A full JD Cymru Leagues schedule returns this weekend, including the start of Phase Two in the JD Cymru Premier. Here are the key games to keep an eye on.
JD Cymru Premier – The New Saints v Barry Town United (Saturday, 2:30pm)
JD Cymru Premier leaders The New Saints begin their Championship Conference campaign at home against Barry Town United on Saturday afternoon.
Craig Harrison’s side head into Phase Two six points clear at the top of the table after Jordan Williams’ 21stleague goal of the season secured a 1-0 win over Colwyn Bay last time out. The Saints are two points better off than they were at this stage last season, when they went on to win a fourth consecutive league title.
Barry sealed their place in the top six for the first time in five years with an impressive 5-1 home victory over Llanelli Town in their Phase One finale. However, Steve Jenkins’ side have only won one of their last six away league games.
Barry held TNS to a goalless draw at Jenner Park back in August, but the champions ran out emphatic 4-0 winners in the reverse Phase One fixture to extend their unbeaten run against the Linnets to 15 matches in all competitions. The two sides will meet again in the Nathaniel MG Cup final at the end of February.
JD Cymru Premier – Colwyn Bay v Connah’s Quay Nomads (Saturday, 5:15pm)
Any slip up from The New Saints could allow second-place Connah’s Quay Nomads to close the gap on the league leaders as they travel to face Colwyn Bay at the Blue Turtle Arena in Saturday evening’s live Sgorio fixture.
The Nomads fell six points behind TNS after being held to a 2-2 draw away against Caernarfon Town at the end of Phase One, but John Disney’s side remain on a 14-match unbeaten run in the league and are emerging as strong contenders to claim an automatic European qualification spot.
Colwyn Bay v Connah’s Quay Nomads
Despite suffering consecutive defeats to Flint Town United (2-1) and The New Saints (1-0) since the turn of the year, Colwyn Bay confirmed their Championship Conference spot. In doing so, Michael Wilde’s team became the first newly-promoted side to finish in the top six since Caernarfon Town in 2018/19.
Former Connah’s Quay teammates Wilde and Disney first stood across from each other in their opening day clash which saw Bay defender Nathan Peate cancel out Jason Oswell’s header in a 1-1 draw. However, the Nomads won the reverse Phase One fixture after Harry Franklin’s brace secured a 2-1 victory at the Essity Stadium.
Predict the outcome of Colwyn Bay v Connah’s Quay Nomads in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
JD Cymru North – Flint Mountain v Llandudno (Friday, 7:45pm)
JD Cymru North leaders Llandudno are hoping to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season when they face Flint Mountain at Bastion Gardens on Friday night.
The Seasiders’ unbeaten run came to an end on New Year’s Day when they lost 3-1 away at Rhyl 1879, but Jordan Hadaway’s side still sit two points clear at the top of the table with games in hand on fellow promotion hopefuls Airbus UK Broughton and Holywell Town.
Mountain have won three out of their last six games, with a 2-1 victory over Mold Alexandra – inspired by Owen Cassidy’s brace – last weekend sending Liam Dickinson’s side six points clear of the relegation zone.
Llandudno have won and kept clean sheets in their last three meetings against Mountain, including 4-0 and 3-0 victories in the league and JD Welsh Cup respectively already this season. Llandudno midfielder Callum Stephens has found the net in each of those three victories.
JD Cymru South – Ammanford v Trefelin (Friday, 7:30pm)
The race for promotion heats up in the JD Cymru South as third-place Ammanford host second-place Trefelin at the Rec on Friday night.
Ammanford are unbeaten in their last 11 league matches (since defeat to Trefelin in September), with a comfortable 3-0 win over Pontypridd United a fortnight ago putting them six points clear inside the promotion places. Wyn Thomas’ side have won and kept clean sheets in their last four league games, but are hoping to respond to a penalty shootout defeat to Treowen Stars in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup last weekend – their third cup exit on penalties this season.
Trefelin are also in stellar form in the JD Cymru South, with their 15-match unbeaten run stretching back to mid-August. Andy Hill’s side closed the gap on league leaders Cambrian United to just five points with a 2-1 victory over Caerau Ely last weekend and still have two games in hand over the Rhondda outfit.
Ammanford triumphed 1-0 in August’s Welsh Blood Service League Cup meeting between the two sides, but Trefelin gained revenge with a 2-0 league victory just two weeks later.
Predict the outcome of Ammanford v Trefelin in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
