Cymru North & Ardal Northern Preview

JD CYMRU NORTH

Friday night sees the weekend action commence with a battle featuring two hard to separate rivals as Prestatyn Town entertain Ruthin Town in the JD Cymru North.

Both teams are on 13 points from nine matches, enjoy top-seven status and are in good form.

Prestatyn will be boosted by last weekend’s 2-0 home win over Mold Alexandra, while despite losing 2-0 at Connah’s Quay Nomads in the Nathaniel MG Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, Ruthin performed well enough to suggest they can travel to Bastion Gardens with confidence.

It could end up a high-scoring draw, but a Ruthin side determined to bounce back from their midweek disappointment might just edge this one.

Two teams in the bottom five clash on Saturday when Chirk AAA host Holyhead Hotspur.

Chirk enjoyed a great 3-0 win at Conwy Borough last weekend in the Cymru North Cup, but it was not so good for Hotspur when they went down by an identical score in the same competition on Tuesday at Colwyn Bay.

Form goes with the Colliers. Home win.

Gresford Athletic sit bottom and desperately need a tonic, but can they get it at home to a Cefn Druids outfit which has won three in a row in the league and have risen to fourth spot?

An away win looks the best bet.

Unbeaten leaders Colwyn Bay travel to Guilsfield, where getting a result is always tricky, but it is hard to veer against another three-point reward for the Seagulls.

Without a league win in five, a Buckley team on a slump should be good enough to draw at Llanidloes.

Mold Alexandra are winless in their last three league attempts and a Llandudno team which returned to form with a 4-1 triumph at Gresford last weekend can take the spoils at Alyn Park.

Improved Conwy should get a draw at least at struggling Penrhyncoch, while the match of the day may well be at Y Traeth where Porthmadog host a Holywell Town side on a seven-match winning streak.

Currently joint-leaders of the Cymru North, the Wellmen will need to be at their very best to beat a Porthmadog side which won at Llandudno recently and enjoyed a League Cup success at Mold in midweek.

An on-song Port can shade this one.

SCORECASTS

ARDAL NORTHERN

No doubting what is Saturday’s biggest game, not just in tier 3 but arguably the whole of North Wales.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 and Bangor 1876 will meet for the first time in a competitive fixture.

Battles between the coastal town and city’s two previous biggest clubs, Rhyl FC and Bangor City, were legendary, but that pair are no more and now it is the turn of their successors to take centre stage.

Both have come up from tier 4 and each is undefeated in tier 3.

Rhyl 1879 have a 100 percent record of five straight wins and sit fourth in Ardal North West, while 1876 are second with five wins and two draws in their seven outings.

Both have quality players, as well as several potential match-winners.

A game both will be desperate not to lose could well end all-square.

Improving Bodedern Athletic can grab the honours at home to Flint Mountain, while following last weekend’s demoralising 6-0 defeat at Bangor 1876, Brickfield Rangers can bounce back at home to Hawarden Rangers.

Denbigh Town should just have too much for struggling visitors Llangefni Town although there might not be a lot in it.

High-flyers Llay Welfare can overcome the testing challenge of Llandudno Albion, while leaders Nantlle Vale will find it tough to see off Saltney Town, but confidence is high in the Maes Dulyn camp.
Y Felinheli have a big incentive of a potential escape from the bottom three if they outscore Llanrwst United at Cae Seilo. Expect a score draw.

SCORECASTS

In Ardal North East, Llanfair United are top with seven straight wins and more than capable of extending their run of success at Penycae, who have just a single victory from their seven starts.

Cefn Albion will be anxious to produce a good retort after last weekend’s home loss to Caersws when they visit Bow Street.

It could be a difficult afternoon for the second-placed Cefners, but they should possess enough firepower to edge it.

Caersws are in great nick, but they can expect anything but an easy task against a Dolgellau side which is starting to flourish.

Improved Corwen might continue their upward surge with a least a point against visitors Llandrindod Wells, and Llangollen Town v Llanrhaeadr has the look of a draw.

Rhos Aelwyd have hit the skids in the past couple of weeks and they may well find themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline at home to dark horses Llanuwchllyn.

Lowly Rhayader Town celebrated a good win at home to Llangollen last weekend, but while Saturday’s opponents Welshpool have suffered a couple of blips lately, a home win for the Powys-based Lilywhites looks a sound call.

SCORECASTS