After plenty of drama on Friday night, another packed day of JD Cymru Leagues action awaits on bank holiday Monday. Here are the key encounters to keep an eye on – including plenty of derbies.
JD Cymru Premier – Colwyn Bay v The New Saints (Monday, 2:30pm)
Another bumper crowd is expected at the Blue Turtle Arena on Monday as Colwyn Bay host JD Cymru Premier champions The New Saints.
Over 1,500 fans were in attendance at the ground as the Seagulls played out a 1-1 draw with Connah’s Quay Nomads on the opening weekend before back-to-back away games for Michael Wilde’s side saw them draw 1-1 against Barry Town United and narrowly lose 1-0 to Bala Town.
TNS may have suffered a shock 3-0 home defeat to Briton Ferry Llansawel on the opening weekend, but Craig Harrison’s side have bounced back with comfortable wins over Penybont (2-0) and Connah’s Quay Nomads (3-0) respectively.
The Saints were 4-1 winners in the most recent meeting between the two sides in the JD Welsh Cup last season and also triumphed in both league encounters in 2023/24. Adrian Cieslewicz scored in all of those victories.
Bay boss Michael Wilde had two separate spells with TNS as a player, winning seven league titles, while midfielder Aeron Edwards won nine titles in a 11-year stay at Park Hall.
JD Cymru Premier – Connah’s Quay Nomads v Flint Town United (Monday, 5:15pm)
The first Flintshire derby of the JD Cymru Premier season between Connah’s Quay Nomads and Flint Town United awaits on Monday evening, live on Sgorio.
It will be a first competitive home fixture for new Nomads boss John Disney, who is still looking for his first league win following a 1-1 draw with Colwyn Bay and a 3-0 defeat against The New Saints.
Connah’s Quay Nomads v Flint Town United
Flint have also taken just a point from their opening two games of the season, suffering a 5-2 home defeat against Caernarfon Town on Friday night after a 1-1 draw away at Bala Town on the opening weekend.
The Nomads won three of the four meetings between the two sides last season, with Rhys Hughes scoring five goals across those matches, while Flint’s 2-1 triumph in January was their first derby victory in 14 years.
JD Cymru North – Newtown v Caersws (Monday, 2:30pm)
Newtown and Caersws contest a mid-Wales derby in league competition for the first time in 15 years at Latham Park.
Newtown have made a strong start to life in the JD Cymru North following relegation from the top-flight, with Steffan Jones’ 96th-minute equaliser earning a 2-2 draw away at promotion rivals Airbus UK Broughton on Friday to make it 10 points from a possible 12 so far.
In contrast, Caersws have lost three of their opening four league matches of the campaign, alongside a solitary victory over Brickfield Rangers. The Bluebirds were beaten 3-0 away at Rhyl 1879 in their last outing.
There are plenty of links between the two sides given their close proximity to each other, with Caersws boss Craig Williams spending over 15 years at Newtown across three spells as a player before also becoming interim manager at Latham Park at the end of last season.
Williams played for the Robins in the last league meeting between the sides, a 1-1 draw in April 2010, and they have only met once in a competitive action since – a 3-2 win for Newtown in the JD Welsh Cup win in 2014/15. Caersws have not beaten their neighbours in the last six meetings since 2007.
Predict the outcome of Newtown v Caersws in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
JD Cymru South – Cambrian United v Ynyshir Albions (Monday, 2:30pm)
JD Cymru South leaders Cambrian United will aim to continue their perfect start to the season when they host Rhondda rivals Ynyshir Albions.
Liam Williams’ side have won all four league matches so far, as well as defeating Treowen Stars and Cardiff City in the Nathaniel MG Cup, but had to come from behind to triumph 2-1 over Llantwit Major on Friday as Calum Bateman scored an 86th-minute winner. Liam Eason, who has had two previous spells with Albions, already has six league goals to his name.
It has been an encouraging start to the campaign for newly-promoted Ynyshir, who drew 1-1 away at Newport City on Friday to make it five points from four games. Teenager Calum Salter, signed from Cambrian’s academy in the summer, has four goals in six matches in all competitions so far.
Eason scored a late winner as Cambrian triumphed 3-2 in the last competitive meeting between the sides in December 2022, while the striker was also one of four player sent off in a fiery encounter.
Predict the outcome of Cambrian United v Ynyshir Albions in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
