On average, 31 points has been the amount needed to secure a place in the Top Six in previous years, and both The New Saints and Connah’s Quay have already crossed that threshold, with eight games left to play before the split.
In the chasing pack, there’s only three points separating the four clubs between the 3rd and 6th positions, and with all four playing at home this Saturday, they will be looking to take a step closer to claiming a Top Six spot.
Saturday, 4 November
Caernarfon Town (4th) v Pen-y-bont (7th) | Saturday – 14:30
The Cofis will be keen to redeem themselves following a frustrating 6-1 defeat away at Connah’s Quay last Friday night, which was Caernarfon’s heaviest league defeat since losing 6-1 at home to the Nomads in April 2021.
And although Caernarfon Town do look quite comfortable in the top half, it’s only the bottom two sides who have conceded more goals than the Cofis this season.
You’re guaranteed to see goals at the Oval as Richard Davies’ Canaries have either scored three or conceded three in 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions (won five, drawn six).
Caernarfon Town as six points clear of Pen-y-bont, who have dropped into the bottom half for the first time in two years having lost four league games on the bounce.
After finishing 3rd and qualifying for Europe last season, Pen-y-bont would’ve certainly fancied their chances of making the cut into the Top Six for the fourth successive year, but Rhys Griffiths’ side trail 6th placed Bala Town by three points, but have a game in hand.
Pen-y-bont have won their last three meetings with Caernarfon Town, which includes a dramatic late victory at the SDM Glass Stadium earlier this season where Cofi defender, Gruff John scored a devastating 97th minute own goal (Pen 3-2 Cfon).
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ❌✅✅❌✅
Pen-y-bont: ❌❌❌❌✅
Haverfordwest County (8th) v Colwyn Bay (11th) | Saturday – 14:30
With eight games left until the split, these coming weeks could determine Haverfordwest County’s campaign as they currently sit six points behind 6th placed Bala Town, and six points above the relegation zone.
Tony Pennock will be looking up thinking that his squad should be competing for a top half ticket after performing valiantly in Europe, but the Bluebirds manager will also be looking over his shoulder, knowing that a defeat to Colwyn Bay would drag his team down into a relegation scrap.
Haverfordwest County have only won three out of 14 league games, with the first of those coming in the reverse fixture against Colwyn Bay back in September (BC 1-2 Hav).
Colwyn Bay won back-to-back games in September but have since gone six league games without a win, picking up just one point from a possible 18.
The Seagulls lost 6-1 against The New Saints on Tuesday night, which means that Steve Evans’ side remain level on points with Aberystwyth Town at the foot of the table.
League form:
Haverfordwest County: ➖❌✅❌✅
Colwyn Bay: ͏❌❌❌➖❌
Cardiff Met (5th) v Connah’s Quay (2nd) | Saturday – 14:30
Connah’s Quay have gone 12 games unbeaten (won 10, drawn two) opening a nine-point gap between themselves and 3rd placed Newtown, leaving Neil Gibson’s men in a strong position to qualify for Europe yet again by finishing in the top two.
Harry Franklin was the star of the show for the Nomads last Friday, scoring four first half goals against Caernarfon Town, and the creative midfielder is now up to fourth in the league’s goal contribution chart with 11 (six goals, five assists).
Cardiff Met are now 5th in the table after winning four out of five in all competitions, and since their 2-0 loss at home to Connah’s Quay in April the Archers have only lost one in eight league games at Cyncoed Campus (vs TNS).
Connah’s Quay have a fantastic record against Cardiff Met, having won the last four meetings, conceding only once, and the Nomads have only lost once in 23 league matches against the capital contingent (won 15, drawn seven).
League form:
Cardiff Met: ✅❌✅✅➖
Connah’s Quay: ✅✅➖͏➖✅
Bala Town (6th) v Pontypridd United (10th) | Saturday – 14:30
An unfortunate situation is developing at Pontypridd United as it was revealed on Wednesday that the club have been accused of breaking league regulations in regard to contracts, payments and player registrations.
Pontypridd United have now been removed from the JD Welsh Cup and face further disciplinary actions by the league’s board.
With troubles brewing off the pitch, things haven’t been going smoothly on the pitch either as Ponty have only won once in their last nine league matches (lost seven, drawn one).
The only draw in that spell came in a stalemate at home against Bala Town back in September, but Colin Caton’s crew have won all three of their previous home meetings with Pontypridd.
Bala Town boast the joint best defensive record in the league (11 goals in 14 games), and despite losing several key players over the summer, the Maes Tegid tandem are looking to reach the Top Six for the 10th successive season.
Two of the league’s best goalkeepers will be on display as Kelland Absalom and George Ratcliffe have both claimed a league-high six clean sheets each this season.
But it’s at the other end of the field where the struggles lie as Ponty have only netted five goals in 14 games (0.36 goals per game), and Bala scoring 11 (0.78 goals per game).
League form:
Bala Town: ❌✅➖✅❌
Pontypridd United: ❌❌❌✅❌
Barry Town United (9th) v Aberystwyth Town (12th) | Saturday – 14:30
This will be a crucial battle in the lower half with only four points separating the two clubs, and Aberystwyth Town with a game in hand.
Barry Town United have climbed up to 9th place with three wins from four in all competitions, beating Colwyn Bay and Pontypridd United, the other two clubs who are wrestling at the wrong end of the table.
Aberystwyth Town will have had their confidence boosted following a 2-0 triumph over Pen-y-bont last Friday, only their second league win of the season.
This will be the first league meeting between these clubs since April 2022 when Aberystwyth Town won 1-0 at Jenner Park through Steff Davies’ early strike which sent Barry Town United down into the second tier, and the Black & Greens are unbeaten in their last five meeting with the Dragons (won four, drawn one).
League form:
Barry Town United: ✅❌✅❌❌
Aberystwyth Town: ✅❌➖❌✅
Newtown (3rd) v The New Saints (1st) | Saturday – 14:30
Following a comfortable 6-1 victory at home to Colwyn Bay on Tuesday night, The New Saints have gone six points clear at the top of the table.
The Oswestry outfit have now extended their unbeaten run to 20 games without defeat in all competitions (won 18, drawn two), and are setting their sights on a 16th championship.
TNS right back, Josh Daniels shot to the top of the league’s assists chart on Friday night (8) whilst Ryan Brobbel is now the leading goal contributor (10 goals, five assists).
But it’s Newtown frontman, Aaron Williams who is the league’s top goal scorer with 12 goals, and keeper Andrew Wycherley, along with TNS’ Connor Roberts, is one of four shot-stoppers with six clean sheets.
Newtown won eight consecutive games from the start of September, but a loss at Cardiff Met, followed by last weekend’s draw against Haverfordwest County has slowed the Robins’ momentum.
The champions have won their last four games against Newtown, bagging 17 goals in the process, whilst Chris Hughes’ clan have only scored one goal in their last seven home games against The New Saints.
League form:
Newtown: ➖❌✅✅✅
The New Saints: ✅✅✅✅✅
All goals can be viewed on Sgorio’s online accounts, and all the weekend’s highlights will be on Sgorio on Monday night at 9:35 on S4C.