The Novira Cymru Leagues return this weekend with plenty to look forward to, including huge clashes at both ends of the Novira Cymru South table. Here are the key games to watch.
Novira Cymru Premier – Flint Town United vs Ammanford (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Flint Town United begin life in the Novira Cymru Premier without Lee Fowler as they host fellow winless side Ammanford at the Essity Stadium on Saturday.
Flint are the only non newly-promoted club without a league win to their name so far as they sit 15th in the table on just two points. The Silkmen were well beaten 5-0 by champions The New Saints last week before costly defensive errors resulted in a 4-1 defeat to Airbus UK Broughton last Friday. That Flintshire derby defeat was the final straw for Fowler as his four-year tenure at the club came to an end.
Monday’s club statement announcing Fowler’s departure said “results and performances over the opening 10 games of the season have fallen far short of expectations”. Flint are hoping this fresh change will bring what would be their first league victory at home in 2026 on Saturday.
Ammanford have also suffered a tricky first few months in the campaign as they currently sit in the bottom three along with Flint and Holywell Town. Callum Thomas’ late penalty gave Ammanford an impressive and hard-fought point in a 2-2 draw against fifth-place Barry Town United in their last away game, but Wyn Thomas’ side are now looking to bounce back from a 5-1 loss at home to Penybont last Friday.
Flint Town United vs Ammanford
Novira Cymru Premier – Colwyn Bay vs Haverfordwest County (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Colwyn Bay go searching for their fourth consecutive Novira Cymru Premier victory when they host fellow in-form side Haverfordwest County at the Blue Turtle Arena on Saturday.
Missed chances for Colwyn Bay in a 1-0 loss to Penybont at the start of September proved costly, but the Seagulls have soared in recent weeks with victories over Connah’s Quay Nomads (2-1), Holywell Town (5-0) and Barry Town United (5-2), which have lifted Michael Wilde’s side up to sixth in the table. Bay still have a perfect home record intact and are hoping Jordan Davies can provide a spark once again, with the striker contributing to five goals across those latest three wins.
Haverfordwest have put their poor start to the season well behind them as they are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak. Ben Ahmun’s first goal of the season saw the Bluebirds edge past Holywell Town 1-0 last Friday for their third straight home win and first clean sheet of the season.
Davies scored twice to give Colwyn Bay a 3-0 victory over Haverfordwest in last season’s first meeting between the two sides, but Haverfordwest hit back with a 1-0 triumph in the reverse fixture thanks to Rhys Abbruzzese’s decisive finish.
Colwyn Bay vs Haverfordwest County
Novira Cymru North – Brickfield Rangers vs Denbigh Town (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Eddie Maurice-Jones has made the perfect start to life as new Denbigh Town manager, and now his side aim to make another statement when they face Novira Cymru North leaders Brickfield Rangers at Clywedog Park on Saturday.
Maurice-Jones was appointed Denbigh boss following Dewi Llion’s departure just over two weeks ago and he marked his first game in charge with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Novira Cymru North title favourites Bala Town – Denbigh’s first home win of the season.
It seemed Maurice-Jones’ side were heading for an early FAW Welsh Cup exit as they trailed with nine men heading into the final 10 minutes against third tier Trearddur Bay last Saturday, but late goals from Harry Martin and Tom Kelly sealed a dramatic 2-1 win.
Brickfield maintained their two-point lead at the top of the table a fortnight ago with a 2-0 victory away to Caersws – their third consecutive league win by that scoreline. Gary Wilson’s side carried over their bright form into the FAW Welsh Cup as they came from behind to triumph 2-1 against Rhyl 1879 thanks to Andy Vale’s brace. Vale now has 11 goals in nine games across all competitions so far this season, while Brickfield are also now targeting an eighth consecutive home win.
Denbigh produced a second half comeback to earn a 2-1 win over Brickfield in January’s first meeting between the two sides last season, but Brickfield did not have to wait long for their revenge as Jay Richardson’s late strike sealed a 1-0 away victory in March’s reverse fixture.
Novira Cymru South – Aberystwyth Town vs Pure Swansea (Friday, 8:00pm)
The current top two in Novira Cymru South meet as Aberystwyth Town host leaders Pure Swansea at Park Avenue on Friday.
Aberystwyth won just once from their last nine league games last season, but an impressive summer of recruitment has paid off so far as Craig Williams’ side have won five out of their first five league matches. Aber had let a two-goal lead slip away to Caerphilly Athletic in their most recent league outing, but a late goal from 18-year-old Tarran Hollinshead secured a dramatic 3-2 win to lift the Seasiders up to the second in the table.
Pure Swansea sit just one point above Aberystwyth at the summit and they are the only team who remain unbeaten in the Novira Cymru South so far. The Swans would have been disappointed not to maintain a perfect record when they conceded two late goals in a thrilling 4-4 draw at the end of August, but they responded in style as Kyle Copp’s brace inspired a 4-0 win over Pontardawe Town in their only other league match this month.
Both teams had contrasting feelings in the FAW Welsh Cup last weekend as Aberystwyth progressed with a 2-0 win away to Menai Bridge Tigers, while Pure Swansea suffered their first domestic defeat of the season after losing 3-2 at home to Trethomas Bluebirds.
Novira Cymru South – Llantwit Major vs Llanelli Town (Saturday, 2:30pm)
The current bottom two teams in the Novira Cymru South also face off as Llantwit Major and Llanelli Town both search for their first league win of the season at UWL Stadium on Saturday.
Bottom-of-the-table Llantwit Major conceded 14 goals across their first four league losses, while only managing to find the net once during that time. Tom Tweedy’s early goal in a 1-1 draw away to Treowen Stars finally got Major off the mark and Karl Lewis’ side will also have many positives to build on after their 6-0 win over fourth tier Porthcawl Town last Saturday, inspired by Adam Roscrow’s hat-trick.
Llanelli have played three more games than Major, but are still only just one point above their opponents on Saturday. A number of departing faces at Stebonheath in the summer has seen Terry Boyle’s side endure a difficult opening period to the Novira Cymru South following their relegation from the top-flight, with their only two points gained so far coming in draws against Trethomas Bluebirds and Carmarthen Town last month.
Since their draw against local rivals Carmarthen, Llanelli have lost their last three games against Aberystwyth Town, Treowen Stars and Caerau Ely without scoring a single goal. The Reds have also claimed just one win away from home in the past year.
Llantwit Major and Llanelli last met each other in the 2024/25 Novira Cymru South. Nothing separated both teams in a 2-2 draw in the first league meeting that season, but Llanelli ran out 2-0 victors on home turf in the reverse fixture. Llanelli are unbeaten in the last five matches between the two sides and have scored a minimum of two goals on each occasion.
