A big weekend awaits across the JD Cymru Leagues as European qualification edges closer, promotion hopes begin to materialise and relegation fears loom large. Here are the key games to keep an eye on.
JD Cymru Premier – Penybont v Connah’s Quay Nomads (Saturday, 12:30pm)
Connah’s Quay Nomads can edge closer to automatic European qualification when they travel to face Penybont at the DragonBet Stadium on Saturday, live on Sgorio.
The Nomads currently sit second in the table, and although they are now 10 points adrift of leaders The New Saints, they are also 10 points clear of Bont in third. John Disney’s side conceded a late equaliser for the third consecutive game as they drew 1-1 against Caernarfon Town last Friday, but that result did extend their unbeaten run in the league to 16 matches – a new club record.
Penybont v Connah’s Quay Nomads
Penybont have claimed just one win in their last eight matches in all competitions and suffered their heaviest league defeat in almost four years as they were beaten 6-0 away at TNS last weekend. However, Rhys Griffiths’ side are unbeaten in their last five league games at the DragonBet Stadium, a run stretching back to the end of October.
Rhys Hughes inspired victories home and away for the Nomads against Penybont in Phase One, scoring the decisive goal in August’s 1-0 away win before bagging a brace in a 4-0 triumph in November’s reverse fixture.
Predict the outcome of Penybont v Connah’s Quay Nomads in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
JD Cymru Premier – Haverfordwest County v Bala Town (Friday, 7:45pm)
Key points are up for grabs in the bottom half of the JD Cymru Premier as seventh-place Haverfordwest County host 11th-place Bala Town at Ogi Bridge Meadow on Friday night.
Haverfordwest have enjoyed the perfect start to Phase Two, with back-to-back 2-0 victories away at Cardiff Met and Briton Ferry Llansawel seeing the Bluebirds sit a point clear at the top of the Play-Off Conference. Tony Pennock’s side are now searching for three consecutive wins for the first time in over a year.
In contrast, Bala are three points adrift of safety and are winless so far in Phase Two after squandering leads in a 4-3 loss to Flint Town United and a 1-1 draw with Cardiff Met – both on home turf. The Lakesiders may be pleased to be back on the road though, as four of their six league wins this term have come away from Maes Tegid.
Haverfordwest did the double over Bala in Phase One with a pair of 2-0 wins. The Lakesiders have not beaten the Bluebirds in their last six matches since January 2024.
JD Cymru North – Holywell Town v Newtown (Saturday, 2pm)
Newtown travel to Holywell Town on Saturday afternoon for what is likely to be a must-win game for the Robins if they are to keep their promotion hopes alive.
Holywell currently sit third in the JD Cymru North, 11 points clear of Newtown in fourth but Nathan Leonard’s side have two games in hand. The Wellmen will be hoping to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat to Gresford Athletic in their last outing and have only lost once at home in the league this season.
Newtown’s hopes of returning to the top-flight at the first time of asking are hanging by a thread after picking up just two points from their last six league games. The Robins have not won in the JD Cymru North since the start of November, while they were beaten by Airbus UK Broughton in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup last weekend.
Danny Sullivan scored a 96th-minute equaliser for Holywell as the two sides played out a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture at Latham Park in November.
Predict the outcome of Holywell Town v Newtown in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
JD Cymru South – Cambrian United v Caerau Ely v Ammanford (Friday, 7:45pm)
It is first versus third in the JD Cymru South on Friday night as leaders Cambrian United host Caerau Ely at the M&P Group 3G.
Cambrian were last in competitive action three weeks ago, when a 2-0 victory over Newport City maintained their five-point lead at the top of the table – with second-place Trefelin holding two games in hand. Liam Williams’ side have won their last six league matches, keeping clean sheets in four of those.
Caerau Ely head to the Rhondda in high spirits after their thrilling 3-1 victory over Ammanford last weekend saw them climb into the promotion places on goal difference. They are now targeting three straight wins for the first time since in October, with both Ammanford in fourth and Aberystwyth Town in fifth primed to take advantage if the Young Guns drop points.
Cambrian are unbeaten in the last seven meetings between the two sides and staged a late comeback to triumph 3-2 in November’s reverse fixture at Cwrt yr Ala Road.
Predict the outcome of Cambrian United v Caerau Ely in our JD Cymru Leagues Match Predictor.
