*Odds will appear on the day of the match
JD CYMRU NORTH
Undefeated Cymru North leaders Colwyn Bay suffered a rare setback last weekend when they went down 4-0 to Cymru Premier high-flyers Connah’s Quay Nomads in the Welsh Cup.
The question is, will that heavy defeat affect their league campaign in any way?
This Friday, Steve Evans’ Seagulls host Holyhead Hotspur, who are sitting third from bottom with just one win in their opening 10 league matches.
Evans will have his men motivated to bounce back in style and it is hard to envisage anything other than a home win.
Three teams are currently on 31 points at the summit – the Bay, Llandudno and Holywell Town.
The Wellmen, on a fantastic streak of 10 straight league victories, can expect a good test on Friday when Prestatyn Town visit the Achieve More Stadium.
Fifth-place Prestatyn have really picked up after a slow start, but successive defeats – 2-1 at home to Llandudno in the league and 2-0 away to Buckley Town in the Welsh Cup – will have given them an unwelcome jolt.
Nonetheless, they will press Holywell hard and although a home win is likely, it could be close.
Saturday sees the third member of the leading triumvirate, Llandudno, home to a good opponent in Ruthin Town.
The mid-table Vale of Clwyd outfit have had a mixed start to the campaign and with Tudno on a five-match winning run and full of confidence, it is difficult to lean against a home victory.
Now up to sixth, Buckley Town are beginning to get it together, following up back-to-back league triumphs by knocking Prestatyn Town out of the Welsh Cup last weekend.
Dan Moore’s side have it in their armoury to send Porthmadog home pointless from The Globe on Saturday.
Five wins in their last six have hauled Cefn Druids into the top-four. The Ancients have to be favourites to defeat an out-of-form Mold Alexandra at The Rock.
Conwy Borough versus Chirk AAA has the look of a draw, while Guilsfield should see off bottom side Penrhyncoch.
Last weekend’s Welsh Cup heroes Gresford Athletic, who languish one from the basement, turn their focus to vital league points when they journey to Llanidloes Town.
Will it be a case of After the Lord Mayor’s Show for Eddie Maurice-Jones’ men? The Colliers should be good for at least a point at Victoria Park.
SCORECASTS
Colwyn Bay | 4 | 1 | Holyhead Hotspur |
Holywell Town | 2 | 1 | Prestatyn Town |
Buckley Town | 2 | 1 | Porthmadog |
Cefn Druids | 3 | 1 | Mold Alexandra |
Conwy Borough | 1 | 1 | Chirk AAA |
Guilsfield | 2 | 1 | Penrhyncoch |
Llandudno | 3 | 0 | Ruthin Town |
Llanidloes Town | 2 | 2 | Gresford Athletic |
ARDAL NORTH EAST
Corwen must have been on cloud nine after last weekend’s 4-0 win over Rhayader Town.
On Saturday, Lee Pope’s men visit Caersws, second in the table and a team looking like the best the league has to offer at present.
Third-from-bottom Corwen should make a game of it, buoyed by the Rhayader result, but the Bluebirds are likely to be too powerful at The Rec.
What happened to Llanfair United last weekend? After winning their first seven, the Powys powerhouses were swept aside 6-0 by Bow Street. That made it successive league losses for the Mount Field crew.
Saturday brings a trip to current leaders Cefn Albion for United.
Albion are four points clear at the summit, but have played a few more games than main chasers such as Caersws, Llanfair and Rhos Aelwyd.
If they can hold things together at Clywedog Park, the Cefners should deliver the win.
Dolgellau Athletic and the capable but somewhat erratic Builth Wells can share the spoils at The Marian, Llanuwchllyn should repeat their recent 4-2 win at Llangollen Town in the home return, Penycae v Bow Street could be a cracker which may well end up level and in the battle of the bottom two, Rhayader Town can overcome Llanrhaeadr by a narrow margin.
SCORECASTS
Caersws | 4 | 1 | Corwen |
Cefn Albion | 3 | 1 | Llanfair United |
Dolgellau Athletic | 2 | 2 | Builth Wells |
Llanuwchllyn | 3 | 1 | Llangollen Town |
Penycae | 3 | 3 | Bow Street |
Rhayader Town | 2 | 1 | Llanrhaeadr |
ARDAL NORTH WEST
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 have a massive incentive to beat Brickfield Rangers at Belle Vue this Saturday – win and you go top of the league.
Gareth Thomas’ side is more than capable of completing a quick double over a Bricky outfit they defeated 2-0 at Clywedog Park on November 5.
While Rhyl have faced difficulties due to injuries and suspensions in their bid to field strongest sides of late, they have battled their way to successive away league victories.
They have had to endure two cup defeats in a row, but the league is their main target.
Brickfield, managed by former Rhyl FC Welsh Premier title-winner Gareth Wilson, have started the campaign encouragingly and cannot be dismissed ahead of Saturday’s contest.
Llangefni Town are home to Saltney Town in what could end up a tight affair.
Saltney are going through a tough time, having lost 5-0 at home to Denbigh Town at the weekend just hours after their ground was vandalised.
Neill Rees Hughes faces a demanding task getting his players motivated for a long journey to Anglesey, but the Bordermen are renowned battlers and can take at least a point.
Top-half sides Llanrwst United and Flint Mountain – just a point apart – clash at Gwydir Park.
Mountain have won three on the bounce in the league and earned a cracking recent victory over Rhyl 1879 in the Ardal North Cup. With confidence on their side, Aden Shannon’s men can edge it.
Rhostyllen, still without a win in 10 and bottom of Ardal North West, welcome third-place Llay Welfare.
Llay suffered a knockback last Saturday when going down 1-0 at home to a Felinheli side they had walloped 7-0 in a cup tussle on the same ground a week earlier. Expect Welfare to respond with a three-point haul.
SCORECASTS
Llangefni Town | 2 | 2 | Saltney Town |
Llanrwst United | 1 | 3 | Flint Mountain |
Rhostyllen | 1 | 4 | Llay Welfare |
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 | 3 | 1 | Brickfield Rangers |
*Odds will appear on the day of the match