With 2024 finishing with a bang and 2025 starting in style, there are plenty of games to look forward to over the coming days across the JD Cymru Leagues.
JD Cymru Premier – Bala Town v Caernarfon Town (New Year’s Eve, 12:30pm)
Bala Town and Caernarfon Town meet at Maes Tegid on New Year’s Eve, with victory for either side likely to prove crucial in securing a spot in the JD Cymru Premier top six.
Back-to-back wins over The New Saints and Barry Town United earlier this month put the Lakesiders right back in the mix for the top half, while a goalless draw with Aberystwyth on Boxing Day leaves them in fifth place and unbeaten in their last nine league games.
Caernarfon are one point behind Bala in sixth place, but are only ahead of seventh-place Barry Town United by virtue of one goal and Connah’s Quay Nomads are just two points further back with a game in hand. Consecutive defeats to Aberystwyth and TNS have the Cofis looking nervously over their shoulder in a very tightly contested race for the top half.
With both sides only having one game in Phase One remaining after New Year’s Eve – Bala travel to Connah’s Quay Nomads and Caernarfon host Flint Town United – everything is on the line at Maes Tegid.
Nothing could separate the two teams back in August as they played out a goalless stalemate at The Oval – the fifth consecutive draw between the sides.
JD Cymru Premier – Flint Town United v Newtown (New Year’s Day, 2:30pm)
2025 begins with a key battle at the bottom of the JD Cymru Premier table as Flint Town United host Newtown.
The Silkmen slipped into the relegation zone on goal difference after they were beaten 7-2 by Connah’s Quay Nomads on Boxing Day and Briton Ferry Llansawel won 3-1 away at Cardiff Met. The two sides are level on points, but the Reds do have a game in hand.
It was only a couple of months ago that Newtown were challenging for a top half spot, but a run of just one point in their last seven games – their latest outing a 2-0 home defeat to Haverfordwest County on Boxing Day – means they now sit just two points above the relegation zone.
Flint produced a rampant display in the reverse fixture in October, with four different players scoring in a 4-2 victory for Lee Fowler’s side at Latham Park.
JD Cymru North – Gresford Athletic v Ruthin Town (New Year’s Day, 2pm)
The JD Cymru North relegation battle could go down to the wire in 2025 and there is a crucial encounter to kick off as Gresford Athletic host Ruthin Town.
Gresford climbed out of the bottom three, with Ruthin slipping into it, following a 1-0 win over Caersws on Saturday afternoon. After a 6-2 victory over Prestatyn Town earlier in December, the Colliers are now looking to make it three consecutive league wins for the first time since February 2020.
Josh Evans’ stoppage time equaliser saw Ruthin rescue a 2-2 draw in their Boxing Day derby away at Denbigh Town, but it is now six games without a win for Dave Evans’ side and they sit one point behind Gresford ahead of their trip to the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.
Teenager Harry Martin scored a hat-trick as Ruthin ran out 4-0 winners in the reverse fixture in September.
JD Cymru North – Llandudno v Holywell Town (New Year’s Day, 2pm)
Llandudno’s recent run of impressive form faces a tough challenge on New Year’s Day as reigning JD Cymru North champions Holywell Town visit the Go Goodwins Stadium.
The Seasiders have shot up to seventh in the table following four consecutive league wins in recent weeks – the latest being a 4-1 triumph away at bottom-of-the-table Prestatyn Town on Boxing Day.
Holywell’s 2-0 home win over Llay Miners Welfare on the same afternoon was a fourth victory in five matches and lifted them up to third in the table, but they remain 17 points behind league leaders Airbus UK Broughton.
Jamie Breese starred with a goal and an assist as Holywell ran out 3-1 winners against Llandudno in October’s reverse fixture.
JD Cymru South – Carmarthen Town v Ammanford (New Year’s Day, 2pm)
The new year begins with a Carmarthenshire derby in the JD Cymru South as Carmarthen Town host Ammanford, with both teams hoping to bounce back from defeats last week.
Carmarthen were beaten 3-0 away at league leaders Trethomas Bluebirds on Saturday, leaving them winless in their last six league matches. The Old Gold were tipped as potential promotion contenders at the start of the season but currently find themselves in 11th place.
Ammanford sit one point better off in 10th position, although they have played a game more, but lost 2-0 against Llanelli Town on Boxing Day. However, Wyn Thomas’ side have won their last two away outings at Trefelin and Taffs Well.
Gavin Jones, Noah Daley and Toby Jones all scored inside the opening 17 minutes in a 3-2 win for Carmarthen in this season’s reverse meeting in August.
JD Cymru South – Taffs Well v Penrhiwceiber Rangers (New Year’s Day, 2:30pm)
Taffs Well and Penrhiwceiber Rangers both sit in the JD Cymru South relegation zone ahead of their New Year’s Day meeting at Rhiw Dda’r.
The Wellmen are 15th and two points adrift of safety following back-to-back losses against Ammanford and Pontypridd United – their first under manager Josh Anderson, who had picked up five points from his first three games in charge.
Similarly, Penrhiwceiber went on a run of four wins in five matches in September and October but have now lost their last three in succession – most recently a 4-0 defeat to Caerau Ely on Boxing Day – to sit a point adrift of safety in 14th position.
Warren Jones’ first half strike was enough to give Rangers a narrow 1-0 win over Taffs Well in October’s reverse meeting between the two sides.
