Phase Two begins in the JD Cymru Premier this weekend, while many clubs are into their final 10 matches in the second tier. Here are the key games to keep an eye on.
JD Cymru Premier – Newtown v Briton Ferry Llansawel (Friday, 7:45pm)
Phase Two begins in the JD Cymru Premier with a key clash in the relegation battle as Newtown host Briton Ferry Llansawel at Latham Park on Friday night.
Newtown currently sit in the drop zone after ending Phase One on a seven-match losing streak, while they have not won since victory away at Caernarfon Town on October 12. However, a win on Friday would see them leapfrog Briton Ferry who sit just two points better off in ninth place.
The Reds ended Phase One with an emphatic 6-1 win away at Aberystwyth Town to climb out of the bottom two, with Tom Walters scoring twice to make it four goals in four matches for the striker.
Aaron Williams’ goal earned Newtown a 1-0 win when the two sides met at Latham Park in Phase One, but Ferry got revenge at Old Road as a 107th-minute winner from captain Alex Gammond completed a 2-1 comeback victory.
JD Cymru Premier – Caernarfon Town v The New Saints (Friday, 7:45pm)
Reigning JD Cymru Premier champions and current league leaders The New Saints begin their Championship Conference campaign away to Caernarfon Town on Friday night, live on Sgorio.
Craig Harrison’s side were 15 points ahead at the top of the table at the start of Phase Two last season, but this time around they sit just one point better off than second-place Penybont. The Saints went into the split in some of their best form of the campaign, winning five consecutive league games.
Caernarfon confirmed their place in the top six thanks to back-to-back wins over Bala Town and Flint Town United at the end of Phase One and will now have their sights set on qualifying for Europe for the second year in a row.
Friday night will be an instant return to The Oval for Zack Clarke, who joined TNS from the Cofis earlier this month – while Josh Lock, Blaine Hudson and Jake Canavan have all headed in the other direction on loan.
Caernarfon were one of four teams to beat TNS in Phase One as Louis Lloyd netted a late winner in a 2-1 victory in October, before the Saints triumphed 5-2 at The Oval on Boxing Day as Ben Clark and Jack Bodenham both scored twice.
JD Cymru North – Flint Mountain v Colwyn Bay (Friday, 7:45pm)
JD Cymru North title-challengers Colwyn Bay will be aiming to make it 16 consecutive league wins when they visit Flint Mountain on Friday night.
The Seagulls scored three times in the opening 14 minutes in a 3-1 victory over Buckley Town last weekend and another win on Friday would put them just one point behind league leaders Airbus UK Broughton ahead of the Wingmakers’ clash away at reigning champions Holywell Town on Saturday.
A trip to the Essity Stadium will not be straightforward though, as Flint Mountain emphatically triumphed 7-0 away at Gresford Athletic last weekend – their third win in four matches which lifted them up to sixth in the table.
Goals from Craig Lindfield and Jamie Cumming saw Colwyn Bay come from behind to triumph 2-1 in the reverse league fixture in November.
JD Cymru South – Newport City v Llanelli Town (Friday, 7:30pm)
Newport City are the only team to beat Llanelli Town in the JD Cymru South so far this season, so the Steelmen will be eyeing a memorable league double over the Reds when they meet at Newport Stadium on Friday night.
It was Louis Phillips’ 96th-minute goal which gave Newport a stunning 3-2 win over Llanelli in October, after they trailed 2-0 with 10 minutes played.
Lee John’s side have gone 14 matches unbeaten in all competitions since then and currently two points behind league leaders Trethomas Bluebirds. The Reds travel east off the back of four consecutive wins and clean sheets.
Sixth-place Newport also find themselves in a bright run of form having won four of their last five matches. Sam Houldsworth’s side claimed their biggest victory of the season last weekend as Lathan Garrett’s brace inspired a rampant 5-1 triumph at home against Afan Lido.
