Welsh National League Preview – Matchday Seven
WELSH NATIONAL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BRICKFIELD RANGERS vs RHOSTYLLEN
Brickfield Rangers will be hoping to bounce back from a shock 5-0 Welsh Trophy loss last week with a good performance, as they look to continue their bright early season league form. Rangers currently sit one point off the top of the table and will be hoping to retain their unbeaten start to the league campaign.
Rhostyllen meanwhile will be hoping last week’s Welsh Trophy Cup performance, where they edged past the Castell Alun Colts on penalties following a 2-2 draw, can inspire an upturn in their league fortunes. Currently however, Rhostyllen find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table, having lost every league match so far this season, conceding 25 goals in the process.
CEFN ALBION vs FC NOMADS
An interesting match beckons at the Rock, as Cefn Albion face FC Nomads. Albion are currently going through a patchy run of form, having won once, drawn twice and lose three times in the league so far this season. Albion haven’t won in the league since the 15th of August when they beat Llanuwchllyn 4-1, but will be full of confidence after two very good victories in the League Cup and Welsh Trophy Cup against Llay Miners Welfare and Johnstown Youth FC respectively.
FC Nomads meanwhile find themselves in a better position and eager to push on and challenge the teams above them in the table, as they currently sit in 7th place, five points off the pace-setters at the top of the table. The Nomads will be eager to continue demonstrating the same hunger and desire that was evident when they came back from being 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Llay Welfare FC last week.
LLAY WELFARE FC vs RHOS AELWYD
Llay Welfare will be looking to bounce back after the disappointment of last week, where they crashed out of the League Cup at the hands of FC Nomads. Llay will be eager to keep up with the teams ahead of them in the League table, instead of risking being dragged into a potential relegation battle with the teams below.
Rhos Aelwyd meanwhile will be eager to rediscover their fine run of form, which saw them go on a three match winning run, prior to their defeat at the hands of Hawarden Rangers in the Cup last week. Their last league match came almost a month ago against Penycae, and a winning performance there gave Simon Mullen’s side their first league win of the season before a run of Cup matches took place.
MOLD ALEXANDRA vs HAWARDEN RANGERS
Mold Alexandra will feel confident of increasing their unbeaten run in the league with a good performance against a Hawarden Rangers side that have only won one match so far this season.
Mold have bounced back with a series of confident performances since losing their opening match of the season against Brymbo FC. Since the opening match, the hosts have only conceded five goals in the League, scoring 15 in the process, and will be feeling confident of extending the run of form that has seen them fly up to sixth in the table. Mold’s fine run of form has arguably been inspired by the prolific run of goalscoring form displayed by their talisman attacker Callum Freeman, who is the League’s leading goalscorer with nine goals.
Hawarden Rangers on the other hand, find themselves amongst a crowd of clubs near the bottom of the table, struggling for form. Rangers however, will be boosted by their two cup wins in the past two weeks, and will be hoping this inspires a league resurgence from their squad.
SALTNEY TOWN vs LEX XI
In what is looking like being the most evenly contested Welsh National League Premier Division match of the weekend, both Saltney Town and Lex XI will both be hoping to end their patchy runs of form with a good result. Saltney have only lost once so far this season, and that was to an in-form Mold Alexandra side on the 14th of August, so will be the more confident of the two teams ahead of this match.
However, Lex XI will feel that this is the kind of match that could help them rediscover their best form, with the Club sitting only three points behind Saltney Town, with the potential to leapfrog their opponents if they get a good result on Saturday.
WELSH NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1
CASTELL ALUN COLTS vs OVERTON
Castell Alun Colts host Overton Recreational at the Castell Alun School ground on Saturday in what is sure to be a close contest, with just one point separating the two teams ahead of the match. Castell have only played four matches so far this season, and have won two and lost two, so will be hoping for a favourable result this time round.
Overton will know that a good result will see them leapfrog their opponents and see them climb the table as a result, and will be eager to get back to winning ways having only won once this season.
MYNYDD ISA SPARTANS vs LLANGOLLEN TOWN
Mynydd Isa Spartans welcome Llangollen Town to the Argoed Sports and Social Club on Saturday, in what is shaping up to be a match between two teams eager to challenge for the title. Both teams have won four of their matches this season, with the Spartans losing one match and Llangollen, who’ve played a match more than the hosts, losing twice.
Mynydd Isa will be looking for Mike Whales and Aide Davies to continue their fine form in front of goal, and will be hoping their defence stays firm against a Llangollen Town side that has scored 27 goals in just six matches so far this season.
Llangollen will have plenty of confidence in the way they play, and will be hopeful of getting a good result against one of their rivals near the top of the table this season.
PLAS MADOC vs OFFA ATHLETIC
The League leaders host Offa Athletic on Saturday, and are one of only nine teams in North Wales domestic football to still have a 100% win record. The Plas Madoc attack have started this season on fire, having scored an incredible 36 goals in just five matches, whilst their defence have looked unbeatable at times, only conceding four times.
The home side also have no less than four players in the leading scorers list, with Jamie Williams sitting top with 10 goals, with Nicky Williams on seven goals whilst Lee Price has five goals and Josh Williams, with 4 goals, join him on the list.
Offa Athletic meanwhile have been in good form themselves, sitting in fourth place in the Welsh National League Division 1 table, and will not only be hoping to cause an upset, but also to close the gap on the league leaders with a good result against the odds.
RHYDYMWYN vs RHOSLLANERCHRUGOG
Rhydymwyn are something of an unknown quantity this season, having only played two matches so far. However, they have won both matches, scoring 10 goals and only conceding once. The early suggestions from their opening matches are that they could be challenging near the top of the table this season.
Rhosllanerchrugog currently sit one place and one point ahead of Rhydymwyn, despite having played three matches more than their opponents, and will know that a loss will see Rhydymwyn leapfrog them.
FEATURED IMAGE: Corwen FC – Gavin Billington
