There are eight rounds of matches left until the league split, and as it stands there are several big names sitting in the bottom half who are hoping to steal a place in the Top Six for the second phase of the season.
Bala Town, Newtown and Connah’s Quay are three clubs that have consistently competed in the top half over the last decade, and it is surprising to see those teams lurking in the bottom half.
Historically, 31 points is the amount needed to claim a place in the Top Six, and the front runners, Pen-y-bont have already reached that target, while the New Saints and Haverfordwest County are not too far behind.
At the bottom of the table Briton Ferry Llansawel will welcome Aberystwyth Town on Saturday afternoon in a crucial six-pointer between the bottom two in the battle to avoid relegation.
Saturday, 2 November
Barry Town United (5th) v The New Saints (2nd) | Saturday – 13:00
Barry Town United start the weekend in 5th place and are aiming to secure a Top Six spot for the first time since the 2020/21 season.
The Dragons have won three consecutive top-flight games for the first time since September 2021, but they have a tough task ahead of them on Saturday afternoon.
Things have not gone perfectly for the champions at the start of the season, but after a run of six consecutive victories in all competitions it seems that the Saints’ shaky spell has come to an end.
After a dramatic late win against Connah’s Quay in midweek the Oswestry outfit are now in second place, four points behind Pen-y-bont with two games in hand.
And the Saints are unbeaten in their previous 11 meetings with Barry Town United (W9, D2) including a comfortable 4-0 win at Park Hall in September.
League form:
Barry Town United: ✅❌✅✅✅
The New Saints: ❌✅✅✅✅
Caernarfon Town (6th) v Pen-y-bont (1st) | Saturday – 14:30
Since beating the New Saints three weeks ago Caernarfon Town have been through a difficult time, failing to win in four games, and failing to score in their last two outings.
However, the Cofis remain in the Top Six, and staying there will be the mission for Richard Davies’ team for the next eight games.
On average, 31 points have been enough to secure a place in the Top Six in previous seasons, and with eight games to spare, Pen-y-bont have already reached that target.
Pen-y-bont failed to reach the Top Six last season, but after an excellent start to this campaign Rhys Griffiths’ team are five points clear at the top and have only lost one of their last 20 league matches (0-1 vs Briton Ferry Llansawel).
Pen-y-bont have already beaten Caernarfon Town this season, but this will be their first trip to the Oval since the Cofis sealed their place in Europe for the first time ever by winning 3-1 in the 2023/24 play-off final.
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ✅✅❌❌➖
Pen-y-bont: ͏✅✅✅➖➖
Connah’s Quay (9th) v Cardiff Met (4th) | Saturday – 14:30
At this stage last season after 14 games, Connah’s Quay were 2nd in the table with 32 points, but this year the Nomads have only half that amount and are sitting in 9th place.
Connah’s Quay have finished in the top two in five of the last six seasons (deducted 18pts in the 2021/22 season), but the Nomads are in danger of missing out on the Top Six after a slow start to the current campaign under new manager Billy Paynter.
Cardiff Met will be determined to reach the Top Six for the third season in a row, and the students are in a promising position with eight games to go before the split.
Eliot Evans scored twice in Cardiff Met’s 2-1 triumph over Connah’s Quay in the corresponding fixture in September, but the Archers have not won away from home against the Nomads since February 2020.
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ͏✅➖➖✅❌
Cardiff Met: ͏❌❌❌➖✅
Haverfordwest County (3rd) v Flint Town United (10th) | Saturday – 14:30
Haverfordwest County continue to threaten towards the top of the table after conceding just five goals in 14 league games, keeping nine clean sheets.
But scoring goals has been the Bluebirds’ main issue, as only the bottom two, Aberystwyth Town (11) and Briton Ferry Llansawel (11) have netted fewer goals than Haverfordwest County (14).
Flint Town United start the weekend four points above the bottom two but having won just one of their previous seven league games, Lee Fowler’s side need a positive result to boost morale.
Haverfordwest County have only lost two of their 14 league games this season, and one of those defeats came away against Flint Town United in September (FTU 1-0 Hav).
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ✅✅͏➖✅➖
Flint Town United: ͏❌✅➖❌❌
Newtown (8th) v Bala Town (7th) | Saturday – 14:30
Newtown and Bala Town are two clubs that are used to competing in the Top Six, but with eight games to go until the split, the teams are a few points short of the top half.
Newtown have not been at their best, winning just one of their last seven league matches and conceding 14 goals in their last three home fixtures.
Bala Town have secured a place in the Top Six in each of the last 10 seasons, but the Lakesiders have slipped to the bottom half after winning only two of their previous 11 league games.
It promises to be a tight affair at Latham Park as there is only one point separating the two teams in mid-table, and the last two matches between the sides have ended in draws.
League form:
Newtown: ͏❌❌✅❌❌
Bala Town: ➖❌➖➖➖
Briton Ferry Llansawel (12th) v Aberystwyth Town (11th) | Saturday – 17:15 (S4C)
It will be a massive game at the bottom of the league on Saturday afternoon between the two lowest teams in the table who are fighting to avoid the drop.
Briton Ferry Llansawel are at the bottom of the table having won only one league game since their promotion, which came against the table-toppers, Pen-y-bont.
But Andy Dyer’s side have two games in hand, and a win on Saturday would lift them above Aberystwyth Town.
Briton Ferry Llansawel have not won any of their six home games this season, and the Reds will be determined to end that record over the weekend.
Aberystwyth Town have won their last two games away from home, and so the Black & Greens will be pleased to travel away from Park Avenue where they have lost five in a row.
The current Briton Ferry Llansawel club was formed in 2009, and this will be their first ever meeting with Aberystwyth Town.
League form:
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ✅➖❌❌❌
Aberystwyth 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.
