Students look to enjoy lunch!

THE Welsh Premier breaks new ground today with Cardiff Met playing struggling Carmarthen Town in a televised lunchtime kick off (12.45 pm) at Cyncoed Campus.

While the hosts lie third after a narrow 2-1 defeat at champions The New Saints last week, Mark Aizlewood’s side are in deep trouble, five points adrift at the bottom with nine defeats from 11 matches so far.

Aizlewood is realistic, despite an improved performance last week when his side went down 1-0 at home to Bala.

“I thought it was our best 90 minutes of the season, but this is a results business and we lost,” he said.

“That can’t go on forever. When you are struggling one mistake gets punished. We now need to turn these improved performances into results.”

Met boss Christian Edwards reflected: “I thought we deserved at least a point at TNS because we could have been two or three up at half time. We need to bounce back against Carmarthen, but the games between us are always difficult and tasty.”

Barry Town United could hardly have a more difficult task, after three defeats on the trot, than a trip to champions The New Saints who, although not at their best, have gone 13 league and cup matches without defeat.

Barry boss Gavin Chesterfield is not despondent.

“We have put in the performances, but have not got the rewards,” he said. “That happens sometimes in football. Having said that we need to be more clinical in the final third.”

The New Saints have opened a three-point advantage on second -placed Connah’s Quay, but manager Scott Ruscoe is taking nothing for granted against a club, who for many years, were their fiercest rivals.

“Barry have done well since they came up and they have produced some good results against top sides,” he said.

“It will tough, as it is was last week against Cardiff Met.

“They will come to frustrate us and hit us on the counter and we will have to watch their lad up front (Kanye McLaggon) who has been knocking in the goals.”

Newtown and Bangor City have both lost their last three matches, so the clash at Latham Park has extra significance, especially for the Robins, who are only outside the bottom two on goal difference.