A crucial weekend awaits across the JD Cymru Leagues, with top of the table clashes and a familiar face back in the dugout.
Here are the key games to keep an eye on.
JD Cymru Premier – Flint Town United v The New Saints (Friday, 7:45pm)
After their 13-match winning streak came to an end last weekend, JD Cymru Premier leaders The New Saints aim to bounce back when they travel to face Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium on Friday night.
Craig Harrison described his side’s defending as “comical, embarrassing and unacceptable” in their 3-2 defeat at home against Cardiff Met last Friday, as former Saint Adam Roscrow scored a stoppage time winner.
It was TNS’ first loss since the opening day of the season, but they remain nine points clear at the top of the table after second-place Penybont were beaten 4-0 by Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Flint drew 0-0 away at Barry Town United last weekend, meaning they have now won just one of their last six league games. It is a run that has seen the Silkmen slip to 10th in the league table, just two points above the relegation zone.
Flint last defeated TNS in April 1995, with TNS unbeaten in the last 19 encounters between the two sides since then. A 4-2 victory at Park Hall in September’s reverse fixture was the Saints’ eighth consecutive win against the Silkmen.
JD Cymru North – Newtown v Holywell Town (Saturday, 2:30pm)
JD Cymru North promotion rivals Newtown and Holywell Town meet at Latham Park in a key encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Only one point separates the two sides after 13 matches, with Holywell currently in third place and Newtown just outside the promotion spots in fourth. The Robins have won every home game in the league this season, while the Wellmen are yet to lose on the road.
Holywell were top of the table a week ago, but suffered their first league defeat of the campaign last Saturday as Buckley Town triumphed 1-0 at Bartons North Wales Stadium. Newtown, meanwhile, won 3-1 away at Mold Alexandra for their fourth consecutive league win.
Saturday will be the first meeting between the two sides since October 2017, when Newtown earned a 2-0 home win in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Predict the outcome of Newtown v Holywell Town in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
JD Cymru North – Ruthin Town v Brickfield Rangers (Friday, 7:45pm)
Ruthin Town begin life under new manager Colin Caton with a home fixture against Brickfield Rangers on Friday night.
Caton, who quit Bala Town in the summer after 22 transformational years in charge, takes over at Ruthin with the club currently 13th in the JD Cymru North table. They have won just one of their last nine matches, with back-to-back defeats to Mold Alexandra and Airbus UK Broughton leading to Dave Evans’ departure from the dugout last weekend.
Brickfield sit three points above Ruthin, having earned a 4-1 home win over Penrhyncoch last weekend to climb to 10th in the table. However, Rangers have lost their last three away games in the league, conceding 14 goals in the process.
The only previous meeting between these two sides came in the second round of the JD Welsh Cup in 2017/18 when Ruthin earned a 3-2 victory after extra-time.
JD Cymru South – Cambrian United v Ammanford (Friday, 7:45pm)
It is first versus third in the JD Cymru South as Cambrian United host Ammanford at the M&P Group 3G on Friday night.
Cambrian staged a late comeback to triumph 3-2 away at fellow promotion hopefuls Caerau Ely last weekend – a third consecutive league win for Liam Williams’ side which maintained their four-point lead at the top of the table.
Ammanford are unbeaten in their last six league matches – although they have drawn four of those – and an emphatic 6-0 home win over Afan Lido last weekend saw them climb into the promotion spots. However, Wyn Thomas’ side have not won away from home in the league since their 1-0 victory at Cardiff Draconians on the opening day of the season.
Cambrian earned a narrow 3-2 victory in the first meeting between the two teams last season, but Ammanford gained revenge with a 1-0 win in January’s reverse fixture.
JD Cymru South – Trefelin v Carmarthen Town (Friday, 7:30pm)
Also at the top of the JD Cymru South table, second-place Trefelin host fourth-place Carmarthen Town on Friday night.
Trefelin are currently four points behind leaders Cambrian, with a game in hand, having earned three consecutive 2-0 wins against the Cam Army, Pontypridd United and Aberystwyth Town. Andy Hill’s side have the best defensive record in the division, conceding just eight goals in 12 games, while they are unbeaten in their last 10 league matches.
Carmarthen are also on a lengthy unbeaten run, having not lost in their last seven league outings. The Old Gold drew 1-1 at home against Trethomas Bluebirds last weekend and are currently only outside the promotion places on goal difference.
Trefelin have only won one of the last eight meetings between the two sides – a 2-1 victory at Ynys Park last season which preceded a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.
Predict the outcome of Trefelin v Carmarthen Town in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
