FIXTURES
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4
NATHANIEL MG CUP SECOND ROUND
Caernarfon Town v Porthmadog (7.45 pm)
Prestatyn Town v Flint Town United (7.30 pm)
Ruthin Town v Bala Town (7.30 pm)
ARDAL NORTH WEST LEAGUE (7.45 pm)
Flint Mountain v Llay Welfare
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5
NATHANIEL MG CUP SECOND ROUND (2.30 pm)
Bangor 1876 v Gresford Athletic
Buckley Town v Denbigh Town
Colwyn Bay v Airbus UK Broughton
The New Saints v Connah’s Quay Nomads
ARDAL NORTH WEST LEAGUE (2.30 pm)
Brickfield Rangers v Bethesda Athletic
Conwy Borough v Saltney Town
CPD Llannefydd v Nantlle Vale
Hawarden Rangers v Llangefni Town
Holyhead Hotspur v St Asaph City
CPD Pwllhelli v CPD Y Felinheli
ARDAL NORTH EAST LEAGUE (2,30 pm)
Dolgellau AA v Cefn Albion
Llangollen Town v Llanfair United
Llanrhaeadr YM v Bow Street
Llansantfraid Village v Llandrindod Wells
Penrhyncoch v Penycae
Radnor Valley v Llanuwchllyn
Rhos Aelwyd v Builth Wells
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6
ARDAL NORTH WEST LEAGUE (2.30 pm)
Llanrwst United v CPD Y Rhyl 1879
PREVIEWS
NATHANIEL MG CUP
After being pretty over-ambitious on the predictions front in my first column of the season last weekend, I am in a more play-safe mode this time around.
Some cracking ties are on offer in the second round of the Nathaniel MG Cup, none more so than the battle at The Oval between old rivals Caernarfon Town and Porthmadog.
Friday night brings the first competitive clash between the teams since 2017-18 when both were in the tier 2 former Huws Gray Alliance.
While Caernarfon won both league games, 3-2 and 3-1, Port gained some revenge with a 2-0 success over the Cofis in the Huws Gray Cup.
In the opening round of this season’s Nathaniel MG Cup, Port beat Llanidloes Town 4-2, with new signing Shaun Cavanagh, a former Caernarfon player, netting all four goals.
Last weekend saw Port defeated 1-0 in their first Cymru North game at Holywell Town.
In their sixth successive season in the Cymru Premier, Caernarfon can expect a hard test against a Port outfit sure to be fired up for the occasion, but Richard Davies’ Canaries should edge it.
Also on Friday, Prestatyn Town host Flint Town United, while Ruthin Town will have a giant-killing in their sights when they welcome Bala Town to the Memorial Fields.
Both Prestatyn and Flint began their league campaigns with narrow wins last weekend, seeing off Gresford Athletic and Denbigh Town respectively.
Lee Fowler’s Silkmen were missing several key players for the Denbigh tussle, but hope to have talented brothers Paddy and Luis Lacey available this weekend, as well as ex-Prestatyn goal-getter Tom Hilditch.
Town would welcome another big contribution from last weekend’s match-winner Karl Clair, while attacking dynamo Dan Atkins will also be a man to watch.
Ruthin nudged past Llandudno 3-2 in the opening round, but lost their first league match of the season at home to Mold last weekend. Bala might be a bridge too far, given their vast experience in this competition, where they are the current cup holders.
Saturday’s ties include a chance for Bangor 1876 to build on their flying start to the campaign when they take on Gresford at Nantporth Stadium.
In the previous round, Michael Johnston’s blues celebrated an heroic 3-2 win at Holywell and followed up with a 6-0 caning of Llanidloes on their Cymru North debut last Saturday.
Gresford received a bye in the first round and can never be written off.
Buckley Town have begun the season well with victories over Mold Alexandra in the Nathaniel and Chirk AAA in the Cymru North.
They take on newly-promoted tier 2 side Denbigh at The Globe on Saturday and it could end up a very close tie.
Colwyn Bay, promoted to the Cymru Premier this season, have home advantage over Airbus UK Broughton, relegated from the top flight after a winless 2022-23 campaign.
Bay will be keen to blast out of the blocks in tuning up for their top division debut and should get past the Wingmakers.
The New Saints v Connah’s Quay Nomads is a meeting of arguably the two strongest teams in the Welsh Premier, both having won the Nathaniel MG Cup in the past.
Saints have already crashed out of two European competitions this season and will want to avoid an early exit against Nomads, who often give the full-timers trouble.
