Friday 12 April 2013

Bangor and Airbus continue battle for second spot in WPL

Bangor City and Airbus UK face crunch matches this weekend as the battle for second place hots up.

With the Welsh Cup semi-finals contested last weekend, it’s back to league action this week for all Welsh Premier League clubs. TNS may have already secured the title, but there’s plenty to play for in the chasing pack.

Championship:
TNS v Airbus UK
It’s first v second in the weekend’s opening match at Park Hall tonight, with Airbus desperate to land a win to keep themselves ahead of Bangor in the race for second.

TNS may have wrapped up the title with a comfortable victory over Carmarthen two weeks ago, but their chances of a league and Cup double were brought to an abrupt halt by Bangor at Rhyl’s Belle Vue ground last Saturday.

It is the hosts’ last home game of the season, and director of football Craig Harrison has voiced his desire to continue their league form, saying: “I want to keep winning games. I want to win the league by as many points as possible and I will make sure my players keep putting in brilliant performances!”

But standing in their way are Airbus UK, in many ways the surprise package of this year’s league programme. The Wingmakers go in to the match three points ahead of Bangor in the race for second, with The Citizens waiting till Saturday to play.

Their midweek win over Carmarthen was their 16th of the season, and was their third in five games. However, their last three away trips in all competitions have ended in defeat, and they were beaten 2-1 at home by TNS back in February, their third defeat in four meetings with them this term.

Look at TNS to keep the winning run going at Airbus’ expense with a strikeforce currently full of goals.

Prediction: TNS 3-1 Airbus UK

Bangor City v Carmarthen Town
Welsh Cup finalists Bangor could be six points behind Airbus UK if The Wingmakers win tonight, in which case a win would be greatly welcomed to keep the gap as small as possible tomorrow.

Chris Jones’ last-minute rocket in the semi-final win over TNS may have put The Citizens in to their 18th Cup final, but they had no time to relax as they etched out a 1-0 midweek win at Prestatyn – a prequel to the upcoming showpiece.

Bangor’s clash with Airbus at The Airfield on April 20 is a match which could decide second place, so Bangor will be hoping Chris Simm and Les Davies continue their good goalscoring form leading up to it.

Since winning the Word Cup back in January, inconsistency has been the name of the game for The Old Gold, with four wins and five defeats in their last nine matches in all competitions.

Mark Aizlewood’s men suitably won one and lost one against Airbus in the past week, so now have the chance to play a part in Bangor’s end-of-season fate too.

Carmarthen currently sit sixth in the Championship, and are without a win in their last six away league games, so that run should continue at Nantporth as Bangor close that gap on their rivals.

Prediction: Bangor City 2-0 Carmarthen Town

Port Talbot Town v Prestatyn Town
Saturday’s other game sees a battle between fourth and fifth as Scott Young’s Port Talbot Town entertain first-time Welsh Cup finalists Prestatyn Town.

The Steelmen are keen on entering the end of season play-offs in good form and want to secure fourth spot as a consequence. They trail third-placed Bangor by eight points, so a win in their three final games coupled with a collapse from The Citizens would see them even sneak third.

They are still missing defender Lee Surman through suspension, but other than that will be at pretty much full strength to face Prestatyn’s challenge.

The Seasiders will be riding the crest of a wave after what was arguably the biggest result in their history last weekend – beating Welsh league side Barry Town 2-1 at Newtown’s Latham Park.

But despite their impressive Cup run their league form has been woeful of late. They are without a win in 10, their last victory coming via a 4-1 beating of Cup final opponents Bangor on New Year’s Day.

Eight of those 10 matches have ended in defeat, but the side will have trained with renewed vigour this week after their historic success over Barry, and they could travel back up north with a share of the spoils.

Prediction: Port Talbot Town 2-2 Prestatyn Town

Conference
Aberystwyth Town v Newtown
Both clubs enter this clash knowing an end-of-season Europa League play-off place could be up for grabs, dependant on Llanelli’s future.

The hosts are playing their final home league game of the campaign, and will want to send their fans home happy for just the 10th time in 30 league matches. Manager Tomi Morgan was pleased with a point gained at home to Connah’s Quay on Tuesday, and will want the maximum this time in their third home fixture in just seven days.

The hosts are currently in prime position for that play-off slot, but a win for the visitors would see them climb up to second in the Conference above Llanelli, Aberystwyth and Connah’s Quay.

The Robins also know that equally important is the battle to avoid relegation. If Haverfordwest manage to clinch the Welsh League Division One title then two clubs would drop out of the WPL, something Newtown don’t want to chance.

Boss Bernie McNally says his players are in a “confident mood”, and will be hoping they can provide a late season surge to improve on just two wins in their last eight league matches.

Playing at home again could be crucial for Aberystwyth, who should pile another defeat on their visitors and plunge them further in to relegation worry.

Prediction: Aberystwyth Town 1-0 Newtown

Connah’s Quay Town v Llanelli

Connah’s Quay host Llanelli as what could be the Reds’ last WPL campaign winds down.

Since the deducted point drama that cost Connah’s Quay a place in the Championship for the second half of the season, the Nomads have managed just one win in six league games – away at Llanelli.

The hosts will be buoyed by this week’s announcement they have gained their National Domestic and UEFA licenses and will now continue their hunt for points without a cloud of uncertainty over their future hanging above their heads.

Llanelli’s season continues to go from bad to worse on and off the field, and their appeal against the refusal to hand them their National Domestic license for next year will be held on April 23.

The outcome of that will affect both the race for Europe and relegation from the WPL, but until that is sorted, the players and coaches must try and uphold the club’s integrity on the pitch.

They have won six of their last 15 league games, and four of these have come on the road, so they should be able to match their opponents on this occasion.

Prediction: Connah’s Quay Town 1-2 Llanelli

Bala Town v Afan Lido
This match-up sees top take on bottom in the Conference, with Afan Lido now almost certainly facing relegation unless a remarkable ‘Great Escape’ takes place.

If Bala continue to pick up points then top spot, and a Europa League play-off place, will certainly be theirs.

The hosts have the most remaining games in the league (five), and the most to pack in to the remaining weeks. Yet on the back of five straight wins they won’t be daunted by a few more matches to play.

Lido have won two on the bounce, and will be looking to keep their survival hopes going with another.

With Rhyl almost certain to clinch the Huws Gray Alliance title, at least one club will be leaving the division. Again, it is dependent on Llanelli’s license appeal, and the Port Talbot-based club won’t want to leave anything to chance.

With two winning runs coming head to head, something has to give, and Bala should have enough to keep theirs going by the end of play.

Prediction: Bala Town 2-1 Afan Lido

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