After four consecutive away fixtures in all competitions, Aberystwyth Town finally return to Park Avenue with their eyes set on a famous victory over reigning Genero Adran Premier champions Cardiff City on Sunday.
Gavin Allen’s side, who currently sit fifth in the league table, will hope to build on the positives shown during their last meeting with the Bluebirds which ended in a goalless draw in September.
That is the only game which City have dropped points in this term, having won all of their other seven league matches to sit six points clear at the top of the table as the only remaining unbeaten side. Iain Darbyshire’s side have won their last 10 games in all competitions, keeping clean sheets in the last five.
There were contrasting fortunes for the two clubs in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup last weekend, with the Bluebirds defeating Pontypridd United to reach the semi-finals but Aberystwyth losing a penalty shootout to The New Saints.
Should Cardiff City slip up at Park Avenue, third-place Swansea City will hope to make up ground on the league leaders in their trip to Barry Town United.
The Swans defeated fellow high-flying side Wrexham 2-1 in their last league outing and have been in free-scoring form in cup action in recent weeks – netting 19 across victories against Llandudno and Cascade in the Genero Adran Trophy and Bute Energy Welsh Cup.
It will be a first game in almost a month for Barry, who sit sixth in the table – six points above the relegation zone. Consistency has been an issue for Stevie McCarthy-Campbell’s side, with wins over Cardiff Met and Pontypridd United each followed by defeats to Cardiff City and Aberystwyth respectively.
It was Swansea who prevailed 3-0 in the reverse fixture in September, with Sammy Wynne scoring in the first half before second half own goals from Nia Davies and Chloe Jones.
If recent memory is anything to go by, the fixture between The New Saints and Cardiff Met should be thrilling encounter at Park Hall. The Saints overcame Met 5-4 at Cyncoed Campus on the final day of last season before a thrilling 4-4 draw in the capital earlier this season.
This will be TNS’ sixth successive home game in all competitions and their current winning streak at Park Hall will be tough to break.
Greg Draper’s side sit fourth in the Genero Adran Premier table and have also recently progressed in domestic cup competitions with a penalty shootout victory over Aberystwyth in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup followed by a 9-0 victory over Rhyl 1879 in the Genero Adran Trophy.
Back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Wrexham and Cardiff City have left Cardiff Met requiring a turnaround in form if they are to achieve a top half finish.
Daniel Delahey’s side are currently sixth in the table – five points behind TNS in fourth – meaning a defeat on Sunday would leave them in a precarious position. They can, however, take confidence from a 10-0 win over Coed Duon In the Genero Adran Trophy a fortnight ago.
