WPL Preview: Matchday 15
Although many leagues in the domestic pyramid are taking a break this weekend, the top flight are largely in action and with some fierce match-ups to boot.
Five games are to be played from Friday to Sunday, with The New Saints and Rhyl the only teams without a Dafabet Welsh Premier game owing to the Saints’ Irn Bru Cup quarter final fixture against Livingston.
All games this weekend will see poppies on all club’s shirt, a practice commonplace in the WPL for a number of seasons now.
11/9/16 Bala Town vs Aberystwyth Town
Bala Town will look to continue their strong run of form in a vital clash against Aberystwyth on Friday evening at Maes Tegid. The game sees both teams meet having overcome shaky starts to the season.
Bala have gone six games unbeaten, whilst Aberystwyth travel to Bala after a run of home games which saw them take seven points from four games, enough to put them into the mix for a top six place.
A win for Aberystwyth will prove they can pick up big wins away from home, whilst three points for Bala Town will see further close the gap on Bangor City and gap Connah’s Quay.
12/11/10 Cardiff Met vs Airbus UK Broughton
Although Welsh Premier stalwarts Airbus travel to newly promoted Cardiff Met on Saturday, it is the students who are currently high-flying.
With Dr Christian Edwards’ technical game now fully embraced by Cardiff Met, they have picked up big results including draw against Connah’s Quay and 4-0 and 5-0 victories over Rhyl FC and Druids respectively.
With home form favouring Cardiff, Airbus will have to be on their guard on their quest for only their fourth win this season so far. They come off the back of a crunch defeat against Newtown which keeps them rooted to the relegation zone, so they will be expected to push hard for a response for Manager Andrew Thomas.
13/11/10 Carmarthen AFC vs Cefn Druids
A response will be expected by Carmarthen this weekend following their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Barry Town United in the Nathaniel MG Cup semi final last Tuesday. They will fancy their chances against a Druids side who have not won in their last four games, but neither sides have fantastic records this season so far.
Druids travel down south after a 3-1 defeat to Llandudno, and with just two wins this season so far, will be anxious for three points if they are going stage a top six fight this season.
13/11/10 Newtown AFC vs Bangor City
Newtown hope to continue a revival of their season with what would be a sensational win over a strong Bangor outfit on Sunday. Chris Hughes’ side beat Airbus last week, but have more work to do as they still sit at the bottom of the table, with a win having the potential to send them 10th.
Bangor will travel to mid-wales knowing a win is needed keep up with Nomads in second and stave off a fast approaching Bala side in fourth. Andy Legg’s side come into the game off the back of a narrow 2-1 loss to TNS, but had not lost for five games before that defeat – Latham Park should be in for a great spectacle on Sunday.
13/11/10 Llandudno FC vs gap Connah’s Quay
Two of the league’s Europa League hopefuls meet on Sunday in what is sure to be a close game at Llandudno. Both sides come into the game off the back of victories, with Llandudno seeing off Cefn Druids last week and gap Connah’s Quay completing a second half comeback to beat Aberystwyth 3-1.
The two sides couldn’t be separated in the reverse fixture, which saw them draw 1-1 on a tightly contested Tuesday evening. A win for Llandudno would be a strong statement as they look to qualify for the top six sooner rather than later.
With their ever-growing injury list it would be fair to think Nomads may take a point, but this is unlikely with the winner-takes-all attitude Andy Morrison has instilled in his players.
