A crucial weekend awaits in the JD Cymru Leagues, with the final game of phase one upon us in the top-flight plus plenty of enticing match ups in the second tier. Here are the key games to watch.
JD Cymru Premier – Cardiff Met v Caernarfon Town (Saturday, 5:15pm)
Caernarfon Town sit in pole position to claim the final spot in the JD Cymru Premier top six ahead of their matchday 22 visit to Cardiff Met,.
The Cofis are currently sixth in the table, two points ahead of seventh-place Haverfordwest County, so victory at Cyncoed would confirm their place in the Championship Conference.
Following back-to-back losses against the Bluebirds and The New Saints, a 2-1 win over Colwyn Bay on New Year’s Eve earned Caernarfon a crucial three points but the job is not done yet.
Hosts Cardiff Met have already confirmed their place in the top six, but are winless in their last four matches and have also failed to score in that time.
It has been a tricky start to 2024 for the Archers, as they suffered penalty shootout heartbreak against Swansea City in their Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final before they were hit for eight by JD Cymru Premier leaders The New Saints last weekend.
Sion Bradley stole the show when these two sides last met back in October as his hat-trick inspired the Cofis to a dominant 5-1 victory at The Oval.
Watch Cardiff Met v Caernarfon Town live on S4C and Sgorio’s online platforms.
JD Cymru Premier – Haverfordwest County v Bala Town (Saturday, 5:15pm)
If Caernarfon drop points in the capital, Haverfordwest County will leapfrog them into the top six if they win at home against Bala Town.
A place in the top half looked to be a tough ask for the Bluebirds following a tricky start to the season, but they have lost just one of their last eight league games to claw themselves back into contention.
However, it will not be an easy task for Tony Pennock’s side on Saturday evening as third-place Bala are one of the most in-form teams in the division, winning three of their last four matches.
A double from George Newell earned the Lakesiders a 2-0 victory when Haverfordwest visited Maes Tegid in October.
JD Cymru Premier – Colwyn Bay v Pontypridd United (Saturday, 5:15pm)
There will also be eyes on the bottom of the table this weekend as the two sides currently in the JD Cymru Premier relegation zone face off.
Colwyn Bay dropped into the bottom two after a 1-0 defeat away to Aberystwyth Town last Friday and Steve Evans’ side are desperate to halt their run of poor form which has seen them lose their last five league games in succession.
Pontypridd United are rooted to the bottom of the table following their six point deduction for breaching FAW rules and they now begin life without Andrew Stokes after his resignation last week.
The Dragons were boosted by a 2-0 Boxing Day win over Aberystwyth Town, but they are five points adrift of safety after a 1-0 defeat to Penybont on New Year’s Eve.
Bay will be hoping to replicate their performance from their last meeting with Pontypridd in November, when goals from Udi Akpan, Tom McCready and Jamie Cumming secured a 3-0 victory at USW Sports Park.
JD Cymru North – Prestatyn Town v Porthmadog (Saturday, 2pm)
Prestatyn Town and Porthmadog will both be looking to edge away from the JD Cymru North relegation zone when they meet at Bastion Gardens on Saturday afternoon.
Prestatyn are currently 13th in the table, two points above the bottom three, having failed to win any of their last five league games. They missed a huge opportunity to end that run on Tuesday night, but squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against Llandudno.
Porthmadog are one point better off in 12th place, having not since October. They have suffered four consecutive league defeats, most recently being outdone by a hat-trick from Ruthin Town’s Soulayman El-Amri in a 3-2 loss last weekend.
It was actually the reverse fixture that was Porthmadog’s last league win, with goals from Rhys Alun Williams, Danny Brookwell and Shaun Cavanagh sealing a 3-1 victory.
JD Cymru South – Cambrian & Clydach Vale v Carmarthen Town (Friday, 7:30pm)
It’s the meeting of two in-form JD Cymru South teams this weekend when Cambrian & Clydach Vale face Carmarthen Town at the M&P Group 3G.
Sixth-place Cambrian have lost just one of their last six games and kept a first clean sheet in the league since November in their 2-0 away win at Baglan Dragons last weekend.
Third-place Carmarthen Town are unbeaten in their last six games, but will aim to return to winning ways following successive home draws against Pontardawe Town and Goytre United.
Mark Aizlewood’s side have lost the fewest games in the JD Cymru South this season (two), but it is their league-high draws (seven) that has left them nine points behind leaders Briton Ferry Llansawel in the title race.
Strikes from Mason Jones-Thomas and Jordan Langley gave Carmarthen a 2-0 victory over the Cam Army in the reverse league fixture back in October.
