Cymru South season preview as Newport City and Penrhiwceiber clash with Llanelli Town and Pontypridd United

The new JD Cymru South season kicks off on Friday, 26th of July with 16 teams battling it out for the title and a place in Wales’ top flight.

In what is set to be another competitive season only one side over the course of 480 league games will lift the trophy and book their place amongst the best clubs in the country.

It was Briton Ferry Llansawel who claimed top spot last season, and it is hard to predict what side will claim the crown in nine months time.

Here is a look at each club that is set to compete in this years competition.

Title contenders

Starting with last seasons runners-up, Llanelli Town will be looking to go one better this season and gain a spot in the Cymru Premier for the first time since relegation in 2013. The Reds will open their season with a trip to Rhiw’r Ddar Stadium to face Taffs Well.

They boast a squad of talented players with some of the best attacking talent in the league including Ethan Cann who contributed 17 goal involvements last season. Llanelli scored 80 goals last term, second only behind champions Briton Ferry and will look for their attacking capabilities to take them to the title this campaign.

Pontypridd United will be looking to ensure they gain promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking following their relegation last season. The club struggled with off-field issues leading to points deductions and finished bottom of the Cymru Premier.

Gavin Allen will be hoping to guide The Dragons back to the Cymru Premier and will be amongst the early favourites heading into this years competition. They have added former Cymru Premier quality in to their squad with the additions of Jamie Veale formally of Barry United and Ashley Evans and Dan Griffiths previously of Penybont.

Ammanford will be looking for another strong season after a third-placed finish last time out. They will be hoping young forward Lewis Reed can continue his goal-scoring exploits after hitting 25 last season. They face a first day trip to newly promoted Newport City on the opening day.

Always backed by a passionate support, Gruff Harrison will be hoping to guide his side to the top end of the table again this season.

The Old Gold Carmarthen Town will be hoping to improve on their sixth placed finish last season and look to be in contention for the title.

Greg Walters departed after six seasons to join Haverfordwest County but the club have announced the signing of Josh Bull from Briton Ferry. Bull will be looking to make it a third consecutive promotion from the Cymru South following title winning seasons with Barry Town and Briton Ferry.

Carmarthen attacker Noah Daley is another of the vast amount of youthful talent littered across the division. The 22-year old finished as the clubs top goalscorer last season with 14 goals and will look for another strong performance this season.

Dark Horses

The most impressive promoted side last term were Caerau Ely, whose manager Dean Wheeler earned the JD Cymru South manager of the season award after guiding the club to a fifth placed finish. The Young Guns will be looking to cause some more upsets and could be outsiders for a title race.

The club has a host of talent in their ranks including forward Brandon Griffiths. The 26-year-old will be hoping to improve on the 17-goal season he achieved last time out.

Newly named Cambrian United managed a fourth placed finish last season and will be aiming for similar results this time around. United have lost last season’s club player of the season Cameron Keetch, as he linked up with former Barry Town manager Lee Kendall at Westfields of The Hellenic Premier.

The club boasted the best defensive record last season conceding only 37 goals in 30 fixtures and will be looking to remain defensively solid this campaign.

Afan Lido secured a seventh-placed finish last season with the help of one of the best youngsters in the league Ieuan Owen.

The 18-year-old attacker provided 15 goals and four assists during the season and could play a major part again this campaign. Lido open their season with a difficult away fixture to Pontypridd United at The USW Sports Park.

Another of the newly promoted sides from last season, Baglan Dragons had a solid first season in the second division with a 10th-placed finish.

An exciting attacking team, including forwards Thomas Davies, Jay Thomas and Jordan Evans who scored 25 goals between them, and they even have a goalscoring goalkeeper in their ranks.

Outsiders

Manager Laurie Marsh guided Goytre United to an 8th placed finish last season with the clinical attack of Jordan Edwards and Keane Watts netting 33 goals between them. They face an opening day trip to Richmond Park, home of Carmarthen Town.

Goytre ended with a minus one goal difference at the end of the campaign so will need to be more defensively solid this time around to give themselves a higher league position.

It was a 9th placed finish last season for Cwmbran Celtic, helped hugely by the leagues top goalscorer Alex Bonthron.

The 30-year old hit 30 goals in 28 league appearances last time out and could help The Yellows climb the ranks this season. They open the season with a home tie against Cambrian United.

Trefelin secured a 11th placed finish last time out with standout youngster Roan Piper hitting 18 goals and winning the JD Cymru South young player of the season.

Trefelin will be looking for a higher placed finish in the competitive division and will open the campaign at home to Caerau Ely.

They’ve added experienced quality to compliment their talented youngster with Lee Trundle, Shaun MacDonald and Charlie Corsby all making the move to Ynys Park to aid the clubs attempts at climbing the league table.

Last campaign saw Llantwit Major in a relegation battle finishing 12th after major departures from their title winning squad the season previous.

Manager Ben Stait took charge with the team in the bottom three and guided the club to safety with a final day win against Carmarthen Town.

Despite the difficult league campaign, the club became the first Welsh side to play in the group stages of a UEFA competition with their participation in the Fenix Trophy. They open this season hosting newly promoted Trethomas Bluebirds.

Last season was a difficult one for Taffs Well as they finished 13th, one spot outside of the relegation zone on goal difference. A crucial 4-1 home win against Afan Lido on the penultimate game of the season secured their spot in the Cymru South, and it could be another fight for survival this time around.

The clubs top goalscorer was defender Vaughn Fowler, who ended the season with seven goals. The Wellmen will need a better return from their forwards to fight off the drop this season.

New Faces

The first of the three new clubs in the division are Ardal South West champions Penrhiwceiber Rangers.

They gained promotion to the Cymru South after a thrilling title race with Cefn Cribwr with forward Warren Jones hitting 16 goals on their way to the title and promotion to the second division.

Manager Dean Brown will be hoping to guide the side to safety in what is expected to be a difficult season for The Tigers. They open their season with a home tie against Baglan Dragons at Glasbrook Field.

They will be joined by Ardal South East champions Trethomas Bluebirds. The club have been successful in recent seasons winning the Ardal South Cup in 2022 and the FAW Amateur Trophy in 2023 before their title winning season, and will look to maintain their place in the second tier.

The Bluebirds hit 100 league goals in their title winning campaign, with Levi Rees and Gareth Tedstone hitting 53 between them. They begin their campaign with an away tie against Llantwit Major.

The final promoted side, Newport City booked their place in this seasons competition with a 2-1 Ardal South play-off victory against Cefn Cribwr.

They’ve added players who are vastly experienced at this level, with the additions former Barry United players Luke Cooper and Jordan Cotterill.

They’ve also signed forward Nathaniel Jarvis from Taunton Town. Jarvis is a talented forward who’s had previous spells with Cardiff City, Newport County and Barry United.

The 32-year-old also has international football on his CV representing Antigua and Barbuda on 13 occasions scoring three goals.

The club also recently announced a partnership with neighbours Newport County. A statement on the partnership read: “Newport County AFC and Newport City FC are pleased to announce a new partnership that will see the City’s two football clubs forge stronger ties and offer more football opportunities for local supporters.”

All three of the newly promoted sides have the possibility to cause upsets this season, making it difficult to theorise how the league table will lie at the end of the season.

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)