FIXTURES
Friday, January 5 JD Cymru North (7.30 pm)
Airbus UK Broughton v Bangor 1876
Denbigh Town v Gresford Athletic
Lock Stock Ardal North East (7.45 pm)
Llansantffraid Village v Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
Saturday, January 6JD Cymru North (2 pm unless stated)
Buckley Town v Flint Town United
Chirk AAA v Holywell Town
Guilsfield v Caersws (2.30 pm)
Llandudno v Mold Alexandra
Llanidloes Town v Prestatyn Town
Porthmadog v Ruthin Town
Lock Stock Ardal North East (2 pm)
Llanfair United v CPD Rhos Aelwyd
Llangollen Town v Dolgellau AA
Penrhyncoch v Radnor Valley
Penycae v Llanuwchllyn
Welshpool Town v Cefn Albion
Lock Stock Ardal North East Cup (1.45 pm)
Llandrindod Wells v Bow Street
Llanrwst United v Flint Mountain
Lock Stock Ardal North West (2 pm)
Bethesda Athletic v Hawarden Rangers
Brickfield Rangers v CPD Llannefydd
CPD Pwllheli v Holyhead Hotspur
CPD Y Felinheli v St Asaph City
Llangefni Town v Saltney Town
Llay Welfare v Conwy Borough
Nantlle Vale v CPD Y Rhyl 1879
PREVIEWS
JD Cymru North
Leaders Airbus UK Broughton will aim to stretch their unbeaten league run to 11 games when they host Bangor 1876 on Friday night.
The Wingmakers have already won 2-1 at Nantporth this season, but will take on an 1876 side in decent form having scooped 15 points out of a possible last 18.
Gresford Athletic were good enough to get a point at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium on Boxing Day and so are Bangor.
Friday evening also sees Denbigh Town entertain Gresford.
Town will be anxious to bounce back after beginning 2024 with a disastrous 4-0 loss at neighbours Ruthin.
Saturday sees unbeaten Flint Town United travel to Buckley Town. The Silkmen won the reverse fixture 2-0 at the Essity Stadium in October and are a good bet to complete a double.
Chirk AAA climbed off the bottom with a 2-2 draw versus Guilsfield on December 30.
The Colliers will do well to deny Saturday’s visitors Holywell Town a maximum points haul at Holyhead Road. The Wellmen boosted their armoury by adding proven goalscorer Jamie Brreese to the squad from Llanidloes Town this week.
Guilsfield against Caersws has the strong scent of a draw about it, as does Llandudno’s home clash with Mold Alexandra.
Much-improved Tudno did come a cropper over Christmas and New Year, though, suffering back-to-back 5-1 losses to Flint Town United, so the Seasiders need to be at their best to stop a high-flying Alex in their tracks.
Llanidloes Town could edge a tight verdict against a Prestatyn Town side which lost star man Dan Atkins to Colwyn Bay this week.
And with new manager Stephen Williams and a host of fresh recruits and several departures to take on board, Porthmadog might find the going tough against a Ruthin outfit buoyed by their New Year’s Day 4-0 thrashing of Denbigh Town.
SCORECASTS
Airbus UK Broughton 2 Bangor 1876 2
Denbigh Town 2 Gresford Athletic 1
Buckley Town 0 Flint Town United 2
Chirk AAA 1 Holywell Town 3
Guilsfield 1 Caersws 1
Llandudno 1 Mold Alexandra 2
Llanidloes Town 1 Prestatyn Town 0
Porthmadog 1 Ruthin Town 3
Lock Stock Ardal North East
Match of the weekend has to be Saturday’s meeting of second and first – Penrhyncoch v Radnor Valley.
Beaten just once in 12 starts since joining the tier 3 league, leaders Radnor are a point ahead of Penrhyncoch, who walloped Llansantffraid 5-0 at home in their last outing.
While the Presteigne-based visitors have made a marvellous start to life in a higher league, Penrhyn should just have the edge on their own Cae Baker turf.
Friday evening sees Llansantffraid, who had a flying start only to have gone off the boil of late, face a tricky home encounter with third-bottom, but often dangerous, Llanrhaeadr.
Nonetheless, we can see a home win here – just.
Back to Saturday, Rhos Aelwyd should shade it at Llanfair, Dolgellau AA can take the spoils at Llangollen Town and Cefn Albion are expected to start 2024 on a winning note at struggling Welshpool.
Penycae, who have been in great form over the past month or so, host Llanuwchllyn, a team more than capable of beating anyone in the division.
This could be a very interesting encounter.
SCORECASTS
Llansantffraid Village 2 Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant 1
Llanfair United 0 CPD Rhos Aelwyd 1
Llangollen Town 1 Dolgellau AA 3
Penrhyncoch 2 Radnor Valley 1
Penycae 3 Llanuwchllyn 2
Welshpool Town 0 Cefn Albion 4
Lock Stock Ardal North East Cup
Two potentially close ties, but a pair of away wins look like a decent shout.
SCORECASTS
Llandrindod Wells 1 Bow Street 2
Llanrwst United 1 Flint Mountain 3
Lock Stock Ardal North West
Can leaders Rhyl 1879 begin 2024 as they ended 2023 – in winning form?
With an eight-point lead at the summit, the Lilywhites are handily placed, but they have a tough task on their hands at third-place Nantlle Vale on Saturday.
A draw looks the best forecast, but if I had to pick a winner, I’d trust Rhyl 1879 to narrowly edge it.
Two struggling sides lock horns when basement pair Bethesda Athletic and Hawarden Rangers do battle at Parc Meurig. Hawarden picked up their first league win of the season at the 12th attempt before Christmas, which will give them confidence for their trip to the Ogwen Valley.
Brickfield Rangers versus Llannefydd is another one where it is hard to pick a winner, and yet again a draw might be the safest call.
Holyhead Hotspur’s improved league form should stand them in good stead at Pwllheli and second-place St Asaph City will hope to edge closer to Rhyl 1879 with a victory away to Felinheli, where getting a positive result is never easy.
Llangefni Town should have enough to outscore Saltney and Llay Welfare can send Conwy Borough home pointless.
Such a tricky set of fixtures to kick off the year.
SCORECASTS
Bethesda Athletic 1 Hawarden Rangers 1
Brickfield Rangers 2 CPD Llannefydd 2
CPD Pwllheli 1 Holyhead Hotspur 2
CPD Y Felinheli 1 St Asaph City 3
Llangefni Town 3 Saltney Town 1
Llay Welfare 3 Conwy Borough 0
Nantlle Vale 1 CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2
