After a captivating opening weekend in the JD Cymru Premier and late drama in the second tier, there are plenty more key clashes to keep an eye on this weekend.
JD Cymru Premier – Penybont v The New Saints (Saturday, 5:15pm)
Last season’s JD Cymru Premier top two meet on the second weekend of the new campaign as Penybont host The New Saints at the SDM Glass Stadium on Saturday evening, live on Sgorio.
Reigning champions TNS were left stunned last Sunday as Briton Ferry Llansawel triumphed 3-0 at Park Hall to condemn the Oswestry club to their first defeat on the opening weekend of the season for eight years. The Saints have not lost their first two matches of a league campaign since 2007.
Penybont v The New Saints
Mael Davies’ second half strike earned a 1-0 win for Penybont over Haverfordwest County last Friday, as Rhys Griffiths’ side triumphed on the opening weekend for the fourth successive season. However, Bont will be without James Crole on Saturday following his red card at Ogi Bridge Meadow.
Penybont had never beaten TNS in 18 meetings before last season, but defeated Craig Harrison’s side twice at the DragonBet Stadium, while the Saints won both clashes at Park Hall.
Predict the outcome of Penybont v The New Saints in our Match Predictor.
JD Cymru Premier – Briton Ferry Llansawel v Cardiff Met (Friday, 7:45pm)
After their stunning win over The New Saints on the opening weekend, Briton Ferry Llansawel’s first home game of the season comes against Cardiff Met on Friday night.
Ruben Davies will be the man to watch at The Renewable Centre Stadium after the former Swansea City youngster scored twice in the 3-0 win over TNS in addition to his two goals that helped Ferry defeat Trethomas Bluebirds by the same scoreline in the Nathaniel MG Cup first round a fortnight ago.
Met, who have not won away from home in the league since last September, will have been left frustrated in their opening day encounter against Caernarfon Town at Cyncoed Campus. The Archers squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with the Cofis after Darren Thomas’ stoppage-time equaliser.
Ryan Jenkins’ side did however triumph 5-1 away at Ferry in August last season – their biggest away win since March 2019 – before the Reds earned revenge with a 3-1 victory in the capital on Boxing Day.
JD Cymru North – Brickfield Rangers v Llandudno (Saturday, 1:30pm)
Llandudno will aim to continue their perfect start to the season when they travel to Brickfield Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
The Seasiders have won both of their matches in the JD Cymru North so far without conceding a goal, against Holyhead Hotspur (1-0) and Flint Mountain (4-0), either side of a thumping 7-0 victory against Gresford Athletic in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Newly-promoted Brickfield Rangers registered their first ever win in the second tier last weekend, as a brace from summer signing Danny Jones inspired a 4-0 triumph over Buckley Town.
It could be a battle of the veteran forwards at Clywedog Park, as Llandudno’s Mark Cadwallader (37) and Brickfield’s Alex Darlington (36) – who were once teammates at Aberystwyth Town – go head-to-head. Cadwallader has four goals in his last two games, while Darlington bagged a goal and an assist as a substitute last weekend.
JD Cymru South – Cardiff Draconians v Caerau Ely (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Derby day awaits in the capital on Saturday as newly-promoted Cardiff Draconians host against Caerau Ely at Lydstep Park.
The Dracs remain without a point in their debut second tier campaign, but have only suffered narrow defeats against Ammanford (1-0) and Carmarthen Town (2-1) so far.
In contrast, Caerau Ely have had a bright start to the campaign by taking four points from their first two matches. The Young Guns triumphed 4-1 away at Ynyshir Albions on the opening weekend before a 1-1 draw against Trethomas Bluebirds last week. Dan Griffiths’ red card in that game will see him miss Saturday’s encounter.
The two sides last met in the Ardal South West in the 2022/23 season when Caerau Ely won 2-0 in both games on their way to lifting the title.
Predict the outcome of Cardiff Draconians v Caerau Ely in our Match Predictor.
