Welsh Alliance Previews – LockStock Cookson Challenge Cup and Division 2 matches
The Cookson Cup returns to the Welsh domestic scene this week, as Division One clubs enter in Round One of the competition.
There are some exciting ties to be played, with a new winner guaranteed, as Conwy Borough were promoted to a higher division.
A number of Division Two games are also being played, as Blaenau Ffestiniog look to continue their good start to the season.
LOCK STOCK COOKSON CHALLENGE CUP
Barmouth Dyffryn vs Llandudno Junction
Barmouth Dyffryn have struggled in the league this season, having won only eight of the 30 points on offer so far this season, and will be hoping a good result in the League Cup can inspire an upturn in their fortunes.
Llandudno Junction meanwhile, head into the match in worse form than the hosts, having lost nine of their 10 league matches this season, and having conceded 30 goals in their last five matches, scoring only two goals in the process.
Llanberis vs Bodedern Athletic
Llanberis have been disappointing in large parts this season, and will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the 6-1 scoreline inflicted upon them by the visitors at the end of August.
Bodedern Athletic will be looking to get back to winning ways having drawn their previous match against Greenfield, having been narrowly beaten by runaway League leaders Llandudno Albion the match before.
Llandyrnog United vs Llanrug United
Llandyrnog United have struggled for form this season, and will be particularly disappointed by their home record, having lost three and drawn two of their five matches played at Cae Nant this season.
The visitors on the other hand, are in very good form, having won four of the eight matches they’ve played this season, only losing twice. Despite this, their inconsistent away form is a worry, having won one, drawn one and lost one of their three away matches this season. Llanrug will be hoping league top scorer Aaron Hughes continues his fine goalscoring run of form, which has seen him net 10 goals in nine matches.
Llangefni Town vs Llanrwst United
Llangefni Town are the league leaders this season, and will be hoping to continue the form that has seen them score 27 goals and concede only four times this season. Llangefni will be hoping to add a Cup run to their early league success, but will face a stern test in the form of Llanrwst United.
The visitors will be coming into the match full of confidence having remained unbeaten for their previous five matches.
Penrhyndeudraeth vs Mynydd Llandegai
Penrhyndeudraeth come into the Cup on the back of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Llanrug United, but will be hoping a win will help them rediscover the good run of form that had led them to three wins, one draw and one loss in their five matches prior to the Llanrug game.
Mynydd Llandegai meanwhile will hope their 4-3 victory over Llandyrnog United can inspire a good result in the League Cup, with the Club struggling for consistency in the league so far this season.
Prestatyn Sports vs Nantlle Vale
These two teams met in their last fixture, which ended all square in a 2-2 draw. Prestatyn Sports will have been the happier of the two teams with that result, and will be hoping to shock Nantlle Vale once again. However, Prestatyn Sports will be worried by their inconsistent home form, which has seen them lose three of their five games at Recreation Park this season.
Nantlle Vale will be full of confidence despite the draw, as they are going through a fantastic run of form. Vale are one of only two teams still unbeaten this season, having won five and drawn three of their eight matches so far.
St Asaph City vs Greenfield
St Asaph City have won two, lost two and drawn one of their last five matches, and will be confident facing a Greenfield just one point ahead of them in the league.
Greenfield will be eager to beat St Asaph City for the second time this season, following on from their 3-2 victory at the end of August.
WELSH ALLIANCE DIVISION 2
Amlwch Town vs Kinmel Bay
The hosts are rock bottom of the league, having lost all five matches so far this season. Having conceded 26 goals and having scored only four times in those five matches, there’s a big worry that Town could end up being cut adrift if their fortunes don’t improve soon.
Kinmel Bay meanwhile have been going through a patchy run of form of late, with two wins, two losses and one draw in their last five matches. The visitors, however, will be heading into the match full of confidence knowing that they are strong favourites to get a good result in this match.
Blaenau Amateurs FC vs Pentraeth
Blaenau Amateurs sit top of the division, six points ahead of second place Glan Conwy, and the Amateurs also have a game in hand. They come into the match full of confidence, having won eight of their nine matches this season, and will be hoping to continue that good run.
Pentraeth meanwhile are unbeaten in five matches, having had a recent resurgence following a poor start to the season.
Gaerwen vs Penmaenmawr Phoenix
These two teams sit on the same amount of points, with only goal difference separating the two teams, so this match is likely a tight affair. A big worry for Gaerwen is the fact that they have yet to win at home this season, having drawn once and lost four times.
Penmaenmawr Phoenix meanwhile have only played once on the road this season, and that ended in a 2-2 draw at Mochdre Sports.
Llannefydd vs Aberffraw
Llannefydd come into this match against Aberffraw full of confidence following a good run of form, which has seen them take 10 points out of a possible 15 in their last five matches.
Aberffraw meanwhile will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2-1 loss to Pentraeth in their previous match. The visitors will look to striker Nathan Moore to continue his good run of form, having scored eight goals in open play so far this season, to sit joint third in the Division Two top scorers list.
Meliden vs Pwllheli
Meliden head into the match in a patchy run of form, having taken just three points from their last five matches, suffering four defeats.
The visitors are something of an unknown quantity this season, having only played three matches after having their season disrupted by a dispute with the Football Association of Wales over the Division they were to compete in.
Pwllheli currently sit with four points out of a possible nine this season and will be hoping to start firing on all cylinders as they aim to earn the right to compete in Division One again.
Mochdre Sports vs Holyhead Town
Mochdre Sports have been on a barren run of form so far this season, with the side precariously positioned just five points above Amlwch, and a point above Pwllheli, with both teams having games in hand over the hosts.
Holyhead Town, on the other hand, are stuck around the middle of the table, with two wins, one draw and three losses out of six matches this season.
Felinheli vs Llannerchymedd
Felinheli will be hoping forward Iwan Owen continues his fine goalscoring form that has seen him become the league’s joint top scorer with 11 goals so far this season. The hosts sit third in the table, and are the only team still unbeaten this season, with four wins and four draws from their eight matches.
Llannerchymedd come into the match on the back of three losses that has halted the team’s good start to the season. Currently, they sit level on points with the hosts, and will be aware that a good result will see them leapfrog their opponents.
(Featured Image: Alan Wyn Jones)
