A full JD Cymru Leagues schedule returns this weekend, with plenty of key games to keep an eye on as we enter the business end of the season.
JD Cymru Premier – Aberystwyth Town v Newtown (Saturday, 12:15pm)
Aberystwyth Town and Newtown are the only two ever-presents in the JD Cymru Premier’s 33-year history, but both teams find themselves in the bottom two ahead of their meeting at Park Avenue on Saturday – live on Sgorio.
Aberystwyth, who may also have one eye on next weekend’s Nathaniel MG Cup final, are rooted to the foot of the standings and eight points adrift of safety. A 3-2 win away at Briton Ferry Llansawel at the start of February will have boosted confidence, but they followed that up with a 2-0 defeat against Flint Town United.
Newtown are four points better off than Aber but four points adrift of safety following a worrying winless streak of 13 league matches which stretches back to October. Callum McKenzie’s side have shown signs of improvement with two draws in the first three games of Phase Two, but they must start picking up victories to survive.
Jason Oswell scored twice as Newtown earned a 4-1 win over Aberystwyth at Latham Park on the opening night of the season, but the Seasiders triumphed 3-1 in Phase One’s reverse fixture at Park Avenue in November.
JD Cymru Premier – Barry Town United v Connah’s Quay Nomads (Saturday, 2:30pm)
The top two in the JD Cymru Premier Play-Off Conference meet on Saturday as Barry Town United host Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Barry have started Phase Two with two wins and a draw to move eight points clear of the Nomads and victory at Jenner Park would put them within touching distance of securing the final European play-off spot.
The Nomads, who progressed to the JD Welsh Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Caerau Ely last weekend, have lost five of their last six league games and may even get dragged into the relegation battle if they are beaten at Jenner Park.
Barry won both meetings in Phase One, scoring late on to secure the three points on both occasions. Ollie Hulbert struck in the 89th minute to seal a 2-1 victory at the Essity Stadium in September, before Ieuan Owen’s 88th-minute goal earned a 3-2 win at Jenner Park in November.
JD Cymru North – Ruthin Town v Denbigh Town (Saturday, 2pm)
Ruthin Town will be hoping to boost their survival hopes in the JD Cymru North when they host Vale of Clwyd rivals Denbigh Town at Maes Tegid on Saturday afternoon.
Dave Evans’ side have won just one of their last 11 league matches, form which has seen them slip into the relegation zone and three points adrift of a safety – with 13th-place Caersws holding two games in hand. Ruthin lost 1-0 to fellow strugglers Prestatyn Town in their last outing, a result which could prove costly.
It has been a tricky week for Denbigh, who were beaten in the JD Welsh Cup quarter-finals last Saturday by a stoppage time goal for Llanelli Town before they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Flint Mountain on Tuesday. The Reds are currently 10th in the JD Cymru North table but will be targeting a top half finish.
Over 1,000 fans were in attendance at Central Park for the reverse derby encounter on Boxing Day, as Ruthin substitute Josh Evans equalised in the third minute of stoppage time in a 2-2 draw.
JD Cymru South – Trethomas Bluebirds v Caerau Ely (Friday, 7:45pm)
After a historic first JD Welsh Cup quarter-final last weekend, it’s back to league action for Caerau Ely on Friday night as they travel to Trethomas Bluebirds.
The Young Guns gave a good account of themselves in a 2-0 home loss to Connah’s Quay Nomads last Sunday, but that was a seventh defeat in their last eight matches in all competitions so Dean Wheeler will be keen to turn his side’s form around in the final two months of the campaign
Having led the JD Cymru South for much of the season, Trethomas Bluebirds now find themselves in second place and two points behind leaders Llanelli Town with seven games to play. Mark Dunford’s side are unbeaten in their last eight matches but have drawn the last three, so will hope to return to winning ways back on home turf.
Caerau Ely’s Brandon Griffiths scored a 90th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw between the sides in the league in August, before the Young Guns earned a 1-0 win when they met again four days later in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup.
