2023 draws to a close with a busy few days of fixtures in the JD Cymru Leagues, before 2024 starts in equally frantic fashion. Here are the key matches to keep an eye on.
JD Cymru Premier – Connah’s Quay Nomads v The New Saints (New Year’s Eve, 2:30pm)
The JD Cymru Premier top two square off on New Year’s Eve at The Essity Stadium as Connah’s Quay Nomads look to close the gap on league leaders The New Saints.
Craig Harrison’s side currently sit top of the table on 53 points – nine points clear of the Nomads with a game in hand.
Neil Gibson’s team come into the game on the back of two hard-fought festive victories over Pontypridd United and Newtown and another three points would be the icing on the cake, but they know they will have to produce something special to overcome their opponents.
Meanwhile, TNS are currently on a staggering 13-game winning streak in the JD Cymru Premier and are still yet to be defeated this season. Their closest rivals will hope to be the first team to stop their dominant first half of the season in order to close the gap at the top.
The two sides have already met twice this season and it was TNS who came out on top on both occasions. The first encounter saw them come from behind to defeat the Nomads 2-1 in the Nathaniel MG Cup second round before they began their league campaign in emphatic style with a 6-2 victory.
JD Cymru North – Gresford Athletic v Airbus UK Broughton (New Year’s Day, 2:30pm)
As all of the second tier sides prepare for their reverse fixtures from Boxing Day, there are a number of standout matches to look forward to, but one surprise result that occurred in the JD Cymru North was the goalless draw between Airbus UK Broughton and Gresford Athletic at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.
Mark Allen’s side sit top of the table on 39 points after four consecutive league victories prior to Christmas – the most notable of those being a 2-1 win away to fellow title challengers Holywell Town.
The Wingmakers were frustrated by Gresford on Boxing Day, so they will be eager for revenge on New Year’s Day, especially with Flint Town United closing the gap to just one point at the top following their impressive 5-1 victory over Llandudno.
The stalemate on Boxing Day was a second consecutive clean sheet for ninth-place Gresford following their emphatic 6-0 win over Chirk AAA before Christmas and they will now aim to end the year by climbing into the top half.
JD Cymru South – Ammanford v Llanelli Town (30 December, 2pm)
Ammanford stunned Llanelli Town with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory at Stebonheath Park on Boxing Day, and now they will get another chance to overcome the title challengers on home soil.
Gruff Harrison’s side sit fifth in the JD Cymru South table and are now unbeaten in seven league games, making them one of the most in-form teams in the division.
Besides Boxing Day’s result, Llanelli also dropped points in their final game before Christmas as they drew 1-1 away to Cambrian & Clydach Vale, so this will be seen as a must-win for The Reds with Briton Ferry Llansawel currently five points clear at the top.
Ammanford have undoubtedly been a thorn in the side of Llanelli in recent years, losing just one of their last five games against the Reds.
