Bont’s Premier status for another season confirmed

PENYBONT have secured a second term in the J D Cymru Premiership while Pencoed Athletic are on the verge of being crowned Highadmit South Wales Alliance Premier Division champions, writes Tony Poole.

These were the two main points of interest for Bridgend County clubs last week following a decision by the FAW Board to curtail season 2019/20, and opt for an unweighted points-per-game to settle final standings.

It’s resulted in Connah’s Quay Nomads winning league honours for a first time, and ending the eight-year reign of TNS as champions.

Final points-per-game calculations read: Connah’s Quay Nomads 2.15, TNS 2.00, Bala Town 1.88, Barry Town Utd 1.68, Caernarfon Town 1.46, Newtown 1.40, Cardiff Met Univ 1.40, Cefn Druids 1.40, Aberystwyth Town 1.04, Penybont 0.84, Carmarthen Town 0.72, Airbus UK 0.65.

Europa League play-offs were scrapped, resulting in Connah’s Quay Nomads, TNS, Bala Town and Barry Town Utd all qualifying.

However, no decision was made on promotion/relegation issues, and they will now be decided during the next FAW meeting during June.

But the relegation issue now only surrounds Carmarthen Town – who have been a top tier club since winning the Welsh League title back in 1995/96 – and Airbus UK while Haverfordwest County (Championship South) and Flint

Town Utd (Championship North) are set to replace them on second-place tickets behind Swansea University and Prestatyn Town respectively.

The FAW took on board views from J D Cymru League clubs – who met a few days earlier – and went for points-pergame owing to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic with safety concerns the prime consideration.

Penybont avoided relegation through victories in their last two matches – 1-0 away to Aberystwyth Town and 2-0 at home to Cardiff Met Univ.

“We’ve managed to remain in the top flight on a 10th-place finish – but in all honesty that was our aim,” said delighted Penybont boss Rhys Griffiths.

“Granted the circumstances were strange and unsatisfying, but it’s a reward for the players who were brilliant, and an absolute pleasure to work with.’’

Meanwhile, Pencoed Athletic will know later today (Wednesday) if they’ve become the first Bridgend County club to be crowned South Wales Alliance Premier Division champions.

Though social media outlets last week suggested Pencoed would head a pointsper-game table on 2.56 from Cardiff Draconians 2.33 and Porthcawl Town 2.32, this was an unofficial listing.

The South Wales FA usually determine final placings below Tier Four, but the issue this time is down to the Alliance League Management Board.

Next month the FAW will decide on Alliance promotion-relegation issues.