The top five: TNS, Airbus UK, Prestatyn Town, Bangor City
and Port Talbot Town, all have their place in the fight for the European places
secure. Bottom side Afan Lido are too far adrift.
Llanelli have fulfilled their fixtures, and find themselves
a point adrift of sixth-placed Gap Connahs Quay, but the Nomads, Carmarthen
Town, Bala Town, Newtown and Aberystwyth Town face an almighty battle of the
towns to nab sixth place.
Here, we try and work out who needs what from whom if clubs
are to sneak in to the top six for the second half of the season, with all
games kicking off at 4.15pm on Saturday (February 2).
Bala Town v Gap
Connahs Quay
Connahs Quay sit in sixth by virtue of a single goal, equal
on 27 points with Carmarthen and Llanelli, but having the best goal difference
of the three (-6).
They face a tricky trip to Bala Town, whose 2-1 win over
Bangor on January 11 was only their second victory in eight league matches. The
Lakesiders announced this week that two new signings had arrived, ‘keeper
Michael Platt and midfielder Edwin Renaud, and they will be hoping for one last
push.
Connahs Quay have only won one of the last six themselves in
all competitions, but boosted their striking options this week by signing
20-year-old Sean Breen from Chorley Town.
Both sides will be hoping for the win, with Bala needing it.
If it’s a draw, then the Nomads need Carmarthen-Newtown to do the same and TNS
to beat Aberystwyth.
Carmarthen Town v
Newtown
Carmarthen also sit on 27 points and need to better Connahs
Quay’s result to steal their place in the top six.
They have lost only one of their last 14 games in all
competitions, and will be hoping top scorer Liam Thomas brings his scoring
boots to add to his 19 league and Cup goals this season. They will also be
buoyed by their surprise Word Cup final win over TNS, and an extra-time win
over Bala in the Welsh Cup last time out.
Newtown are unbeaten in four matches and have found the net
11 times in that run. They will be hoping for an away win, coupled with a draw
in the Bala-Connahs Quay fixture if they are to break in to the top six. If
Bala win, then Newtown will have to do so and score four more goals than their
rivals.
If Carmarthen win, then they need a draw in the above
fixture to take sixth place.
TNS v Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth Town are the fifth team involved in the drama,
and the least likely to emerge with the spoils.
They need to upset the applecart and win away at league leaders TNS, something only Newtown and Carmarthen, ironically, have achieved this season. The Seasiders themselves have only managed one away win all season – 2-1 at Connahs Quay back in September.
Even then, if they manage that then they need the above two
fixtures to end in draws.
TNS completed the signing of winger Jamie Mullan this week
from Stalybridge Celtic, and hope he will hit the ground running and help
provide the service to top scorer Michael Wilde. They are unbeaten in five
league games, with the last defeat being the aforementioned Carmarthen reverse
at Park Hall.
Airbus UK v Afan Lido
Second-placed Airbus welcome bottom club Afan Lido to the
Hollingsworth Stadium, looking to go in to the second half of the season on a
high.
Their 6-1 win over Prestatyn Town last time out was their
first league win in four, letting TNS move away at the top of the table. A win
here, though, coupled with a shock Aberystwyth win at TNS, would allow them to
close the gap to four points.
Afan Lido have had a forgettable season thus far,
registering only four wins, and conceding 58 times in just 21 matches – an average
of just under three per game.
It’s been a busy week or so for the Marston Stadium side,
with six players coming in and three leaving following the resignation of Paul
Reid. They will be hoping these bring an upturn in fortunes.
Bangor v Port Talbot
The final fixture sees Bangor City v Port Talbot Town,
fourth v fifth, in a tussle between two sides who are already guaranteed places
in the top six.
Bangor have won only two of their last eight fixtures in all
competitions, and will also want to kick on in to the second half of the season
in good form.
Port Talbot have been busy transfer-wise recently, with no
fewer than six players moving between themselves and Llanelli AFC. They are
hoping this won’t disrupt the squad too much, and that they can build on recent
form that has seen them win seven and lose three of their last 10 games in all
competitions.
The two sides drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture back in October.
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