After six league games, Pen-y-bont and Cardiff Met remain level on points at the top of the table and are still unbeaten this season, but both clubs face tough away games over the weekend.
With three games to spare, the champions, The New Saints will aim to close the gap on the southern duo over the weekend as they welcome Barry Town United to Park Hall.
And towards the bottom it promises to be a competitive game at the Oval when Briton Ferry Llansawel hope to gain their first point since their promotion, away from home at Caernarfon Town.
Friday, 13 September
Bala Town (6th) v Aberystwyth Town (10th) | Friday – 19:45
After a good start to the season, Bala Town have recently stumbled and slipped to 6th place following a run of three league games without a win (D1, L2).
Aberystwyth Town have also hit a wall after a couple of promising results, and now the Black & Greens have lost three in a row and sit just one point above the relegation zone.
Bala Town have won 10 of their last 12 meetings with Aberystwyth Town (D1, L1), and Colin Caton will therefore expect no less than three points at Maes Tegid on Friday.
League form:
Bala Town: ✅✅➖❌❌
Aberystwyth Town: ͏➖✅❌❌❌
Newtown (4th) v Cardiff Met (2nd) | Friday – 19:45 (Live online)
Cardiff Met have had a great start to the season and the students remain level on points with Pen-y-bont at the summit.
This will be Cardiff Met’s third away game in a row, but after winning at Caernarfon and Bala over the past two weeks, Ryan Jenkins’ team will be full of confidence before traveling to mid-Wales.
Newtown won three of their four contests against Cardiff Met last season, and the Robins are the last team to win away from home at Cyncoed Campus.
League form:
Newtown: ͏➖❌✅❌✅
Cardiff Met: ͏➖✅➖✅✅
Saturday, 14 September
Caernarfon Town (8th) v Briton Ferry Llansawel (12th) | Saturday – 14:30
The European ‘hangover’ continues for Caernarfon Town who have only won one of their five league games after a memorable summer in Europe.
But the Cofis are four points above Briton Ferry Llansawel who are yet to pick up a point since their promotion to the JD Cymru Premier over the summer.
The current Briton Ferry Llansawel club was formed in 2009, and this will be their first ever match against Caernarfon Town.
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ❌✅➖❌❌
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ❌❌❌❌❌
Flint Town United (11th) v Haverfordwest County (3rd) | Saturday – 14:30
There was relief from the Flint Town United squad last Saturday after the Silkmen beat Aberystwyth Town and won their first points since returning to the top-flight.
Forward Elliott Reeves scored twice at Park Avenue, and his manager Lee Fowler was full of praise for him, saying Reeves is the best striker in the league.
Haverfordwest County’s unbeaten start came to an end last weekend as the Bluebirds lost 1-0 against champions The New Saints.
But Tony Pennock’s side will not be too discouraged, especially after winning their previous three games against Flint Town United.
League form:
Flint Town United: ͏❌❌❌❌✅
Haverfordwest County: ✅➖͏➖✅❌
The New Saints (5th) v Barry Town United (7th) | Saturday – 14:30
The New Saints have made history this year by reaching one of Europe’s main competitions for the first time ever.
The Oswestry outfit will face Fiorentina, Djurgarden, Astana, Shamrock Rovers, Panathinaikos and Celje in the UEFA Conference League this season.
But while the Saints have been busy with their qualifying games in Europe, their league matches have been postponed, and so the champions are in an unfamiliar position down in 5th place with three games in hand.
Barry Town United have shot up the table after two successive comeback victories against Flint Town United and Connah’s Quay.
Craig Harrison’s clan have won 29 league games in a row, and have not lost in the JD Cymru Premier since February 2023 (Met 3-2 TNS).
The Saints have won seven of their previous eight meetings with Barry Town United, but the Dragons managed to pick up a point on their last visit to Park Hall back in August 2023 (TNS 2-2 Barr).
League form:
The New Saints: ✅✅✅
Barry Town United: ➖❌❌✅✅
Sunday, 15 September
Connah’s Quay (8th) v Pen-y-bont (1st) | Sunday – 14:30
Pen-y-bont are leading the pack in the JD Cymru Premier, sitting at the summit on goal difference.
Pen-y-bont have only lost one of their last 15 competitive games, and Rhys Griffiths’ team have only conceded twice in six league games this season.
Connah’s Quay have finished in the top two in five of the last six seasons (losing 18pts in the 2021/22 season), but the Nomads start the weekend in 8th place, after a slow start to the current campaign.
Connah’s Quay are on a nine game unbeaten run against Pen-y-bont (W5, D4), and Billy Paynter will be determined to end the opponents’ unbeaten run on Sunday afternoon.
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ͏❌➖✅✅❌
Pen-y-bont: ͏➖͏➖✅✅✅
The highlights of the games will be available on Sgorio’s social websites and the best of the weekend’s action on S4C on Monday night.
