The Bank Holiday weekend continues on Monday after a Friday night packed with action and drama across the Novira Cymru Leagues. With plenty more fixtures to come, there’s still plenty at stake across the leagues. Here are the key games to watch.
Novira Cymru Premier – Colwyn Bay vs Llandudno (Monday, 5:15pm)
Fierce rivals Colwyn Bay and Llandudno meet on the North Wales coast for the first time this season as another strong turnout is expected at the Blue Turtle Arena on Bank Holiday Monday.
Colwyn Bay’s early points tally has been built largely on their home form with their only two victories so far coming against newly-promoted sides Trefelin and Airbus UK Broughton. However, Monday’s hosts have also let a two-goal lead slip in a draw with Ammanford and have been well beaten by Caernarfon Town and The New Saints on the road, meaning there are still improvements needed for the Seagulls. Summer signing Adam Davies has been a bright spark in attack for Bay with three goals in his four starts for the club.
Llandudno head into Monday’s derby in impressive form after earning four victories from their first five matches back in the Novira Cymru Premier. Jordan Hadaway’s side were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Penybont last weekend, but returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Haverfordwest County – a result that means the Seasiders have already achieved over half of their entire points tally they accumulated in their last top-flight season in 2018/19.
Colwyn Bay and Llandudno last met in the 2024/25 Novira Cymru North campaign, where both sides played out a 1-1 draw before Colwyn Bay stormed to a 3-0 win. Five out of the last six derbies between the two clubs have attracted over 1,000 supporters and another great occasion could certainly be on the cards this Monday.
Colwyn Bay vs Llandudno
Novira Cymru Premier – Flint Town United vs Connah’s Quay Nomads (Monday, 2:30pm)
Flint Town United and Connah’s Quay Nomads contest their first Flintshire derby of the season at the Essity Stadium after contrasting starts for both teams in the Novira Cymru Premier.
Flint lost all four of their opening games by a single goal, three of which saw the Silkmen concede late on. However, Lee Fowler’s side eventually claimed their first point of the campaign on Friday as Lassana Mendes scored a late equaliser in a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Penybont. Flint will be hoping to build on that impressive result and they would love nothing more than to claim their first league win of the season against their local rivals.
Connah’s Quay will be confident they can earn derby day bragging rights after their stellar form recently. John Disney’s side have scored the most goals out of any other team in the league so far (15) and they made it four consecutive wins after Iwan Murray’s brace inspired a 3-0 victory over Cambrian United on Friday. Callum West has also picked up where he left off from last season as the youngster has six goal contributions in his last four games. Following the win over Cambrian, Disney claimed West was the “most outstanding talent he has ever seen” during his 10-year spell at the Nomads so far.
Flint and Connah’s Quay faced off on Bank Holiday Monday last season, where the Nomads came from two goals down to triumph 3-2 in what was Disney’s first league victory as manager. The Nomads then completed the league double over the rivals with a 2-0 win on Boxing Day.
Flint Town United vs Connah’s Quay Nomads
Novira Cymru North – Bala Town vs Newtown (Monday, 2:30pm)
The only two sides with an unbeaten record remaining in the Novira Cymru North meet as Bala Town host Newtown at Maes Tegid.
Bala have already shown their determination to secure an immediate return back to the Novira Cymru Premier as they have won all four games since their relegation. The Lakesiders came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory away to Rhyl 1879 on Friday and they are now aiming to win five consecutive league games for the first time in almost seven years. Craig Lindfield has been influential to Bala’s impressive form so far with five goals to his name, including a brace in the win over Rhyl.
Newtown have enjoyed a bright start under new manager Jay Owen by collecting 10 points from their opening four matches. The Robins have conceded just one goal so far, which came in their 1-1 draw with Guilsfield, while they have stormed to victories over Gresford Athletic (3-0), Penrhyncoch (5-0) and most recently Llanuwchllyn (5-0) where Jamie Hyne scored a hat-trick to grab his seventh league goal of the campaign already.
Nothing could separate Bala and Newtown in the 2024/25 Novira Cymru Premier following 0-0 and 2-2 draws. The most recent meeting between the two sides in last season’s Nathaniel MG Cup also ended level (1-1) before Newtown prevailed in a penalty shootout.
Novira Cymru South – Aberystwyth Town vs Llanelli Town (Monday, 2:30pm)
Aberystwyth Town are hoping to continue their promising start to the Novira Cymru South when they host winless Llanelli Town at Park Avenue.
Aberystwyth won just once during their final nine league matches of last season, but a strong summer of recruitment for the Seasiders has paid dividends as they have three wins from their opening four matches. Dan Owen’s solitary goal proved decisive on Friday as Craig Williams’ side beat Pontardawe Town 1-0 to climb up to fifth in the table.
Numerous exits at Llanelli since their relegation from the Novira Cymru Premier has made things difficult for the Reds in the second tier so far as Terry Boyle’s side remain without a victory this season. However, recent signing Nathan Crisan has certainly brought some encouragement back to Stebonheath as the Spaniard scored twice to earn the Reds just their second point of the campaign in a hard-fought 2-2 draw with rivals Carmarthen Town on Friday.
This will be the first contest between two of Welsh football’s most historic clubs since the 2018/19 Novira Cymru Premier. Both matches that season were not shy of goals as Aber earned 3-2 and 4-2 victories.
