Phase two of the JD Cymru Premier campaign begins this weekend, while the battle at both ends of the tables continue in the JD Cymru North and JD Cymru South. Here are the key games to watch.
JD Cymru Premier – Bala Town v Cardiff Met (Saturday, 2:30pm)
The race for European football hots up as the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference gets under way, with a third-place finish this season potentially enough to secure a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
It is Bala Town who currently occupy that position following an impressive end to phase one. The Lakesiders have won five of their last seven league matches, including a dramatic 3-2 away victory at Haverfordwest County in their most recent outing.
Met are three points worse off in fourth place, having suffered a post-Christmas slump. Ryan Jenkins’ side failed to win any of their last four matches of phase one, conceding 13 goals in the process.
However, the Archers have a strong recent record against Bala – winning eight and losing just three of their last 16 matches against Colin Caton’s men. They are also the only side to defeat the Lakesiders in the last three months, as Eliot Evans’ first half strike secured a 1-0 victory at Maes Tegid in mid-December.
JD Cymru North – Llandudno v Llanidloes Town (Saturday, 2pm)
Buoyed by only their second league win of the season last weekend, Llanidloes Town will aim to continue their unlikely survival bid when they travel to Llandudno.
Connor Bird’s goal earned a 1-0 victory for the Daffs away at Porthmadog a week ago, which ended an eight-game winless streak and took them to within eight points of safety with games in hand over the teams above them.
Llandudno are the only other side that Llanidloes have beaten in the JD Cymru North this term, as Jamie Breese’s stoppage-time winner saw them triumph 3-2 over the Seasiders In September.
Jordan Hadaway’s side would go on to earn revenge with a 3-1 win in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup in November, a competition they reached the Northern final of last weekend.
That was courtesy of a penalty shootout victory over Prestatyn Town, but their league form has been lacking in recent weeks. A run of five defeats in six matches means Llandudno currently sit 12th, four points above the drop zone.
JD Cymru South – Afan Lido v Carmarthen Town (Friday, 7:30pm)
It is fourth versus second in the JD Cymru South on Friday night as an out-of-form Afan Lido side host Carmarthen Town.
Lido are still searching for their first points of 2024, having suffered consecutive defeats to Llanelli Town, Baglan Dragons and Llantwit Major in January to fall 12 points league leaders Briton Ferry Llansawel.
Carmarthen have capitalised on the Reds’ poor form by leapfrogging them in the table. Seven points from a possible 12 in January saw Mark Aizlewood’s team climb to second – six points behind Ferry having played two games more.
Ten-man Lido staged a stunning comeback against Carmarthen in September’s reverse league fixture as goals from Josh Webber, Liam Griffiths and Carlos Indjai – all scored from the 88th minute onwards – salvaged a 3-3 draw after they found themselves three goals down.
