Barry Town are away and gone at the top of the JD Cyymru South, but there’s a nice battle brewing just behind them.
On Friday night, Llanelli Town host Briton Ferry Llansawel in what promises to be a major showdown between the clubs vying for the runners-up spot behind Barry.
Briton Ferry currently occupy that spot – 12 points behind runaway leaders Barry, but only two points above Llanelli.
The Reds, though, have a game in hand and if they can take all three points at Stebonheath Park then they would leapfrog the Ferry, with an extra game up their sleeve.
This is how the Llanelli Town Facebook page sums up the contest – “The game we’ve all been waiting for, the battle for 2nd place!
“It’s David vs Goliath. Johno vs Hillo. Trackie bottoms v Skinny jeans. Llanelli Town v Briton Ferry Llansawel AFC! ⚔️”
Llanelli may see themselves as the Davids, rather than the Goliaths – as well the trackie bottom brigade, compared to the glamour-laden Briton Ferry, but the statistics favour the Ferry.
The visitors are unbeaten in the league since January and have won five out of their last six matches.
The only points they dropped were earlier this month, when Barry held them to a 1-1 draw – a draw that extinguished the Ferry’s faint hopes of catching the leaders.
Llanelli have won their last three matches, but were held to a 3-3 draw by Cwmbran Celtic before that and also lost at home last month, 2-1, to Llantwit Major.
When the sides met at the Old Road Ground back in August, they shared a 1-1 draw and a repeat of that scoreline this time would favour Briton Ferry.
Elsewhere on Friday night, bottom club Ynyshir Albions need a revival if they are going to save themselves from relegation and it needs to start with a trip to Abergavenny Town.
On Saturday, champions-elect Barry can stretch their lead at the top by beating Pontardawe Town, who have lost three out of their last four games.
Cambrian and Clydach – fifth in the table – host Cwmbran Celtic, who are three places below them.
Carmarthen Town are coming off the back of back-to-back wins and they will test that form against Goytre United who gave Barry a tough test last time out before losing, 2-1.
Llantwit Major host Afan Lido, Taffs Well entertain Ammanford, with the visitors needing points to escape the relegation zone, while bottom-but-one Swansea University also need points to avoid the drop when they go to Trefelin, who only three points and two places above them.
