Preview this weekend’s key matches across the JD Cymru Leagues, with implications at both ends of the league tables.
JD Cymru Premier – Aberystwyth Town v Penybont (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Current JD Cymru Premier leaders Penybont travel to bottom-of-the-table Aberystwyth Town on Saturday, in the hosts’ first match since the departure of Anthony Williams.
Williams resigned as Aber boss following a 3-0 defeat to Connah’s Quay Nomads last Friday, citing the squad’s recent injury crisis as a key factor in his decision. The Seasiders are currently on an eight-match losing streak in the league, have won just once all season and are six points adrift of safety.
Penybont moved five points clear at the top of the table with a 4-1 comeback victory over Barry Town United last weekend, while The New Saints’ midweek defeat to Caernarfon means that Bont currently cannot be caught at the summit even if TNS win their three games in hand.
Rhys Griffiths’ side have already beaten Aber this season as five different players found the net in a 5-1 victory at the SDM Glass Stadium in August, while they are unbeaten in their last six visits to Park Avenue.
JD Cymru North – Llandudno v Llay Miners Welfare (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Crucial points are up for grabs as Llandudno and Llay Miners Welfare, both currently in the JD Cymru North relegation zone, meet at the Go Goodwins Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides currently sit on six points, but that is only one point adrift of safety so victory for either team could lift them out of the bottom three.
Llandudno have won just one of their opening 10 matches and are winless in their last seven, with a tendency to concede stoppage time goals continually proving to be their undoing. The Seasiders were beaten 3-1 by Holywell Town last weekend.
Welfare have also earned just one win so far following promotion from the Ardal North West, beating Caersws 1-0 in mid-September. Phil Hudson’s side built on that victory in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Penrhyncoch, only to suffer a 4-2 loss to Flint Mountain last weekend.
The only previous meeting between the two teams came in the 2021/22 JD Welsh Cup third round when Shaun Cavanagh’s hat-trick inspired a 4-2 win for Llandudno.
JD Cymru South – Trethomas Bluebirds v Afan Lido (Friday, 7:45pm)
Struggling Afan Lido begin a new era when they travel to third-place Trethomas Bluebirds on Friday night.
A 3-0 defeat to Baglan Dragons last Friday spelled the end of Paul Evans’ six year tenure as manager, with former Pontardawe Town boss Garry Taylor announced as his successor on Wednesday. Lido currently find themselves second bottom of the table, with just one win from their opening 10 matches of the campaign.
After a superb start to the season following promotion from the Ardal South East, Trethomas Bluebirds have now only won one of their last six league matches and a 2-0 defeat away at Carmarthen Town last weekend saw them slip from top spot for the first time since August.
However, Mark Dunford’s side would return to the summit with victory on Friday, before Cambrian United and Carmarthen Town face away trips on Saturday.
