It’s all to play for in the JD Cymru Leagues over the Easter weekend, as the fight for titles, play-offs and survival reach boiling point. Here are the key games to watch.Â
JD Cymru Premier – Llanelli Town vs Bala Town (Friday, 2:30pm)
Bala Town will be relegated from the JD Cymru Premier if they fail to beat Llanelli Town at Stebonheath on Good Friday.
Bala aided their survival bid with a crucial 1-0 win over Haverfordwest County a fortnight ago, but a narrow 2-1 loss away to Cardiff Met last weekend leaves them five points adrift of safety with three games remaining. Therefore, Bala must beat already-relegated Llanelli and hope 10th-place Flint Town United drop points at home to Haverfordwest if the Lakesiders are to take the fight for survival to the final day.
Llanelli Town vs Bala Town
Friday’s visitors will be hoping in-form striker Cameron Ferguson can continue to provide a spark with three goals in his last three games (six in his first nine for the club in total).
Llanelli ultimately kept Bala’s survival hopes alive with a shock 2-1 victory away to Flint last Saturday – the Reds’ first league win since September. Terry Boyle’s side will be hoping to finish the campaign on a positive note as they prepare for second tier football next season.
Bala earned a pair of 1-0 wins over Llanelli in Phase One before both sides shared the points in a goalless draw in February’s reverse Phase Two fixture.
Predict the outcome of Llanelli Town vs Bala Town in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor
JD Cymru North – Llandudno vs Ruthin Town (Friday, 2:30pm)
Llandudno aim to take a step closer to the JD Cymru North when they host Ruthin Town, whose relegation could be confirmed if they drop points at the Go Goodwins Stadium on Friday.
Llandudno are currently two points clear at the top of the table and have two games in hand on second-place Airbus UK Broughton. The Seasiders triumphed 1-0 away to Caersws last weekend for their ninth consecutive league win, and they will be crowned champions if they are victorious on Friday and if Airbus drop points away to Holywell Town.
Ruthin have earned victories over Gresford Athletic (2-1) and Buckley Town (1-0) in the past fortnight to keep their survival hopes alive, but it may be too late for Colin Caton’s side to pull off the escape. If Ruthin fail to beat Llandudno and Penrhyncoch avoid defeat away to Denbigh Town, Ruthin will be relegated from the division.
Even if Ruthin were to shock the league leaders with victory on Friday, the three teams above them – Penrhyncoch, Gresford and Caersws – all still have games in hand, where Ruthin will have to pray for results to go their way.
Mark Cadwallader, Iwan Cartwright and Adam Stephens were all on target as Llandudno secured a 3-1 victory away to Ruthin in September’s reverse league fixture.
Predict the outcome of Llandudno vs Ruthin Town in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor
JD Cymru North – Holywell Town vs Airbus UK Broughton (Friday, 2:30pm)
Holywell Town will confirm their place in the JD Cymru North top three if they avoid defeat against title-challenging Airbus UK Broughton in a Flintshire derby at Bartons North Wales Stadium on Friday.
Holywell boosted their hopes of finishing in the top three with a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Penrhyncoch last Saturday – their first clean sheet in over two months. Regardless of their results, Holywell will also have their place in the top three confirmed if fourth-place Newtown fail to win their four remaining matches. The Wellmen will be without forward Jake Cooke for Friday’s fixture following his red card against Penrhyncoch.
Airbus have already secured their place in the top three and are now hoping to catch league leaders Llandudno, who have two games in hand. The Wingmakers returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Guilsfield last weekend – their fourth consecutive home win without conceding a single goal.
Both teams have star strikers currently tied in the race for the golden boot, with Holywell’s Jamie Breese and Airbus’ George Peers on 23 goals each. Both players also have six goals in their last six league matches.
It finished goalless in October’s reverse league fixture between the two sides, but Airbus claimed a 2-0 win in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup in January.
Predict the outcome of Holywell Town vs Airbus UK Broughton in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor
JD Cymru South – Ammanford vs Newport City (Friday, 7:30pm)
Ammanford look to strengthen their place in the JD Cymru South top three when they host Newport City at The Rec on Friday.
Ammanford maintained their one-point lead over fourth-place Caerau Ely with an emphatic 5-1 win away to Treowen Stars last Saturday. Wyn Thomas’ side could confirm their place in top three if they beat Newport City and Caerau drop points at home against Ynyshir Albions. Ammanford’s teenage star Dan John could have a big part to say in the final two games of the season with six goals in his last six starts for the club.
Newport brought their six-match winless run to an end last Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Cardiff Draconians, which saw them climb back into the top half. The Steelmen have had some impressive results away from home this season, with 18 out of their 37 points tally coming on the road.
Nothing could separate Ammanford and Newport in November’s reverse league fixture as both sides played out a goalless draw. Newport are unbeaten in four matches against Ammanford following three wins across all competitions last season.
Predict the outcome of Ammanford vs Newport City in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor
