It’s shaping up to be an exciting weekend in the JD Cymru Premier as the top two go head-to-head at Park Hall on Saturday afternoon.
Three points separate the front runners, The New Saints and Pen-y-bont, and so the current champions will hope to open a six-point lead at the summit, while Rhys Griffiths’ side could go level on points with the table-toppers.
There will also be an important fixture played between two of the bottom three teams, as Flint Town United welcome Llanelli Town to the Essity Stadium.
Friday, 10 October
Haverfordwest County (11th) v Bala Town (6th) | Friday – 19:45
Having lost six of their last seven league games, Haverfordwest County have fallen into the relegation zone.
Bala Town are also on a barren run as Steve Fisher’s team have lost their last three matches, scoring only once via a penalty.
Bala Town failed to win any of their four contests against Haverfordwest County last season with the Bluebirds winning twice and the other two matches ending goalless.
And it wouldn’t be surprising if this game ended goalless too as only Llanelli Town (7) have scored fewer league goals than Haverfordwest County (11) and Bala Town (10) this season.
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ❌❌❌✅❌
Bala Town: ➖✅❌❌❌
Saturday, 11 October
Briton Ferry Llansawel (9th) v Connah’s Quay (4th) | Saturday – 12:30
After a lengthy run of seven league games without a win there was finally a chance to celebrate for Andy Dyer’s side on Tuesday night as Briton Ferry Llansawel defeated Barry Town United.
Something seems to have clicked at Connah’s Quay as the Nomads have won two games within three days to climb up to 4th place with a game in hand.
Connah’s Quay won both their meetings with Briton Ferry Llansawel during the first phase of last season, but the Reds got their revenge after the split by beating the Nomads twice in the Bottom Six.
Briton Ferry Llansawel won 1-0 at home against Connah’s Quay in March, but the Reds have not won any of their six home games in the JD Cymru Premier since then.
League form:
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ͏➖❌❌➖✅
Connah’s Quay: ✅❌➖✅✅
Colwyn Bay (5th) v Cardiff Met (8th) | Saturday – 14:30
Colwyn Bay and Cardiff Met have had a solid start to October and have been busy climbing the table over the last two weeks.
Colwyn Bay’s games have been exceptionally tight overall, and only four goals have been scored across the Seagulls’ last five games (Lli 0-0 CB, CB 0-1 Bala, Pen 1-0 CB, CB 1-0 Cfon, FTU 0-1 CB).
There were four goals scored in Cardiff Met’s fixture against Llanelli Town on Tuesday night, and three of those came for the Archers during the second half as Ryan Jenkins’ students won for the third consecutive game.
It was a comfortable 4-1 victory for Colwyn Bay in the corresponding match at Cyncoed Campus in September with Louis Robles netting twice for Michael Wilde’s men.
League form:
Colwyn Bay: ͏➖❌❌✅✅
Cardiff Met: ͏❌❌✅✅✅
Barry Town United (7th) v Caernarfon Town (3rd) | Saturday – 14:30
Barry Town United will aim to reach the Top Six for the first time in five years, but after failing to score in their last three outings the Dragons have dropped into the bottom half.
Having had an excellent start to the season, Caernarfon Town are now nine points adrift of The New Saints after losing four of their last five matches.
After starting the campaign on fire, Adam Davies has now not scored in five outings, which comes after a remarkable eight goals in the opening seven games.
But Caernarfon have an excellent record against Barry Town as the Cofis have won five of the last seven contests between the clubs (D1, L1).
League form:
Barry Town United: ➖✅➖❌❌
Caernarfon Town: ͏❌✅❌❌❌
Flint Town United (10th) v Llanelli Town (12th) | Saturday – 14:30
Despite threatening to break into the Top Six for a period, Flint Town United are back near the relegation zone after losing three of their last four league fixtures.
But Llanelli Town are still at the bottom of the heap, having lost 75% of their league games this season with the latest defeat coming against Cardiff Met in midweek.
Llanelli Town and Flint Town United have the two worst defensive records in the league, but unlike the Reds, the Silkmen’s strikers have been firing, and only the top three teams have scored more than Lee Fowler’s folks.
Flint Town United were victorious in the reverse fixture in September with Elliott Reeves starring for the Silkmen, scoring a hat-trick at Stebonheath Park in an emphatic 5-0 win for the Flintshire faction.
League form:
Flint Town United: ➖❌✅❌❌
Llanelli Town: ➖✅✅❌❌
The New Saints (1st) v Pen-y-bont (2nd) | Saturday – 17:15 (Live online)
The biggest game of the weekend will be live on Sgorio as the top two meet in a crucial battle at Park Hall.
Three points separate the two teams that finished as the top two last season and are competing for the championship once again this year.
After beating Caernarfon Town on Tuesday night, the Saints are now on a run of 12 games without defeat, including eight consecutive victories in all competitions.
Pen-y-bont are on a run of seven league games without defeat, conceding just twice during that spell.
The New Saints have the league’s best attacking record (scoring 2.75 goals per game), whilst Pen-y-bont have the strongest defensive record (conceding 0.58 goals per game).
Pen-y-bont gave the Saints a bit of a scare last season with Rhys Griffiths’ team sitting at the top of the table over the Christmas period.
The Saints managed to climb back to the top during the second phase, winning 12 league games in a row and finishing the campaign 14 points above Pen-y-bont, but the Bryntirion boys will be hoping for a much tighter title race this year.
League form:
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
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.
