A full festive schedule awaits across the JD Cymru Leagues, with plenty of Christmas crackers to look forward to.
JD Cymru Premier – Barry Town United v Cardiff Met (Boxing Day, 12pm)
The early Boxing Day kick-off in the top-flight could have major implications in the race for the top six as Barry Town United host Cardiff Met.
Barry are currently seventh in the table, two points behind Met in sixth, although Steve Jenkins’ side have a game in hand. The Linnets are on an impressive 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions, while they have kept eight clean sheets during that streak. Victory on Boxing Day would not only see them leapfrog Met but also take them above Colwyn Bay into fifth place on goal difference.
Met, who were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Briton Ferry Llansawel in their most recent outing, are unbeaten in their last six away matches. However, they have won just once in their last six trips to Jenner Park.
Nothing could separate the two sides in August’s reverse fixture at Cyncoed as Robbie Willmott scored a stoppage-time equaliser for Barry to cancel out Sam Jones’ opener for Met in a 1-1 draw.
JD Cymru Premier – Caernarfon Town v Colwyn Bay (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Caernarfon Town or Colwyn Bay could also take a big step to confirming their top six spot when they met at the Go Goodwins Stadium on Saturday.
Caernarfon are winless in their last four league matches, a run that has seen them slip to fourth in the table – six points above seventh place. However, the Cofis were 4-2 winners away at Cardiff Met in the JD Welsh Cup a fortnight ago as they booked a quarter-final spot in the competition for the first time in eight years.
Bay are currently fifth in the JD Cymru Premier table, three points behind Caernarfon and three points ahead of seventh place. Michael Wilde’s side have been in inconsistent form in the league of late, but triumphed 3-0 away at Pontypridd United in the JD Welsh Cup last time out as Aaron Williams scored a perfect hat-trick.
The Cofis earned a 3-0 win over Bay in the Nathaniel MG Cup second round in August, but the Seagulls triumphed 1-0 in October’s reverse league meeting courtesy of Louis Robles’ first half strike. The two sides will meet again in the JD Welsh Cup quarter-finals at the end of January.
Predict the outcome of Caernarfon Town v Colwyn Bay in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
JD Cymru North – Newtown v Airbus UK Broughton (Boxing Day, 2:30pm)
JD Cymru North promotion contenders Newtown and Airbus UK Broughton are level on points ahead of their meeting at Latham Park on Boxing Day.
Airbus, who have played one game fewer, currently sit third in the table – ahead of fourth-place Newtown on goal difference. However, the Wingmakers have won just once in their last five matches in all competitions. George Peers’ 88th-minute equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw in their most recent outing away at Mold Alexandra.
Newtown also dropped points in their last fixture, conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw against bottom of the table Penrhyncoch. Nonetheless, the Robins are one of just two sides – along with league leaders Llandudno – yet to lose a home game in the JD Cymru North this season.
There was stoppage-time drama in August’s reverse meeting as Newtown’s Steffan Jones netted a 96th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw, after Airbus had been two goals up inside the opening 17 minutes.
Predict the outcome of Newtown v Airbus UK Broughton in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
JD Cymru North – Ruthin Town v Denbigh Town (Boxing Day, 2pm)
The Vale of Clwyd derby between Ruthin Town and Denbigh Town has become a Boxing Day staple in recent years.
Crowds of over 1,000 have flocked to Denbigh’s Central Park in each of the last two seasons and now it’s Ruthin’s turn to host the festive clash.
Ruthin have lost all three of their games under new boss Colin Caton so far and currently sit 14th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone. They have not won on home turf in any competition since the end of August.
A series of postponed fixtures have meant that Denbigh have not played since an impressive 3-2 win away at promotion contenders Airbus UK Broughton in mid-November. That ended a four-match winless run for Dewi Llion’s side, who are currently eighth in the JD Cymru North table.
Ruthin led by two goals in October’s reverse fixture, but Denbigh fought back to salvage a 2-2 draw as Nathan Brown scored a 94th-minute equaliser.
Predict the outcome of Ruthin Town v Denbigh Town in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
JD Cymru South – Trefelin v Caerau Ely (Boxing Day, 2pm)
There’s also a clash between two promotion rivals in the JD Cymru South on Boxing Day as Trefelin host Caerau Ely.
Trefelin are currently second in the table, eight points behind leaders Cambrian United with three games in hand, and are unbeaten in 11 league games – winning 2-0 in each of their last four. However, Andy Hill’s side will be hoping to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat to third tier Bangor City 1876 in the JD Welsh Cup two weeks ago.
Caerau Ely triumphed 1-0 over Aberystwyth Town last weekend to climb to fourth in the table, just a point behind third-place Ammanford with a game in hand. Only league leaders Cambrian United have scored more goals than the Young Guns in the JD Cymru South this season.
Trefelin won 4-3 in a thrilling Nathaniel MG Cup first round clash between the two sides in August, after both teams won a game each in their league meetings last season.
JD Cymru South – Ynyshir Albions v Cambrian United (Boxing Day, 1pm)
Boxing Day offers up a Rhondda derby in the JD Cymru South as leaders Cambrian United travel to face a resurgent Ynyshir Albions.
Cambrian won 3-0 at home against Carmarthen Town a fortnight ago, which extended their unbeaten run in the league to six matches. Liam Williams’ side are currently eight points clear at the top of the table, although second-place Trefelin do have three games in hand.
Ynyshir head into the derby after claiming consecutive wins and clean sheets for the first time this season against Cwmbran Celtic and Afan Lido. The Buns are now a healthy nine points clear of the relegation zone, although they have played two games more than bottom side Cwmbran Celtic.
Josh Allen’s brace secured a 2-0 win for Cambrian in August’s reverse fixture – a fourth consecutive derby victory for the Cam Army.
