The penultimate weekend of the season is upon us, with plenty still to be decided across the JD Cymru Leagues. Here are the key games to watch.
JD Cymru Premier – Haverfordwest County v Colwyn Bay (Saturday, 12:45pm)
Play-off chasing Haverfordwest County host relegation-threatened Colwyn Bay at Ogi Bridge Meadow in a match that will have implications at both ends of the Play-off Conference.
The Bluebirds came from behind to triumph 2-1 over Barry Town United last weekend – their third consecutive win – and they will confirm seventh place and a play-off spot if they better eighth-place Penybont’s result away at Pontypridd United later in the day.
Colwyn Bay won for the first time in phase two last weekend as they defeated Pontypridd 2-1 and they are now just two points adrift of safety.
However, defeat for Steve Evans’ side in Pembrokeshire and a win for Aberystwyth Town away at Barry Town United later in the day would send the Seagulls down.
Martell Taylor-Crossdale scored a late winner to seal a 2-1 victory for Haverfordwest over the Bay back in September before the Bluebirds forward haunted the Seagulls again, netting a hat-trick in a convincing 5-0 home win. The reverse fixture in phase two ended goalless.
JD Cymru Premier – Cardiff Met v The New Saints (Saturday, 2:30pm)
JD Cymru Premier champions The New Saints continue their quest for an invincible league campaign when they travel to Cyncoed Campus to face Cardiff Met, who were the only side to defeat Craig Harrison’s side in the league last season.
The Saints secured the league title at the start of March and are on a magnificent run of 24 consecutive wins in the division, last dropping points in September.
A 7-1 win over Caernarfon Town last weekend took TNS over the 100 league goals mark for the campaign, before they following it up with a 4-1 victory over Bala Town in midweek.
Met will be hoping to replicate their heroic home win over the Saints last season, but they are desperately searching for form as the European play-offs approach.
The Archers have only won once in their last 12 league matches and were convincingly beaten 3-0 at home by Connah’s Quay Nomads last weekend.
Ryan Jenkins’ side took a 2-0 lead against TNS in the JD Welsh Cup semi-final last month before going on to lose 6-2, while Harrison’s men have also won all three previous league meetings between the sides this season.
JD Cymru North – Denbigh Town v Bangor 1876 (Friday, 7:30pm)
Denbigh Town and Bangor have both enjoyed impressive campaigns in the JD Cymru North following promotion from the Ardal North West last season.
Both sides are guaranteed to finish in the top six, with Denbigh currently in sixth place and Bangor one point better off in fifth.
Dewi Llion’s side recorded their biggest ever victory in the second tier last weekend as Owen Davies’ hat-trick inspired them to a 7-0 triumph at already-relegated Llanidloes Town to end their four-match winless streak.
Bangor have three wins in their last four games, but talisman Corrig McGonigle is enduring his worst goal drought of the season having not found the net in his last three matches.
Denbigh have only been beaten twice at home in the league this season, but Bangor have only lost once away from home against teams below them in the table.
Michael Johnston’s side edged past Denbigh in August’s reverse league fixture as first half goals from Sam Jones and Jamie Petrie sealed a 2-1 victory at Nantporth.
JD Cymru South – Goytre United v Llantwit Major (Saturday, 2:30pm)
With Briton Ferry Llansawel clinching the JD Cymru South title in midweek, all eyes are now on the relegation battle.
Goytre United have confirmed their safety with three consecutive wins in the last 10 days – an impressive 2-1 victory over title hopefuls Llanelli Town, a late 1-0 triumph away at Llantwit Major and a 6-2 thrashing of Caerau Ely.
They now face Llantwit Major again, with Ben Stait’s side still in the thick of the battle to avoid the drop. They currently sit two points above the bottom three, but have played one game more than 14th-place Pontardawe Town.
Besides Goyt’s 1-0 win last weekend which was secured by a 94th-minute penalty from Keane Watts, the other meeting between these two sides this season came in the Nathaniel MG Cup first round as Danny Woolfenden scored twice in a 2-1 victory for the Major.
