Cambrian’s Hughes predicts Barry title win ahead of Well clash

Cambrian & Clydach manager Craig Hughes has touted Barry Town as potential title contenders ahead of his sides match against Taffs Well.

Playing down his side’s current league position, referring to it as a ‘false position’ Hughes believes that current league leaders Barry Town will be the eventual Champions of Division One this season.

“In all honesty the league position is false as we have played more games. We would love to win the league but as I stated at the start of the year, Barry Town will win the league comfortably over the next 2 months.”

Last Saturday, Ton Pentre broke the news that their striker Jacka would be departing for fellow Rhondda side Cambrian, Hughes was delighted to secure the forward.

“I’m very pleased to secure the signature of Leon Jacka. He is a talented goalscorer who has quality on the ball, we want all the best Rhondda players at this club and that is something we will get.

Leon has commited for the remainder of this season and has agreed to play for us next season as well along with a majority of the first team squad

We are starting to build for next season now as pre-season is big after not having one this season as we came in very late as a new management team.”

Cambrian’s youth and reserve teams are currently flying, sitting second in their respective divisions, as well as the academy team getting to the FAW Youth Cup semi-final, where they will host Llandudno on the 19th March. Hughes put faith onto his young side. 

We have focused on youth, as all the experienced lads I like are attached to clubs so we have had to overuse a lot of the kids. 

They are all great lads but play a lot of football with the youth teams and college. Three of the lads; Ibby, Lewis and Elijah all recently signed to help us and have done so very well of late. I’m pleased to have them here.”

It’s brilliant news with the youth team, they have all stood out and have been brilliant especially against Bangor. I’d say around 9 or 10 have featured with the firsts this season with around 7 of them weekly.

There are some top talents with scouts casting the eye over them for the last few months. Credit to the management team involved with the youth and also the development side for helping these kids.”

The last time the two sides met, Cambrian beat Taffs Well 2-1 but Hughes felt the game was strange. Another thing on the mind of Hughes is the home form, Cambrian currently have the worst home record in the league. 

“The Taffs Well win earlier on in the season, was a strange game. I predict this one will be very tough on a 3G surface that suits them.

We just look to end the home form that has hampered our league tally. The other teams lift their game at the 3G and we have not performed well enough on the surface.”

A few times this season, the former Carmarthen man has come on and even scored for his side. 

“I’ve come on and scored a few this season and I love scoring goals but only if we win…it hurts if we fail to win.”