With implications at both ends of the league tables, here are this weekend’s key fixtures to keep an eye on across the JD Cymru Leagues.
JD Cymru Premier – Bala Town v Barry Town United (Saturday, 5:15pm)
After victory over The New Saints in midweek, Bala Town will be hoping to build momentum in their pursuit of a top six spot when they host Barry Town United on Saturday evening, live on Sgorio.
A George Newell penalty was enough to earn Bala a 1-0 win over TNS on Wednesday, as they become the first team to defeat the Saints home and away in Phase One of a top-flight campaign. Remarkably, it was only the Lakesiders’ second win in their last 11 league matches, with their other victory in that run also coming against TNS.
Nonetheless, the three points lifted Colin Caton’s side into the top six as they leapfrogged Barry on goal difference – although the seventh-place Linnets do have two games in hand.
It has been four weeks since Steve Jenkins’ side were last in league action, when Ieuan Owen’s late double help secure a crucial 3-2 home win against fellow top six contenders Connah’s Quay Nomads. They produced a gutsy performance in their Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final against TNS last weekend but fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat.
Bala and Barry last met on the opening weekend of the campaign when George Newell’s penalty cancelled out Ollie Hulbert’s opener in a 1-1 draw at Jenner Park.
JD Cymru Premier – The New Saints v Newtown (Saturday, 2pm)
The New Saints’ defeat to Bala has left the reigning champions four points behind league leaders Penybont ahead of a meeting with struggling Newtown at Park Hall on Saturday.
The Saints do still have a game in hand over Bont, but they have not lost this many games (five) at this stage of a JD Cymru Premier season since 2000/01. With a crucial UEFA Conference League clash to come on Thursday too, Craig Harrison may have some tinkering to do with his team.
Newtown have picked up just one point from their last six matches, losing 2-1 in stoppage time away at Briton Ferry Llansawel midweek, leaving them six adrift of the top half and only five clear of the relegation zone.
TNS have triumphed over Newtown in their last nine meetings in all competitions, with Sion Bradley bagging a brace in a 6-1 victory at Latham Park earlier this season.
JD Cymru North – Gresford Athletic v Prestatyn Town (Friday, 7:30pm)
Gresford Athletic and Prestatyn Town meet at The Hollingsworth Group Stadium on Friday night with both sides currently in the JD Cymru North relegation zone.
Gresford have picked up just two points from their last five matches, with last weekend’s 6-0 defeat away at Colwyn Bay particularly damaging, while Llandudno’s 2-0 win over Caersws left the Colliers three points adrift of safety.
Victory on Friday night is almost imperative should they wish to survive, with Prestatyn enduring the worst run of form across the JD Cymru Leagues – they have lost their last eight matches in succession. A 3-2 defeat to Flint Mountain last weekend, Gareth Thomas’ first match in charge last weekend, saw them slip to bottom of the table and nine points adrift of safety.
Charley Edge’s hat-trick inspired Gresford to an emphatic 9-0 victory over Prestatyn in the JD Welsh Cup in September, before goals from Ilan Ap Gareth and Dave Forbes earned the Colliers a 2-0 win in the reverse league meeting the following month.
JD Cymru South – Llanelli Town v Trethomas Bluebirds (Friday, 7:30pm)
A huge game awaits in the JD Cymru South title race as league leaders Trethomas Bluebirds travel to third-place Llanelli Town on Friday.
The Bluebirds have won five of their last six league matches and have a two-point lead at the summit after their 6-4 win over Cwmbran Celtic last weekend – inspired by Callum Huggins’ hat-trick.
Llanelli sit three points behind Mark Dunford’s side, but do have a game in hand. The Reds drew 1-1 away at Carmarthen Town last weekend, bringing to an end a five-match winning run in the league.
Lee John’s men stormed to victory over the Bluebirds in the reverse fixture in September, as Danny Williams, Henry Jones, Ethan Cann and Lewis Iles all found the net in a clinical 4-1 win at the CCB Centre.
