A full JD Cymru Leagues schedule returns following cup action in recent weeks. Here are the key matches to watch.
JD Cymru Premier – Newtown v Caernarfon Town (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Unbeaten in their last three league matches, Chris Hughes’ Newtown will come up against a spirited Colwyn Bay side at Latham Park on Saturday afternoon. Both sides will be desperate for three points, but for different reasons.
A win for Newtown would boost their chances of a top six finish come the end of Phase One. However, if Bay were to prevail, they could see themselves move four points clear of the relegation zone depending on results elsewhere in the league.
Newtown’s star man and Cymru Premier top goalscorer Aaron Williams will be looking to continue his fine form in front of goal.
The striker finally got his league goal for November on Tuesday night in a 3-1 over Pontypridd but Williams and the Robins will know the situation Bay are in and how strong they will line up defensively, especially with the Seagulls knocking out Newtown on penalties in the JD Welsh Cup earlier in November.
Bay stormed to two crucial victories over Pontypridd and Penybont in recent weeks, but will hope to bounce back following their 3-2 defeat to Connah’s Quay Nomads on Wednesday night.
JD Cymru Premier – Penybont v Bala Town (Saturday, 5:15pm)
Penybont take on Bala Town at the SDM Glass Stadium in Sgorio’s live televised fixture this weekend and with those all-important top six places up for grabs, this one should be a tight affair.
A poor run of results for Penybont has seen them slip down to seventh in the table. A narrow 2-1 loss to Colwyn Bay in between 1-1 draws against Newtown and Barry Town United means Rhys Griffiths’ men require three points to bolster their chances of a top six finish and potentially leapfrog Bala depending on the scoreline.
Bala have had a real turnaround in form since the beginning of October. Just one loss from their last seven league outings has seen the Lakesiders jump to fifth and give themselves a great chance of finishing in the top six and ultimately return to the European stage.
Although they haven’t been on the losing side, Bala have certainly missed opportunities to strengthen their place in the top six with a 0-0 draw against strugglers Pontypridd and most recently a 1-1 draw at home to Caernarfon Town on Tuesday.
Bala came out 2-1 victors in the reverse fixture against Bont earlier in the season thanks to goals from George Newell and Naim Arsan. However, prior to that clash in September, the last three meetings between the two sides ended level.
JD Cymru North – Guilsfield v Holywell Town (Friday, 7:30pm)
Top of the table Holywell Town will travel to Clos Mytton to take on Guilsfield on Friday night. The Wellmen will be aiming to go three points clear at the top before their chasers Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town play on Saturday.
Johnny Haseldin’s side have been on form all season, scoring a minimum of two goals in nine of their first eleven league matches. They have not lost in JD Cymru North since April, but know they will have to put in another special performance to defeat a Guilsfield side who are also climbing the table.
Guils are set to play their first league fixture in over a month. They sit in seventh place and have four wins from their last five league matches.
However, during November, Nathan Leonard’s side suffered their first losses since September as they were knocked out of the JD Welsh Cup by Barry Town and beaten by Mold Alexandra in the Welsh Blood Service Cup.
JD Cymru North – Llanidloes Town v Flint Town United (Saturday, 2pm)
It was a spectacle the last time these two sides met in the JD Cymru North. It was just two weeks ago where we saw Flint defeat Llanidloes in a staggering 9-4 scoreline, the highest scoring game since the formation of the Cymru North.
Flint will be looking to build on the above result, their JD Welsh Cup penalty shootout win over Bangor and also their recent league victories against Porthmadog and Buckley Town as Lee Fowler’s side aim for top spot in the Cymru North.
At the other end of the table, Llanidloes sit on just five points in 15th place, but three points over Flint would be classed as a huge upset as they look to move away from the relegation zone as soon as possible and maintain their Cymru North status.
The Daffs’ only league victory this season came against Llandudno in a thrilling 3-2 encounter back in September, but they could not replicate that result in the Welsh Blood Service Cup last weekend as the Seasiders got their revenge, progressing with a 3-1 win.
JD Cymru South – Taffs Well v Afan Lido (Friday, 7:30pm)
Friday night’s stand out fixture in the JD Cymru South comes at Rhiw Dda’r where sixth-place Taffs Well take on third-place Afan Lido.
It remains tight between the table’s top six sides and although Afan Lido sit three places above Taffs Well, it has been Friday’s hosts who have had their number in recent years.
Since 2020, Taffs Well have won five, draw one and lost one against Afan Lido in all competitions and with The Wellmen having won their last four league matches, this is bound to be another tense battle.
Lido will be hoping to bounce back from back-to-back defeats against Llanelli Town – first in the JD Cymru South and then the Welsh Blood Service League Cup. They will be hoping for a slip up from Llanelli and Briton Ferry Llansawel this weekend as they look to close the gap at the top of the table.
JD Cymru South – Cwmbran Celtic v Briton Ferry Llansawel (Saturday, 2pm)
Cwmbran Celtic will be looking to bounce back from two late defeats to Afan Lido and Ammanford when they face another tough challenge, this time against second-place Briton Ferry who make the journey up to Celtic Park.
Celtic sit in eighth place knowing a win would take them closer to bettering last season’s fifth-place league finish. Striker Alex Bonthron will be looking to score in his fifth successive league match as Celtic aim to dent Ferry’s charge for top spot.
Briton Ferry are hoping for a favour from Cambrian and Clydach Vale, who take on leaders Llanelli. A Briton Ferry win and a slip up from Llanelli would see Ferry go top, but it certainly won’t be an easy ride on Saturday.
Ferry’s deadly duo Luke Bowen and Josh Bull could play a huge part for the visitors. Cwmbran Celtic have failed to keep a clean sheet in all of their matches so far this season so Bowen, Bull and the rest of the Ferry attack will have their eyes set on a fun evening in front of goal.
