WELSH BLOOD SERVICE LEAGUE CUP FINAL (2.30 pm)
Porthmadog v Colwyn Bay
ARDAL NORTH EAST (2.30 pm)
Caersws v Rhos Aelwyd
Dolgellau AA v Rhayader Town
Llandrindod Wells v Llanuwchllyn
Llanfair United v Builth Wells
Llangollen Town v Bow Street
Penycae v Welshpool Town
ARDAL NORTH WEST (2.30 pm)
Brickfield Rangers v Llandudno Albion
CPD Y Felinheli v Rhostyllen
Flint Mountain v Llanrwst United
Llangefni Town v Denbigh Town
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 v Nantlle Vale
Saltney Town v Llay Welfare
PREVIEWS
WELSH BLOOD SERVICE LEAGUE CUP FINAL
Maes Tegid, Bala is the venue for this Saturday’s Welsh Blood Service League Cup Final between Colwyn Bay and Porthmadog.
With the Cymru North league title in the bag and beaten just once all season, it is hard to veer against predicting a Bay victory.
Promoted back to tier 2 this season, Port finished in a modest 11th place, twice losing to the Seagulls in the league, 2-0 home and away respectively.
Nonetheless, Craig Papirnyk’s men have a decent record in cups over recent seasons, winning the Ardal Northern play-off final against Caersws last term and reaching the Huws Gray Cup semis back in 2018-19.
If they perform as well as they can, Port can test the Bay, but if the league champions get into the groove early, they are a very difficult team to stop.
SCORECAST
Colwyn Bay 3 Porthmadog 1
ARDAL NORTH EAST
Leaders Caersws will be out for revenge when they host a Rhos Aelwyd side which beat them 2-1 at Ponciau Park way back in August.
Since then the impressive Bluebirds have lost just one other league game and spent much of the season in top spot, while Rhos have been consistently in and around the top four.
Caersws are in a strong position, but need to keep winning to fight off the title challenges of Cefn Albion and Bow Street, which are still alive.
Dolgellau will aim to halt a depressing sequence of six straight defeats when they entertain bottom side Rhayader Town, who are without a win in nine.
Both sides need a tonic. How will Dolgellau respond to their midweek 4-0 home drubbing at the hands of Bow Street?
Llanuwchllyn will require a positive response to last weekend’s 3-0 loss to Cefn Albion when they face a Llandrindod Wells side in mixed form.
Llanfair United have discovered ways to win again. With three victories on the bounce, the Mount Field side will be seeking to see off at home a Builth Wells outfit which beat them 3-1 month.
I’ve not had the best of luck betting against Llangollen Town of late, but I’m going to oppose them again and back Bow Street to win at Tower Field.
Penycae v Welshpool Town is a game where neither side have anything to play for. Instinct says a draw, but Welshpool’s slightly improved showings of late might just see them to the points.
SCORECASTS
Caersws 2 Rhos Aelwyd 0
Dolgellau AA 0 Rhayader Town 1
Llandrindod Wells 2 Llanuwchllyn 1
Llanfair United 2 Builth Wells 1
Llangollen Town 2 Bow Street 3
Penycae 1 Welshpool Town 2
ARDAL NORTH WEST
Defeated on penalties in the Ardal Northern Cup semi-final last weekend and then beaten at lowly Llandudno Albion on Monday, Llangefni Town might be low on confidence when mighty Denbigh Town visit Cae Bob Parry on Saturday.
Third-place Denbigh, needing 11 points from their last five matches to clinch the title and on a run of 13 straight league victories and 18 consecutive wins in all competitions, were held 2-2 at home by Llangefni back in October, but Dewi Llion Jones’ men have upped the ante since then.
At their finest, Cefni can trouble anyone at this level, but with treble-chasing Denbigh looking ruthless, the wise bet has to be an away win.
Llandudno Albion will be wanting to say farewell to football on a winning note at Brickfield Rangers, with many of their fans are expected to travel to Wrexham.
Fifth-place Brickie are going for a double over Albion. Will sentiment and determination to go out as winners before they disband be enough to carry Albion to three points?
They are a team of fighters, so let’s back them to get the desired result.
Rhostyllen, still bottom of the pile but with seven points taken from their last nine, could produce just about anything at Y Felinheli, who are without a victory in 13 attempts.
Assured of fourth spot in their first season at this standard, Flint Mountain should have enough to get past Llanrwst at the Essity Stadium.
CPD Y Rhyl 1879’s title chances have all but gone after recent losses to Bangor 1876 and Denbigh Town, but they can go out on a high note, finishing their fixtures by beating Nantlle Vale at Belle Vue. A win or even a draw would put the Lilywhites back on top, but only on a temporary basis surely.
Saltney Town’s inconsistency has been their enemy for much of the season and they will need the type of showing produced in a courageous 5-4 defeat at Bangor 1876 last month to get past visitors Llay Welfare.
SCORECASTS
Brickfield Rangers 1 Llandudno Albion 2
CPD Y Felinheli 2 Rhostyllen 3
Flint Mountain 1 Llanrwst United 0
Llangefni Town 1 Denbigh Town 3
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 3 Nantlle Vale 0
Saltney Town 2 Llay Welfare 2
