There is midweek action in the Novira Cymru Premier for the first time this season, with seven games to look forward to on Tuesday night. Here are the key encounters to keep an eye on.
Llandudno vs Caernarfon Town (7:45pm)
A perfect home record is put to the test against a perfect away record as Llandudno host Caernarfon Town at the Go Goodwins Stadium.
Llandudno have been the best performing newly-promoted team in the Novira Cymru Premier so far as they sit sixth in the table on 15 points. The Seasiders have won all four of their home games, but will be hoping to bounce back from a heavy 4-1 loss away to Barry Town United last Friday – their third consecutive defeat on the road.
Caernarfon finished August with a narrow 3-2 defeat against champions The New Saints, but Richard Davies’ side have started September in style so far with a 3-0 victory over Flint Town United followed by a 5-0 win at Ammanford. That result at the Rec saw the Cofis climb up to third in the table, claim their fourth straight away win and equal their biggest ever victory on the road in the top-flight.Â
This will be the first meeting between Llandudno and Caernarfon since the 2018/19 Novira Cymru Premier season, where both teams could not be separated in 3-3 and 1-1 draws. Caernarfon forward Sion Bradley scored three goals across those two games.Â
Llandudno v Caernarfon Town
Penybont v Briton Ferry Llansawel (7:45pm)
Penybont will look to maintain their unbeaten record in the Novira Cymru Premier when they host Briton Ferry Llansawel at the DragonBet Stadium.Â
Penybont are one of two teams with an unbeaten record still intact, along with league leaders The New Saints. Rhys Griffiths’ side squandered leads in draws to Flint Town United and Cambrian United at the end of August, but have started September with a pair of 1-0 wins against Colwyn Bay and Trefelin, which has lifted them up to fourth in the table. Bont will now be hoping to keep three consecutive clean sheets for the first time in over two years.Â
Briton Ferry lost only one of their first four games of the campaign, 1-0 away at TNS, but it has since been a tricky period for the Reds as they are currently on a four-match losing streak – slipping to 12th-place as a result. Corey Hurford put Ferry ahead against Haverfordwest County last Friday, but a collapse in the closing stages of the second half saw them fall to a 3-1 defeat.Â
The two sides met four times across all competitions last season. Ferry triumphed on penalties in a Nathaniel MG Cup third round tie following a 2-2 draw, before the two teams played out a goalless draw in the first league clash. Bont were convincing 5-0 winners in the FAW Welsh Cup and that proved to be the only time both sides were separated as Ferry captain Alex Gammond scored a second half penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw in the reverse league fixture.
Penybont v Briton Ferry Llansawel
Trefelin v Cambrian United (7:45pm)
After battling for the Novira Cymru South title last season, Trefelin and Cambrian United will reignite their rivalry in the top-flight at Elsey Creative Ynys Park.
It was Trefelin who were ultimately promoted as champions last term, two points ahead of Cambrian, but Andy Hill’s side are still yet to win in the Novira Cymru Premier and currently sit 14th in the table with just two points to their name. However, after starting the season with four straight defeats, Tref’s encounters have been much closer of late – they have picked up 1-1 draws against Ammanford and Holywell while only losing by one goal against Haverfordwest County (2-1) and Penybont (1-0).
Cambrian have adapted to life in the top-flight much more comfortably, losing only two of their opening eight matches. The Rhondda side, who currently sit 10th in the table, were 2-1 winners over Holywell Town on Friday night to make it three straight games unbeaten. Only Caernarfon Town’s Zack Clarke (nine) has scored more league goals than Liam Eason (six) so far this term.
Cambrian triumphed 4-0 in the clubs’ most recent encounter in March, ending Trefelin’s run of four consecutive victories in meetings between the two sides.
