After the bad weather forced a number of postponements last weekend, the Novira Cymru Leagues is back in action this weekend with plenty to look forward to. Here are the key games to watch.
Novira Cymru Premier – The New Saints vs Connah’s Quay Nomads (Saturday, 5:15pm)
The current Novira Cymru Premier top two go head-to-head as league leaders The New Saints host second-place Connah’s Quay Nomads at Park Hall on Saturday.
Saints have been a dominant force in the top-flight so far by winning all 13 matches since their opening day draw at Penybont. Craig Harrison’s side have particularly been impressive on home turf as they earned a second successive 9-0 victory last weekend as Brad Young’s hat-trick saw Saints ease past Ammanford. The reigning champions have also conceded just one goal at Park Hall this season and will see Saturday’s game as a great chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to six points.
Connah’s Quay were keeping pace with TNS in the title race at this stage last season and they have done extremely well to repeat that so far. Callum West and Harry Franklin combined twice as the Nomads beat Llandudno 2-0 last weekend to earn their seventh straight victory in all competitions – the first time they have achieved that run under John Disney, who has remarkably averaged two points per game since he became manager at the start of last season.
There is no shortage of attacking quality ahead of Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash as both sides boast forwards in excellent form. Brad Young has settled in well since returning to Saints, while Rhys Hughes, who won the 2024/25 Novira Cymru Premier Player of the Season award with the Nomads before joining TNS in the summer, has also been prolific, with both players scoring seven goals in their last five league games. Connah’s Quay star Callum West leads the league’s chart for most goal contributions, with 16 so far this season.
Saints won 3-0 and 3-1 in the first league fixture between and a Nathaniel MG Cup tie respectively against Connah’s Quay in the first meetings last season. The Nomads earned a 3-1 win of their own in the reverse Phase One fixture for their first league victory over TNS in almost five years, but Saints hit back with a pair of 2-1 wins in the Championship Conference, the first of which saw Danny Davies score a late winner to confirm Saints’ 18th Novira Cymru Premier title.
The New Saints vs Connah’s Quay Nomads
Novira Cymru North – Newtown vs Buckley Town (Saturday, 7:45pm)
The first ever Novira Cymru North broadcast live on Cymru Football TV sees second-place Newtown host Buckley Town at Latham Park on Saturday evening.
Newtown began October with a 2-1 victory away to Mold Alexandra thanks to a late winner from Hanoch Boakye, who has five goal contributions in his last four games. That triumph strengthened Newtown’s position in second place, but the Robins have since dropped points in draws to Bangor 1876 and Rhyl 1879 either side of a convincing 7-0 FAW Welsh Cup win over Llanuwchllyn now leaves Jay Owen’s side six points adrift of leaders Brickfield Rangers. Newtown currently have the best defensive record in the division so far, conceding just five goals.
Buckley earned an impressive 3-2 win over Bala Town in their last away game to move six points clear of the relegation zone before Dave Evans’ side nearly pulled off a remarkable upset in the FAW Welsh Cup as they were edged out on penalties by Colwyn Bay. Despite a run of seven consecutive matches unbeaten before that cup defeat, the Bucks suffered a 2-0 loss to Holyhead Hotspur last weekend – a performance which Evans described as a “terrible day at the office”.
Newtown won 3-2 in an entertaining Nathaniel MG Cup tie against Buckley in the first meeting between the two sides last season, but Buckley got their revenge by completing the league double with 3-0 and 2-0 victories.
Newtown vs Buckley Town
Novira Cymru South – Ynyshir Albions vs Pure Swansea (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Two sides with impressive unbeaten streaks face off as Novira Cymru South leaders Pure Swansea travel to face Ynyshir Albions at the Ynyshir Oval on Saturday.
Pure Swansea are returning to competitive action for the first time in three weeks and they still sit top of the table on goal-difference after second-place Pontypridd United dropped points against Newport City last weekend. The Swans, who are still unbeaten in the league this season, began October with a 3-1 victory over Caerphilly Athletic before they were held to an entertaining 5-5 draw away to Afan Lido in their last outing.
Jack Midwinter’s side would have been frustrated to have conceded a stoppage time goal in that draw and they may start Saturday’s fixture in second-place as Pontypridd host bottom-of-the-table Llanelli Town on the Friday evening. Swans forward Kyle Copp, who scored twice against Afan Lido, will be hoping to continue his bright form in front of goal as all eight of his league goals this season have come in his last six games.
Ynyshir made it six league games unbeaten with a rampant 6-2 win over Llanelli three weeks ago, inspired by Joseff Haig’s hat-trick, so they will be hoping their recent 4-0 defeat to Cardiff Met in the FAW Welsh Cup has not hindered their confidence. The Buns, who are sixth in the table, have the joint-best defensive record in the division so far, along with Aberystwyth Town as they have conceded just nine times, although Craig Hopkins’ have only scored 15 goals, which is a higher amount than just three teams. On Saturday, Ynyshir are hoping to earn three straight Novira Cymru South wins for the first time ever.
Both sides last met in the 2024/25 Ardal South West, where Ynyshir claimed a narrow 1-0 away win before the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.
