It’s an all Cardiff affair as Llanrumney based side STM Sports host Tremorfa based side Bridgend Street.
The two sides were separated by five points last season as league debutants STM Sports finished below Bridgend Street. This season STM have gone one further by sitting top of Division Three despite playing less games than some teams.
The last two met on September 10th when Bridgend Street beat STM Sports 2-0, with goals coming from Paul Fowler and Nicky Davison.
STATS AND FACTS:
Bridgend Street haven’t played a league fixture since the 5th November.
Despite being top of the division, STM Sports haven’t scored the most goals in the division or conceded the least.
STM Sports are in the last sixteen of the FAW Trophy whilst Bridgend Street are in the quarter-finals of the Welsh League Cup.
STM Sports LEAGUE form:
WWWDW
Bridgend Street LEAGUE form:H
LLWWD
STM Sports manager Nathan Cadette’s comments:
On how much this game means to the players
“Bragging rights are definitely on offer, it’s a fixture all the lads look forward to, some more than others!”
On missing out on promotion last season
“We fell short last season of promotion but this season with the talent we have in the squad, our aim is promotion.”
On why STM are top of the division
“We have a fantastic front three that possess fantastic ability and for me, they have the talent that they can go on to play at a higher level, our strikers have been the difference this season.”
On STM Sport’s 3G pitch
“Our surface benefits us in the way I want us to play, we play a very expansive passing game which on our 3G urface is a lot easier to do.”
On any injuries for Saturday’s fixture
“Our captain Dale Garner is back from suspension which is a massive boost for us, however two or three players look set to miss months of action, rather than weeks.”
Bridgend Street manager: Craig Dale
On if STM vs Street is a derby match and how they will approach it
“It’s always to have local derbies, they excite the neutral. I think the bragging rights are more for the players as we as a management team will setup, prepare and go about it as any other game. ”
On STM’s achievements last season and how they’re performing this season.
“For STM to have achieved they have is fantastic and in such a short space of time as well, I think they will do well again this season. It’s always nice to see a fellow Cardiff side doing well.”
On what has changed this season
“We’re at the early stages of a very long season. We saw last February that things change. We were top in the last week of November but then didn’t play until the last week of January, leaving us to play catch-up.”
On beating STM in the cup
“We were equally matched last season and although we beat them in the Cup this season, the league is a different task and both teams are aware of each other.”
On being in the Quarter-Finals of the League Cup.
“It’ an achievement in itself when you look at the stature of the clubs left in the competition.
We have a tough task against a very good Taffs Well side who boast five ex Street players we have home advantage so hopefully we’ll get a good crowd and the right result to take us into the semi-finals.”
On managing such a youthful side
“Man management, honesty and having the right balance of youth and experience is at the top of the list when managing our youthful squad.
They’re all good las wanting to learn, picking up vital information from the experienced players.
There’s a good team spirit throughout the club and we all want success at every level we play at.”
On absentees for the game
“We are without a few key players that are carrying injuries as we have been for weeks now, our squad is big enough to cope with the demands of a long season.”
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