Hughes is hopeful of passing Met exam

THE students of Cardiff Met look to continue their impressive start to the season when they host a Newtown side that have faltered recently after a promising start to season, writes John Edwards.

The Robins went down 3-1 at home to Bala Town last week and have gathered just two points from the last four matches, but manager Chris Hughes is still hopeful of some reward at Cyncoed Campus.

“We’ve had changes to our squad in the summer, so we are a work in progress but we have trained hard this week and are going down there to get something,” said Hughes.

“I know what we have in our dressing room.

“We were excellent first-half against Bala, but things changed second-half.”

Newtown are without injured JoJo Harris and Tom Goodwin, while experienced striker Jamie Reed is a doubt.

Christian Edwards, whose side have won three on the trot and lie second, was delighted with the 3-2 victory at Bangor after being 2-0 down. “It was very pleasing. “We made a couple of defensive errors, but I always felt we were playing well. We need to build on that,” he said.

“Newtown have lost some players, so their style may have changed, but last year they were very direct, strong in the air and a good organised side.

“We will need to move the ball about quickly,” Edwards added.

Connah’s Quay are gathering momentum and they should be too strong for visiting Llandudno, who have lost four-on-thetrot after starting the campaign unbeaten in five. The match is televised with a 5.15pm kick-off.

“Results haven’t gone our way recently and we want to reverse the trend, but it could hardly be more difficult than a trip to Connah’s Quay,” said Llandudno boss Alan Morgan.

On-fire striker Kayne McLaggan is likely to be a significant absentee for Barry Town United, after sustaining a head injury in the disappointing 3-1 home loss to Cefn Druids, for the visit to Bala, who ended a five-match sequence without a win with their win at Newtown.

In the remaining match, bottom side Carmarthen Town play away for the eighth time in 10 matches when they travel to the league’s surprise package Cefn Druids, who have won three and drawn two of the last five matches.