Llanelli Town have a chance to make up some lost ground this weekend when they visit Pontardawe on Saturday in the JD Cymru South.
With the top two – Barry Town United and Briton Ferry Llansawel – both enjoying a free weekend, the spotlight falls on The Reds.
Llanelli have a lot of ground to make up as they are five points behind the Ferry and a massive 14 points adrift of Barry, although they do have two matches in hand on both clubs.
Sean Cronin tucked away the penalty that gave Llanelli a precious 1-0 win at Ammanford last week, to spark an away fans’ chorus of, “Oh, baby do you know what that’s worth? Sean Cronin kept his penalty on earth!”
If Llanelli can win both their games in hand, then they could get to within eight points of Barry, but with only seven more games to go it would require a monumental collapse from the leaders to make it tight.
Runners-up spot is a far more realistic target for the Stebonheath Park club and if they need any inspiration then they could have done well to listen to Matty Jones this week, the Wales U21 manager.
Jones, a Llanelli native who played for Leeds United and Leicester City as well as Wales before ending his career with The Reds after a succession of knee injuries, is now in charge of producing the next generation of Welsh talent.
He admitted: “I wasn’t blessed with great technical ability but I was strong mentally and I was able to practise relentlessly every day to make sure I competed at the top level of world football – whether that was from an international perspective, or in the Champions League or Premier League.
“To have those experiences was amazing.”
Suitably inspired, Llanelli should fancy their chances at Pontardawe, who have lost five of their last seven games, although they did beat bottom club Ynyshir Albions, 3-0, last time out.
The weekend action begins on Friday night when strugglers Swansea University host fourth-placed Afan Lido.
The students are without a win in five games, whilst Afan Lido’s recent defeat to Llanelli was their first setback in 14 games.
One place below Afan Lido, in fifth, are Cambrian and Clydach, who are away at the club immediately below them in sixth, Carmarthen Town.
Cambrian and Clydach hit Trefelin for six last week – 6-0 – so will feel confident they can get something at Carmarthen, although the home club also enjoyed a big win, 5-0 at Swansea Uni.
Elsewhere, there is a mid-table meeting between Cwmbran Celtic and Goytre United, whilst seventh-placed Llantwit Major host strugglers Ammanford.
