If last weekend saw the attention focus on the battle at the top of the JD Cymru South, then it’s fitting that this weekend pits the JD Cymru North’s top-two together in another keenly-anticipated showdown.
Airbus UK Broughton and Colwyn Bay continue their fierce title battle into the final third of the season with just a point separating the two sides, who have been in irresistible form, ahead of their meeting on Saturday (KO 14:00).
After finishing third last season, Wingmakers boss Mark Allen says his side’s goal has been the JD Cymru North title all along.
“Obviously we’re excited for the game and looking to get a positive result and continue the momentum we have to push to win the league. That’s where we’re at and it’s always been the target since the beginning of the year,” he said.
Airbus saw a sequence of 10-straight wins come to an abrupt end on their last league outing as Allen’s side fell to a surprise defeat to third-place Holywell Town allowing Colwyn Bay to close in with 10 games remaining for either side.
The Wingmakers quickly returned to winning ways however, as normal service was resumed last weekend in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup. And a comprehensive 5-1 Northern quarter-final victory over Llay Welfare left Allen unconcerned going into this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash.
“It was important to get back and play as quickly as we could. We spoke about things as a group and trained well in between that game against Holywell and Llay. I was obviously disappointed to lose that game [against Holywell] but on reflection, the performance was strong and it shouldn’t upset our momentum.”
Airbus’ only other league defeat this season came in their previous meeting with Colwyn Bay. On that occasion, the Seagulls claimed a crucial three points with a thrilling 6-3 win.
“It was a great game if you were neutral and as a spectacle for the Cymru North,” said Allen. “It is something we want to address and reverse, but getting revenge won’t be the main focus or drive, we need to make sure we’re professional and have a good mindset and execute our plan.
“They’re a good team, you have to give them respect for what their players and management team have done to galvanise them after being relegated, so we respect them and the damage they can cause us and we have to be aware of that.
“It should be a really entertaining game, we’re looking forward to it and like the last game, it’ll be a really good advert for the league and hopefully this time, we’ll come out of it on the right side.”
Meanwhile, Michael Wilde, a familiar face for many years in the JD Cymru Premier, is plotting a return to the top-flight – but this time from the dugout.
Having suffered defeat on his first league game in charge of Colwyn Bay, the former The New Saints and Connah’s Quay striker has steered the Seagulls to a lengthy 19-game unbeaten run.
Hopes are growing at the Four Crosses Construction Arena of an immediate return to the JD Cymru Premier following relegation last season and Wilde says the club are keenly anticipating Saturday’s game.
“We know there’s going to be a lot of eyes on it and it’s a really good occasion for Welsh football and the Cymru North,” he said. “We’re looking forward to it from a managerial point of view, but I know the players can’t wait for the game to come around as well.
“We’ve been treating this week like any other normal game, despite us being well aware Airbus are top of the league. They’re on a really good run of form and it’s going to be really tough for us.”
Wilde received a rude awakening to management with that opening night 4-0 defeat to Bangor 1876 on home soil, but he insists his squad have made the transition from playing to being on the touchline a smooth one.
“I’m really fortunate to have really experienced players”, he said. “When I came in I wanted to make sure the lads understood what I was about as a player.
“Sometimes it doesn’t click straight away and takes time to gel and to understand and once we settled down in the league, the lads became a little bit more tuned into the way we wanted things to be done, and we have experienced players who can drive that on through the whole squad.”
Colwyn Bay’s preparations were dealt a blow this week with the news that on-loan Gwion Dafydd has been recalled by The New Saints.
The 19-year old striker contributed 14 league goals in his time at the club and although Wilde admits losing the talented youngster is a blow, he believes it opens up a fresh opportunity for someone else within the Seasiders’ squad.
“We’ve had a steady squad from the get-go, we wanted the continuity and the only disappointing thing is Gwion Dafydd got recalled,” said Wilde.
“If someone takes 14 goals out of your side, it can look quite stark but when you think about it in comparison, we have a lot of players who can benefit because we’ve got goals all around the team.
“In an ideal situation, we keep hold of Gwion right the way through because he was really enjoying his time and flourishing. But we wish him all the best and we feel we’re still in a really good place from a goal scoring point of view as well.
“We’re fully believing in our squad and I’m sure there’ll be another individual who’ll step up and score the goals, otherwise I’m going to have to dust my boots off!
“It’s hard to equate how big Saturday is going to be as we’ll still have nine league games and tough opposition throughout that run, and I’m sure Airbus would say the same.
“Both teams still have a hell of a lot to do and we just want to keep our form, keep our high standards and keep a good momentum which the lads really seem to have taken hold of over the past few months. Everything I’ve asked them to do, they’ve done and they’ve done it really, really well.”