SCORECASTS
Caernarfon Town 2 Porthmadog 1
Prestatyn Town 1 Flint Town United 2
Ruthin Town 1 Bala Town 3
Bangor 1876 3 Gresford Athletic 1
Buckley Town 1 Denbigh Town 2
Colwyn Bay 2 Airbus UK Broughton 0
The New Saints 1 Connah’s Quay Nomads 0
ARDAL NORTH WEST LEAGUE
Flint Mountain are one of the teams expected to shine in Ardal North West this season and they kick off the league’s action for 2023-24 with a home fixture versus Llay Welfare on Friday.
Mountain certainly had Llay’s measure last season, beating them 6-3 in the Welsh Cup as well as 4-1 and 5-2 in the league.
Manager Aden Shannon has signed well in the summer and retains a lot of quality from last term.
It’s a big welcome to tier 3 for Bethesda Athletic on Saturday as they visit Wrexham outfit Brickfield Rangers.
A tough test first up for Mark N Hughes’ men, who won the tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division title in 2022-23.
Brickfield had a mixed campaign last time, but are experienced at this level and might have the edge on the day.
Conwy Borough have just been relegated from the Cymru North, but possess a good record at tier 3 and with some uplifting pre-season captures should get off to a strong start at home to Saltney Town.
CPD Llannefydd will be excited about their first tier 3 venture, but can expect a tricky hurdle in their opening fixture at home to Nantlle Vale, who often impressed last season.
Llangefni Town have brought in some great talent in the past few weeks, not least the prolific striker Marc Evans. Cefni look a good bet for at least a point in their first game away to Hawarden Rangers.
Match of the day could well be Holyhead Hotspur v St Asaph City.
Hotspur have dropped down from the Cymru North, but manager Darren Garmey has brought in some eye-catching players this close-season, midfield ace Sam Gregson a superb addition.
Saints were treble-winners last season, the true kings of tier 4, and after 12 months away from the Ardal North West they are well-equipped to improve this time.
Pwllheli have just risen from tier 4 and know they face quite an obstacle in first opponents CPD Y Felinheli at the Rec.
It will be fascinating to see how many goals veteran marksman Carl Jones may get for the Llyn Peninsula side this season.
The action continues on Sunday with Llanrwst United entertaining last season’s third-place side CPD Y Rhyl 1879.
The Rwsters will be cock-a-hoop after last weekend’s 4-1 Welsh Cup triumph at Bethesda Athletic and Callum Parry, who netted all four goals in that tie, will be a danger man on the Sabbath.
Rhyl manager Gareth Thomas has made some fine captures in recent weeks and one would expect the Lilywhites to pick up at least a point at Parc Gwydir.
SCORECASTS
Flint Mountain 3 Llay Welfare 1
Brickfield Rangers 2 Bethesda Athletic 0
Conwy Borough 3 Saltney Town 0
CPD Llannefydd 1 Nantlle Vale 3
Hawarden Rangers 1 Llangefni Town 2
Holyhead Hotspur 2 St Asaph City 2
CPD Pwllhelli 3 CPD Y Felinheli 2
Llanrwst United 1 CPD Y Rhyl 1879 1
ARDAL NORTH EAST LEAGUE
The league has been reduced to 15 clubs with the late resignation of Barmouth and Dyffryn, but there is still plenty to look forward to in the season ahead.
Last season’s promotion play-off losers Cefn Albion should be major contenders for the league title this term, especially with experienced new manager Neil Ashton in charge.
The Cefners start off with a journey to Dolgellau, who were up-and-down in 2022-23 and an away win looks a decent call.
Llanfair United are always fancied to put up a good show at this level, but they might end up disappointed on Saturday at Llangollen.
Bow Street could emerge as championship challengers based on last season’s form and they can launch their 2023-24 in style with three points at Llanrhaeadr.
Newcomers Llansantffraid Village may start off second best in their opener at home to Llandrindod Wells, while Penrhyncoch, relegated from the Cymru North, could find the going difficult when Penycae visit, but the Roosters should have enough for the win.
Llanuwchllyn can enjoy a winning start at newcomers Radnor Valley, while Rhos Aelwyd, with new manager Gareth Jones in charge, should take maximum spoils against Builth Wells.
SCORECASTS
Dolgellau AA 1 Cefn Albion 3
Llangollen Town 2 Llanfair United 1
Llanrhaeadr YM 1 Bow Street 2
Llansantfraid Village 1 Llandrindod Wells 3
Penrhyncoch 3 Penycae 2
Radnor Valley 0 Llanuwchllyn 1
Rhos Aelwyd 2 Builth Wells 1
