Another decisive weekend awaits as we enter the business end of the season. Here are the key matches to keep an eye on.
JD Cymru Premier – Bala Town v Connah’s Quay Nomads (Friday, 7:45pm)
The race for European qualification continues in the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference as third-placed Bala Town host second-placed Connah’s Quay Nomads at Maes Tegid on Friday night.
Both sides recorded vital victories last weekend as George Newell’s clinical hat-trick steered the Lakesiders to an emphatic 5-1 victory over Newtown whereas the Nomads survived a late scare to overcame Cardiff Met 2-1 at The Essity Stadium.
Neil Gibson’s side currently hold a 13-point lead over Bala, so another three points for Friday’s visitors would put them on the brink of securing their place in Europe for the second consecutive season.
The Nomads have won their last six matches on the road, whereas Colin Caton’s team have only won of their last six league games at Maes Tegid.
Jon Rushton’s own goal gave Bala a narrow 1-0 win over the Nomads in August before the sides played out a fiery 1-1 draw in October as Jack Kenny cancelled out Osebi Abadaki’s opening strike.
JD Cymru Premier – The New Saints v Cardiff Met (Saturday, 12:45pm)
If the Nomads fail to win at Maes Tegid on Friday, The New Saints will clinch the JD Cymru Premier title for a 16th time if they triumph over Cardiff Met at Park Hall the following day.
Craig Harrison’s side took a huge step towards the trophy with a dominant 8-1 victory over Caernarfon Town last Friday, which maintained their 17 point lead at the top of the table with just seven matches remaining. The Saints have won their last 23 games in all competitions.
Cardiff Met are still searching for their first win of phase two after draws against Bala Town and Caernarfon Town and defeat to Connah’s Quay Nomads so far. The Archers sit fourth in the table, five points behind Bala in third.
Red cards for Met in both phase one meetings between the two sides allowed TNS to canter to 5-1 and 8-0 victories, but the Archers were the only side to defeat the Saints in the JD Cymru Premier last season.
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JD Cymru North – Caersws v Flint Town United (Saturday, 2pm)
Caersws and Flint Town United meet on Saturday afternoon in a game that could have implications at both ends of the table.
A six-game winless run, which includes four defeats, means that the Bluebirds have been slowly sliding into a relegation battle in recent weeks.
Craig Harris’ late equaliser salvaged a draw against Gresford Athletic last weekend, but Porthmadog’s back-to-back victories mean that the Bluebirds are now just three points above the relegation zone in 12th place.
Meanwhile, third-place Flint Town United got their title bid back on track with a 4-2 victory over Bangor 1876 last weekend. The Silkmen sit four points behind leaders Airbus UK Broughton with two games in hand, but are also chasing down Holywell Town.
An entertaining second half saw goals from Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro, Sol Forde and Elliott Reeves earn a 3-2 win for Flint against Caersws in September’s reverse fixture.
JD Cymru South – Pontardawe Town v Abertillery Bluebirds (Saturday, 2pm)
The fight for survival in the JD Cymru South continues as struggling Pontardawe Town host relegation rivals Abertillery Bluebirds at Parc Ynysderw.
Joe Lloyd rescued a point for Ponty in a crazy 4-4 draw with Goytre United in their last outing, but four consecutive losses prior to that result leaves them level on 22 points with 14th-placed Llantwit Major.
Garry Taylor’s side have a game in hand over the Major and two games in hand on Saturday’s opponents Abertillery Bluebirds, so a win this weekend could be pivotal for the rest of their season as they aim to stay in the division.
The Bluebirds looked down and out in the first half of the season, but a surprise 2-0 victory over fourth-placed Carmarthen Town last weekend has given them a slim hope of pulling off the great escape. Another victory for Josh Anderson’s side would leave them just five points adrift of safety.
Rhys Thomas bagged a last-gasp equaliser as the Bluebirds shared the points with Ponty in a tense 2-2 draw back in September.
