their first goal of the season following a goalless draw with Haverfordwest County and a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to The New Saints.
Pen-y-bont on the other hand are one of three teams who have had a perfect start to the season, with solid victories against Newtown and Haverfordwest County.
And it was Pen-y-bont who got the better of things last season, securing four points from their two games against Pontypridd United.
Pen-y-bont’s new no.9, Chris Venables will be looking to add to his two league goals, whilst his opposite number, Ben Ahmun will aim to get off the mark for the campaign against his former club.
League form:
Pontypridd United: ➖❌
Pen-y-bont: ✅✅
Saturday, 26 August
Cardiff Met v Colwyn Bay | Saturday – 14:30
For the second consecutive week Colwyn Bay make the long trip down south as their first ever season in the JD Cymru Premier continues.
The Seagulls secured their first point in the top-flight last Saturday with a 1-1 draw at Barry Town United, thanks to Tom Creamer’s remarkable equalizing volley from the centre-circle.
Cardiff Met are yet to concede this season after a 1-0 win at Aberystwyth Town on the opening weekend, followed by a stalemate at home to Bala Town.
Colwyn Bay were the winners in the only previous meeting between the two sides in October 2021, causing an upset in the Welsh Cup fourth round through a Jack Higgins strike, before Eliot Evans missed a spot kick for the Archers (CB 1-0 Met).
League form:
Cardiff Met: ✅➖
Colwyn Bay: ❌➖
Haverfordwest County v Caernarfon Town | Saturday – 14:30
Two games, one point and no goals – that’s the summary of Haverfordwest County’s league season so far, and the Bluebirds will be desperate to claim their first goal and first three points on Saturday.
But Caernarfon Town have been the dark horses at the beginning of this campaign, thrashing Colwyn Bay 4-0 before beating Newtown for the first time in 10 attempts.
Marc Williams has proved to be a welcomed addition for the Cofis, and the experienced creative talent is already joint top in the assist chart with three assists in two games, but the Canaries will be without their other signing Adam Davies who was sent off last Friday for two yellow card offences.
Caernarfon Town have only lost once in their last six meetings with Haverfordwest County (won four, drawn one), but the Cofis haven’t travelled well in recent years, winning only once in nine away trips to mid-Wales or down south in league fixtures (lost seven, drawn one).
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ➖❌
Caernarfon Town: ✅✅
The New Saints v Barry Town United | Saturday – 14:30
The champions have had a perfect start to their season but had to be patient until the 79th minute before Dan Williams scored the only goal of the game against Pontypridd last Saturday.
TNS are top of the table, and top of the scoring chart after netting seven times this season and Craig Harrison will demand nothing less than nine points in their next three fixtures against newcomers, Barry Town United and Colwyn Bay, and bottom of the table, Aberystwyth Town.
Barry Town United’s new boss, Steve Jenkins was a little depleted as his side had to share the spoils with Colwyn Bay last weekend, despite controlling most of the possession.
This will be the first meeting between the league’s two most successful clubs since December 2021, and the Saints are currently on a run of eight games without defeat against the Dragons (won seven, drawn one).
League form:
The New Saints: ✅✅
Barry Town United: ❌➖
Newtown v Aberystwyth Town | Saturday – 17:15 (Online)
The league’s bottom two teams will meet on Saturday with Newtown and Aberystwyth Town hoping to get their first points on the board after a slow start to the season.
The two mid-Wales teams are the only sides to have been ever-present in the league since its formation in 1992 but will need to pick up their performances to avoid a nervy season at the wrong end of the table.
After narrowly avoiding relegation by goal difference in April, it might not be such a surprise to see Aberystwyth Town struggling with two defeats and no goals against Cardiff Met and Connah’s Quay.
And although Newtown have established themselves as constant Top Six contenders, the Robins have made a bad habit of being slow to get out of the blocks, as they were 11th after 12 games last season, and in 11th spot after 14 matches in 2020/21.
Newtown have won their previous four meetings with Aberystwyth Town, including their latest 6-1 smashing at Latham Park last December.
Aberystwyth Town’s new goalkeeper, Dave Jones will keen to prove a point as he returns to the ground where he spent nine seasons before making the move to Ceredigion over the summer.
League form:
Newtown: ❌❌
Aberystwyth Town: ❌❌
