Pen-y-bont remain unbeaten after seven games this season and have broken clear at the top of the league, three points ahead of Cardiff Met in second place.
The New Saints are the only other unbeaten team in the league, and the champions are now in 4th position with three games in hand.
The two unbeaten sides will be going to head-to-head this Friday night in a crucial battle which will be streamed live online.
Friday, 20 September
Pen-y-bont (1st) v The New Saints (4th) | Friday – 19:45 (Live online)
Despite finishing last season in the Bottom Six, Pen-y-bont are currently leading the pack in the JD Cymru Premier, sitting at the top of the table after winning four consecutive league matches.
Pen-y-bont have lost just once in their last 17 competitive matches, and Rhys Griffiths’ team have only conceded two goals in seven league games this season.
The New Saints have won all four of their league games so far, but due to the busyness of the European games the champions have three league games in hand.
After beating Barry Town United 4-0 last weekend, the Oswestry outfit have now won 30 successive league matches and have not lost in the JD Cymru Premier since February 2023 (Met 3-2 TNS).
These clubs have met on 19 occasions, and the Saints have never lost against Rhys Griffiths’ side (15 wins, 4 draws), scoring 12 goals in their last three meetings.
There was success for both clubs in midweek as Pen-y-bont beat Haverfordwest County in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup, while the Saints saw off Airbus UK.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ͏➖✅✅✅✅
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅
Bala Town (5th) v Newtown (3rd) | Friday – 19:45
Bala Town will aim to climb above Newtown on Friday night, with both teams eyeing a place in the Top Six once again this year.
Only two players have created more than two goals in the league this season, and those two wingers will meet at Latham Park – Newtown’s Zeli Ismail (5) and Bala’s Osebi Abadaki (4).
Bala Town have not lost in their previous three meetings with Newtown, and Louis Robles scored for the Robins against Bala Town in the last two contests, before moving from Newtown back to Maes Tegid over the summer.
After scoring his first goal in the league last weekend against Aberystwyth Town, Hussein Mehasseb scored twice again for Bala Town on Tuesday night in their 2-0 victory against Holywell Town in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
League form:
Bala Town: ✅➖❌❌✅
Newtown: ͏❌✅❌✅✅
Aberystwyth Town (11th) v Haverfordwest County (6th) | Friday – 20:00
Aberystwyth Town have dropped into the relegation zone following a frustrating run of four consecutive defeats in the league.
No one has scored fewer goals than the Black & Greens this season (4 goals in 7 games) and the results will need to improve soon to avoid another long season towards the bottom.
After a promising start to the season, two defeats in a row mean that Haverfordwest County have slid down to 6th place.
Goals have been rare occurrences in Haverfordwest County’s league games this season with one goal or less scored in five of their seven games so far.
Haverfordwest County have only lost one of their previous seven matches against Aberystwyth Town, but that loss came on their last visit to Park Avenue back in February (Aber 1-0 Hav).
There was late drama at Aberystwyth Town on Tuesday night as Jonathan Evans scored twice in the dying minutes against Llandudno to confirm their place in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup, but Haverfordwest County were knocked out by Pen-y-bont.
League form:
Aberystwyth Town: ͏✅❌❌❌❌
Haverfordwest County: ➖͏➖✅❌❌
Saturday, 21 September
Briton Ferry Llansawel (12th) v Flint Town United (10th) | Saturday – 14:30
It’s been six games and six defeats for Briton Ferry Llansawel since their promotion over the summer, and Andy Dyer’s team will be determined to end the disappointing run on Saturday afternoon.
Flint Town United were the other team to be promoted, and after a slow start the Silkmen have found their feet, winning two games on the bounce, climbing out of the relegation zone.
The current Briton Ferry Llansawel club was formed in 2009, and this will be their first ever fixture against Flint Town United.
League form:
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ❌❌❌❌❌
Flint Town United: ͏❌❌❌✅✅
Cardiff Met (2nd) v Connah’s Quay (8th) | Saturday – 14:30
After a great start to the season, Cardiff Met’s unbeaten run ended with a 2-1 loss against Newtown last Friday.
Despite the defeat, Ryan Reynolds managed to score once again for the Archers, and the midfielder is now joint top scorer in the league and has contributed to more goals than anyone else (4 goals, 2 assists).
Connah’s Quay are in an unfamiliar position down in 8th place after losing their last two league matches against Barry Town United and Pen-y-bont.
But the Nomads have won six of their previous seven meetings with Cardiff Met, and with a game in hand Billy Paynter will hope to turn the corner over the weekend.
It was a special night for Cardiff Met on Tuesday night with the students smashing Goytre United 9-1 in the Nathaniel MG Cup, while Connah’s Quay fought back to win 3-2 at home against Caernarfon Town.
League form:
Cardiff Met: ͏✅➖✅✅❌
Connah’s Quay: ͏➖✅✅❌❌
Barry Town United (7th) v Caernarfon Town (9th) | Saturday – 14:30
One point separates Barry Town United and Caernarfon Twon in the bottom half, but the Cofis have a game in hand against The New Saints.
Caernarfon Town forward Zack Clarke scored a hat-trick against Briton Ferry Llansawel last weekend to become level with Ryan Reynolds and Barry Town United striker Ollie Hulbert at the top of the goal scorers’ chart (4 goals each).
Excluding the play-offs, Caernarfon Town have not won two consecutive league matches since October 2023 but will be hoping to do so this weekend.
The away team has won the last five contests between these teams (Barry winning twice at the Oval, Cfon winning three at Jenner Park), and the Cofis will hope that the pattern will continue on Saturday afternoon.
Barry Town United have secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup after beating Trethomas Bluebirds on Tuesday night, but Caernarfon Town are out of the competition following their defeat against Connah’s Quay.
League form:
Barry Town United: ❌❌✅✅❌
Caernarfon 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.
