Caernarfon Town have broken three points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier table, and the Cofis remain the only unbeaten side in the league this season.
The New Saints have climbed to second place, level on points with Bala Town, and also in the top half are Briton Ferry Llansawel and Flint Town United who both have a game in hand.
As for the struggling sides, Cardiff Met are still waiting for their first victory, while Llanelli Town are desperate to pick up their first point of the season.
Saturday, 13 September
Colwyn Bay (7th) v Haverfordwest County (10th) | Saturday – 12:30
There was relief for Colwyn Bay boss Michael Wilde last Saturday as he claimed his first victory as a JD Cymru Premier manager.
Colwyn Bay have only lost once in the league so far, but after four draws the Seagulls finally got to celebrate with a 4-1 triumph away at Cardiff Met.
It certainly wasn’t a weekend to remember for Haverfordwest County who lost 5-0 against The New Saints, which was their heaviest defeat in the league for four years.
Despite finishing in 3rd place last season, goals were scarce for Tony Pennock’s team (an average of 1.2 goals per game), and it is a similar story this year with the Bluebirds having only netted four goals in five games to date.
Having said that, Haverfordwest County managed to score four times on Wednesday night in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup, defeating a young Swansea side by 4-1 at Bridge Meadow.
These clubs had not met before going head-to-head four times during the 2023/24 season where Haverfordwest County won three times, with the other fixture ending goalless, and so Colwyn Bay have never beaten the Bluebirds.
League form:
Colwyn Bay: ͏➖❌➖➖✅
Haverfordwest County: ❌➖✅➖❌
Connah’s Quay (8th) v Cardiff Met (11th) | Saturday – 12:30
It has been a mixed start to the season for Connah’s Quay under new manager John Disney, who have enjoyed impressive wins against Pen-y-bont and Flint Town United, but lost against Bala Town and The New Saints.
The Nomads will hope to return to the Top Six this season after a challenging campaign last year, but to do that they will need a better attacking contribution from the new signings, as the summer arrivals have only scored one goal between them so far (1 – Jason Oswell, 0 – Harry Franklin, Zeli Ismail, Abdi Sharif, Eddie Servuts, Callum West).
Morale seems to be low at Cardiff Met who have not won any of their opening six league games and have dropped into the relegation zone.
The Archers have conceded four goals in each of their last two games (FTU 4-2 Met, Met 1-4 CB), and therefore will have to strengthen defensively if they want to reach the Top Six for the fourth successive season.
To add to the frustration, Cardiff Met lost on penalties against Cambrian United in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup on Wednesday night, and Connah’s Quay also lost, against the holders of the cup, The New Saints.
Connah’s Quay have won seven of their last nine contests against Cardiff Met, and the students have never won an away league match against the Nomads.
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ➖❌✅✅❌
Cardiff Met: ͏➖➖➖❌❌
Briton Ferry Llansawel (5th) v Caernarfon Town (1st) | Saturday – 12:30
Caernarfon Town continue to set the standard in the JD Cymru Premier this season, and the Cofis are the only team that are yet to taste defeat.
The Canaries have only dropped points in two games after conceding controversial penalties away from home against Cardiff Met and Haverfordwest County.
Briton Ferry Llansawel have also had a solid start, especially considering that Andy Dyer’s side lost their opening six games last season.
Several of the league’s top scorers will be on show at the Old Road on Saturday, including Ferry frontman, and August’s Player of the Month winner, Tom Walters (5 goals, 1 assist) as well as Caernarfon Town’s centre-forward and the league’s main goal contributor, Adam Davies (5 goals, 5 assists).
Last season was the first time the clubs ever met, and Caernarfon Town won both of their ties against the Reds, and so Briton Ferry Llansawel will be looking for their first ever point against the Canaries.
Both teams will be full of confidence after winning on penalties in the Nathaniel MG Cup on Wednesday night – Briton Ferry beating Pen-y-bont, and Caernarfon defeating Holywell Town.
