With second tier sides in JD Welsh Cup action this weekend, the league focus comes in the JD Cymru Premier. Here are the key games to watch.
JD Cymru Premier – Penybont v The New Saints (Friday, 7:45pm)
Penybont’s unbeaten record this season faces its toughest test yet as reigning JD Cymru Premier champions The New Saints visit the SDM Glass Stadium on Friday night.
Bont are the current league leaders and sit three points clear at the top of the table following their 1-0 win at Connah’s Quay Nomads last Sunday.
Rhys Griffiths’ side continued their impressive form in midweek by triumphing 1-0 over Haverfordwest County to reach the Nathaniel MG Cup quarter-finals – their fifth consecutive victory in all competitions and third consecutive clean sheet.
TNS travel south having won all four of their league games so far this season, placing them fourth in the table despite playing three fewer games than the teams around. They too have a mean defence, keeping a clean sheet in all of their last six matches in all competitions.
Remarkably, Penybont have never beaten TNS in 19 previous meetings between the two sides. They led 1-0 for 45 minutes when the Saints visited the SDM Glass Stadium last season, but braces from Brad Young and Ryan Brobbel secured a 4-1 comeback win for Craig Harrison’s side.
Watch Penybont v The New Saints live on Sgorio.
JD Cymru Premier – Briton Ferry Llansawel v Flint Town United (Saturday, 2:30pm)
This season’s two newly-promoted clubs meet on Saturday as Briton Ferry Llansawel and Flint Town United go head-to-head for the first time.
It has been a difficult start to life in the JD Cymru Premier for Ferry, as they have lost all six of their matches so far and only managed to score four goals.
The Reds have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, losing by only one goal to Newtown and Caernarfon Town after consecutive 5-1 defeats to Cardiff Met and Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Flint were also without a point a fortnight ago, but have since claimed back-to-back wins against Aberystwyth Town and Haverfordwest County to climb out of the relegation zone.
Elliott Reeves’ return from injury has proved pivotal for the Silkmen, with the forward’s two goals against Aber kickstarting their upturn in form.
JD Cymru Premier – Cardiff Met v Connah’s Quay Nomads (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Cardiff Met and Connah’s Quay Nomads meet at Cyncoed Campus after both winning in the Nathaniel MG Cup in midweek.
The Archers thrashed Goytre United 9-1, the perfect response to suffering their first league defeat of the season away at Newtown last weekend. Ryan Jenkins’ side remain second in the JD Cymru Premier table and are yet to lose at Cyncoed this season.
A youthful-looking Nomads side came from behind to win 3-2 against Caernarfon Town in the cup, which Billy Paynter will hope boosts his side after consecutive league defeats to Barry Town United and Penybont.
The Nomads have won six of the previous seven meetings between the two sides, although Met did triumph 3-1 in this fixture in phase one last season.
