Ardal Northern League and Cup games

*Odds will appear on the day of the match

ARDAL NORTHERN LEAGUE CUP

Ardal Northern followers could not wish for a more exciting start to the weekend as Denbigh Town host Bangor 1876 in the Lock Stock Ardal North League Cup on Friday night (7.30 pm kick-off).

Denbigh are unbeaten in seven matches and have lost just one of their last 15 – that being to Cymru Premier giants Connah’s Quay Nomads in the Welsh Cup.

Town are sixth in Ardal North West, but just five points off top spot and have games in hand on all sides above them.

Dewi Llion Jones’ team are free-scoring, having netted 22 in the most recent run of five straight wins. Last weekend they defeated title contenders CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2-1 at Central Park, but in truth deserved a more emphatic victory.

Bangor 1876 occupy the summit of Ardal North West and are the only unbeaten team in the league with seven wins and two draws.

Michael Johnston’s men have won nine in a row across all competitions, bagging 44 goals in that sequence.

Goals can be supplied by many sources in the squad, but in Corrig McGonigle the blues possess North Wales’ leading marksman on 34.

Two very much in-form sides will clash at Central Park, but with it being cup football there has to be a winner and I have to climb down off the fence.

I think Denbigh might just shade it with home advantage.

SCORECAST

Denbigh Town

Bangor 1876

ARDAL NORTHERN LEAGUE CUP

Saturday’s cup action sees Builth Wells look a decent bet for a home win against Penycae.

The Bulls have joined tier 3 Ardal North East this season and settled in very well, currently sitting mid-table. Penycae are a very capable team but their form has slipped of late.

That all-firing goals machine called Caersws whipped Dolgellau 5-1 at home in the league six weeks ago and have to be fancied to repeat the dose against the same opponents in the cup at the Recreation Ground.

Ardal North West new boys this season, Flint Mountain, are really beginning to motor, having risen to fourth last weekend after a 5-0 crushing of Rhostyllen.

Aden Shannon’s side host fifth-place Brickfield Rangers in the cup. This could be a really close one, but on-form and with home advantage, the Mountain should finish on top.

After a terrible dip in form, which has seen them lose three in a row and concede 15 goals in the process, Llanfair United will aim for improvement at Llanuwchllyn.

Llanfair won 4-1 at Saturday’s opponents in the league in October, but that was before their recent alarming slump.

Llanuwchllyn’s form has been mixed, but they are capable of revenge on Saturday. However, Llanfair have to turn the tide at some point. Let’s show some faith in them and tentatively predict an away win.

Rhos Aelwyd v Bow Street is another belting all-North East tie in the offing.

Both are having good league and cup campaigns, but Bow have the psychological advantage of beating the Aelwyd 4-0 at home in the league back in August.

Following recent good results, though, we just edge towards Rhos at Ponciau Park.

Llanrwst nudged a 2-1 victory at Y Felinheli in an Ardal North West battle earlier this term – can they do the same when they visit Cae Seilo in the cup on Saturday?

This is a difficult one to predict, as both teams have often played well this campaign and not got the results they deserved. This one may well go to pens with Llanrwst edging through.

SCORECASTS

Builth Wells	2	0	Penycae
Caersws	4	1	Dolgellau
Flint Mountain	2	1	Brickfield Rangers
Llanuwchllyn	2	3	Llanfair United
Rhos Aelwyd	1	0	Bow Street
CPD Y Felinheli	2	2	Llanrwst United (Llanrwst on pens)

ARDAL NORTH EAST

Depending on the side they have available, leaders Cefn Albion should be more than capable of a home victory over Llangollen which would take them seven points clear.

After 13 games without a win, can bottom side Llanrhaeadr break their duck against third from the basement Corwen? They might have to settle for a draw.

Can Welshpool Town get revenge at their home Maesydre pitch on a Llandrindod Wells side which beat them 2-1 last month? We think so, by the same scoreline.

SCORECASTS

Cefn Albion	3	1	Llangollen Town
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant	1	1	Corwen
Welshpool Town	2	1	Llandrindod Wells

ARDAL NORTH WEST

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 have a third opportunity in as many matches to grab top spot when they host Hawarden Rangers.

Gareth Thomas’ side should definitely do the necessary on this occasion, although Hawarden are by no means pushovers.

Llay Welfare could also end the day at the summit if they beat Bodedern Athletic at The Ring.

It is difficult to see struggling Bodedern getting anything from their long trip.

Llandudno Albion are another team finding the going tough and they will do really well to pick up anything at Nantlle Vale, who continue to impress this season.

SCORECASTS