League form:
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ͏✅➖✅❌➖
Caernarfon Town: ͏✅✅✅➖✅
Pen-y-bont (3rd) v Flint Town United (6th) | Saturday – 12:30
It has been a disappointing fortnight for Pen-y-bont who have slipped from second place after failing to score in their last two league outings (Pen 0-1 CQ, Bala 0-0 Pen).
The goals are not flying in from the Bryntirion boys (6 goals in 5 games), and last year’s Golden Boot winner, James Crole is still waiting for his first goal in the league this season.
James Crole did manage to find the net on Wednesday night, but it was a defeat on penalties for Pen-y-bont against Briton Ferry Llansawel in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Scoring certainly isn’t an issue for Flint Town United who won 5-0 against Llanelli Town last weekend with Elliott Reeves stealing the show by scoring a hat trick to bring his tally to six goals for the league season.
There’s been a whopping 23 goals scored in the Silkmen’s last four games (FTU 2-5 Cfon, CQ 3-2 FTU, FTU 4-2 Met, Lli 0-5 FTU), and Lee Fowler is aiming for the Top Six this year.
But Pen-y-bont are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Flint Town United (win 3, draw 1) and Rhys Griffiths will look to get his team back on track this Saturday.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ͏❌✅✅❌➖
Flint Town United: ➖❌❌✅✅
Barry Town United (9th) v Bala Town (3rd) | Saturday – 12:30 (Live online)
After winning their opening fixture away from home against Llanelli Town, things have not gone in Barry Town United’s favour who are now on a run of five league games without a win.
Bala Town have been the surprise package this season, with the Lakesiders level on points with TNS in second place after a summer of transformation.
Of the 14 players who left Maes Tegid over the summer, they had a total of 1,265 league appearances and 201 goals between them, and so it was going to be a challenge for Steve Fisher to fill several experienced shoes.
But at the moment, it seems like the new manager is succeeding, with only one defeat in six league games, and the joint-best defensive record in the league (conceding 4 goals in six games).
However, Bala Town have not won at Jenner Park since May 2021 when Chris Venables scored a hat-trick for the visitors to reach the 200-goal milestone in the Welsh Premier League (BTU 1-4 Bala).
Barry Town United have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup after beating Llanelli 1-0 on Wednesday night, but it was a disappointing night for Bala Town who lost on penalties against Newtown.
League form:
Barry Town United: ➖❌➖➖❌
Bala Town: ✅❌✅✅➖
The New Saints (2nd) v Llanelli Town (12th) | Saturday – 12:30
After a shaky start with a 3-0 loss at home against Briton Ferry Llansawel, the Saints have tightened up defensively, conceding just one goal in five league games since then.
Saints’ goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd tops the Golden Glove chart with four clean sheets to date, and after celebrating his 25th birthday this week he will be keen to add to that total on Saturday.
After securing promotion over the summer, Llanelli Town have not had the ideal return to the JD Cymru Premier, losing all six games so far.
No team have scored less than Llanelli Town to date (3 goals in 6 games), and to add salt to the wound, their top scorer last season, Liam Eason has scored seven goals for Cambrian United this season and has been named the JD Cymru South Player of the Month for August.
Eason scored again on Wednesday night as Cambrian defeated Cardiff Met, whilst Llanelli lost 1-0 against Barry Town United in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup.
The Saints claimed their place in the quarter-finals by beating Connah’s Quay 3-1 with Isaac Jefferies scoring twice in his first start for the club.
This will be Craig Harrison’s 400th game as manager of The New Saints, and the first meeting between the clubs since January 2019 (TNS 5-0 Lli).
Llanelli Town have not beaten the Saints since winning 1-0 in the semi-final of the 2010/11 Welsh Cup where Chris Venables scored the only goal of the game.
League form:
The New Saints: ✅✅➖➖✅
Llanelli Town: ❌❌❌❌❌
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.
