It is a reduced JD Cymru Leagues schedule this weekend, but there is still plenty to play for. Here are this weekend’s key matches.
JD Cymru Premier – Caernarfon Town v Cardiff Met (Saturday, 2:30pm)
The only top-flight game of the weekend sees Caernarfon Town host Cardiff Met on Saturday afternoon.
While automatic European qualification for both sides is unlikely, the fight for fourth place remains important as it will secure home advantage in the play-offs.
Caernarfon are in impressive form, having picked up seven points from their last three matches to climb to fourth in the table. Last weekend, they produced a stellar performance to triumph 2-1 over bogey side Connah’s Quay Nomads.
With third-place Bala Town in JD Welsh Cup semi-final action on Saturday, Richard Davies’ side can close the gap to just five points on the Lakesiders with victory over Met.
The Archers are on a 10-game winless streak and have lost their last four matches in succession while scoring just once. A 1-0 home defeat to Bala Town means they remain in sixth place.
Met are without a win in their last nine league games against Caernarfon, with a Sion Bradley hat-trick inspiring the Cofis to a 5-1 win when Ryan Jenkins’ side last visited the Oval in October. The two sides then played out consecutive 2-2 draws in January and February.
JD Cymru North – Llanidloes Town v Flint Town United (Saturday, 2pm)
Flint Town United and Llanidloes Town played out the highest-scoring game since the formation of the JD Cymru North when the Silkmen triumphed 9-4 at the Essity Stadium earlier this season.
Saturday’s reverse fixture at Victoria Park is crucial at both ends of the division as the campaign enters the business end.
Llanidloes have won just two league games all season and have lost their last seven, leaving them 16 points adrift of safety. A 3-0 defeat away at Buckley Town on Wednesday night means their survival hopes are hanging by a thread.
In contrast, third-place Flint continue to be locked in the title race with Holywell Town and Airbus UK Broughton. The Silkmen currently sit five points behind the table-topping Wellmen with both sides having five matches left to play.
Lee Fowler’s are hitting form at just the right time. They have won their last four matches – thrashing Ruthin Town 7-0 last weekend – with attacking duo Josh Jones and Elliott Reeves forming a lethal partnership that has seen them share 13 goal contributions in the last four matches.
JD Cymru South – Ammanford v Llanelli Town (Friday, 7:30pm)
Two of the three JD Cymru South title contenders meet in a mouth-watering clash on Friday night as Ammanford host Llanelli Town.
The Reds currently sit top of the table, while third-place Ammanford are eight points behind with a game in hand. Briton Ferry Llansawel sit in between in second, two points behind Llanelli but also with a game in hand.
Ethan Cann’s goal secured a narrow 1-0 derby win for Llanelli against Carmarthen Town last weekend, the perfect response to a 3-1 defeat to Cwmbran Celtic three days earlier.
Ammanford’s eight-match unbeaten run (of which they won seven) came to an end last weekend as Afan Lido triumphed 4-2 at the Rec. Another defeat would all but end their title hopes.
Late goals from Mark Jones and the division’s top scorer Lewis Reed earned Ammanford a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Llanelli in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day.
JD Cymru South – Llantwit Major v Pontardawe Town (Saturday, 2pm)
There is also a huge encounter at the bottom of the JD Cymru South table as Llantwit Major and Pontardawe Town meet at Lon Melin Wynt on Saturday.
The two clubs currently sit level on 26 points, with the Major in the relegation zone courtesy of their worse difference – while they have also played one extra game.
Following three consecutive wins in January, Ben Stait’s side have won just two of their last six matches and conceded a 90th-minute equaliser to draw with Cwmbran Celtic last weekend.
The Major have picked up 13 points from the last 15 available on home turf, but if the league table was based on away results only then Pontardawe would be in the top half.
A run of just one win in their last eight matches has seen Ponty dragged into the relegation battle and they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Trefelin last weekend.
Tyler Aylward scored twice and set up teenager Rio Booth as Pontardawe came from behind to secure a 3-2 victory over Major back in December.
