A bumper bank holiday weekend of action in the JD Cymru Leagues kicks off with a packed Friday night schedule. Here are the key games to watch.
JD Cymru Premier – Llanelli Town v Briton Ferry Llansawel (Friday, 7:45pm)
After losing their opening two league matches of the season, Llanelli Town will be hoping to get off the mark when they host unbeaten Briton Ferry Llansawel at Stebonheath on Friday night, live on Sgorio.
It has been a challenging return to the top-flight for Lee John’s side, who were beaten 2-0 at home by Barry Town United on the opening weekend before a heavy 6-1 defeat away against Caernarfon Town last Saturday. However, the Reds can take hope from Ferry – who lost their first six games last season but turned their form around to stay up.
Llanelli Town v Briton Ferry
Andy Dyer’s team have had a much stronger start to the campaign this time around, earning a stunning 3-0 win away at champions The New Saints on the opening weekend before a 1-1 draw with Cardiff Met at home last Friday. Striker Ruben Davies is an early contender for the golden boot with three goals in the first two matches.
Ferry are unbeaten in the last six competitive meetings between the two sides, triumphing 5-2 at Stebonheath in the most recent encounter at the end of their 2023/24 title-winning campaign in the JD Cymru South.
JD Cymru Premier – Flint Town United v Caernarfon Town (Friday, 7:45pm)
Early JD Cymru Premier leaders Caernarfon Town travel to the Essity Stadium to face Flint Town United on Friday night.
After coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 away at Cardiff Met on the opening weekend of the campaign, the Cofis thrashed Llanelli Town 6-1 last weekend as Adam Davies scored a hat-trick. It was the most goals the club have scored in a top-flight game for two decades.
Flint finished last season with eight consecutive league wins at the Essity Stadium, so will have been frustrated to see their first home game of the campaign against Haverfordwest County postponed last weekend. Lee Fowler’s side drew 1-1 away at Bala Town on the opening weekend.
Caernarfon triumphed in both meetings between the teams last season as Matty Jones’ late strike secured a 2-1 away win, before the Cofis earned a 3-0 victory at The Oval.
JD Cymru North – Airbus UK Broughton v Newtown (Friday, 8pm)
Two of the early JD Cymru North title contenders meet on Friday night as Airbus UK Broughton host Newtown – both sides have three wins from three matches so far.
After missing out on the title of the final day of last season, Airbus have started the new campaign in blistering form – scoring eight goals and conceding none in their first three league matches to defeat Buckley Town, Holyhead Hotspur and Penrhyncoch. In-form George Peers has five of those goals.
Newtown have hit the ground running under new boss Nathan Leonard as they aim to make an immediate return to the top-flight, beating Ruthin Town and Penrhyncoch before a 3-1 win over Flint Mountain last weekend. New strike duo Jamie Hyne and Louis Jacobs have quickly struck up a strong partnership, scoring a combined five league goals so far.
The two sides last met in the JD Cymru Premier in 2022/23, playing out a thrilling 4-4 draw at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium before Newtown triumphed 2-1 at Latham Park in the reverse fixture.
Predict the outcome of Airbus UK Broughton v Newtown in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
JD Cymru South – Trethomas Bluebirds v Afan Lido (Friday, 7:45pm)
Trethomas Bluebirds boss Paul Evans welcomes his former club Afan Lido to the CCB Centre For Sporting Excellence on Friday night.
Evans has had three previous spells in charge of Lido, having also represented the club as a player, most recently calling time on a six-year period at the helm last October.
The 51-year-old took charge of Trethomas Bluebirds this summer, tasked with building almost an entire squad from scratch, but his team have taken just one point from three matches so far and suffered a 5-0 home defeat against early league leaders Cambrian United last weekend.
Lido, now managed by Garry Taylor, lost their opening two matches of the season without scoring against Newport City and Treowen Stars, but got off the mark with an emphatic 4-1 away win against Cwmbran Celtic last weekend.
Jon Hood scored the only goal as Lido beat the Bluebirds 1-0 in their last meeting in April, but the midfielder has since reunited with Evans at Trethomas alongside the likes of Ben Keen and Jay Thomas.
Predict the outcome of Trethomas Bluebirds v Afan Lido in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
