JD CYMRU PREMIER LEAGUE
CHAMPIONS The New Saints and runners-up Connah’s Quay Nomads bring the curtain down on another JD Cymru Premier campaign this afternoon – in a dress rehearsal for next Sunday’s Welsh Cup Final.
Craig Harrison’s TNS are bidding to do what no other Welsh top-flight side has done in more than 25 years and go through an entire league season without a single defeat.
TNS have won 29 of their 31 league matches this term, dropping only four points all season – drawing 2-2 at home against Barry Town United back on August 26 and 0-0 at Bala Town the following month.
Victory today would also extend their winning league run to 26 matches on the bounce since that draw at Maes Tegid back on September 13.
However Neil Gibson’s Nomads will be in no mood to simply turn up and follow the script at Park Hall as they look to gain an edge ahead of the cup final showdown between the sides at Rodney Parade in seven days’ time.
While TNS will be heading into the qualifying rounds of the Uefa Champions League once again this summer, the Nomads and third-placed Bala are confirmed in the Uefa Conference League first qualifying round.
The only other matter to be settled in the Championship Conference today is who finishes in fourth place.
Newtown, who currently occupy that position by a point ahead of
Caernarfon Town, go to Cardiff Met in their final match with Caernarfon entertaining Bala.
The Robins and Caernarfon have now been confirmed in fourth and fifth – securing a home play-off semi-final for the last European place – after Cardiff Met were yesterday deducted three points by the FAW after the charge against them for fielding an ineligible player in their league fixture against Bala on February 3 was upheld.
It means Cardiff Met’s points tally reduces from 39 to 36 and therefore they cannot now catch the two sides above them and will be away in the play-offs.
Haverfordwest County are currently in pole position to claim the final play-off spot heading into their final Play-Off Conference clash at Penybont – but must avoid defeat.
The Pembrokeshire side are three points clear of Rhys Griffiths’ Penybont outfit but have an inferior goal difference and, should Penybont make home advantage pay, then they will finish seventh.
Meanwhile Colwyn Bay know they must beat Barry at home and hope Aberystwyth Town fail to win against relegated Pontypridd United if they are to avoid an immediate return to Cymru North.
Bay are two points behind Aberystwyth while the two sides are level pegging on goal difference and matches won.
Pontypridd will be relegated regardless of today’s results after they were refused a Tier 1 Licence for next season.