The final round of Phase 1 fixtures are to be played simultaneously on Saturday as the JD Welsh Premier League splits into two six-team conferences (5.15).
The New Saints – nine points clear at the summit -, Connah’s Quay, Bangor City, Bala Town and Cardiff Met have already clinched five of those top-six berths.
The remaining place will likely fall to either Cefn Druids or Llandudno who incidentally face each other on the final weekend of Phase 1.
Huw Griffiths’ Druids are the current occupants of sixth-place and a point from their clash with Llandudno at the Rock would be enough to secure them an unlikely top-half finish.
Llandudno, enjoying a four-game unbeaten stretch, must claim a win to leapfrog Cefn Druids.
“On the one hand I’m very pleased to still be in the top six race, but on the other hand I’m disappointed because I thought we steamrolled Bala in the first half, we carved them open, created so many chances, and that little bit of criticism I had towards the players at halftime was that we weren’t two, three or four nil in front,” said Llandudno manager Iwan Williams when reflecting on last week’s draw with Bala Town.
“If you’re looking back at the game we’ve been involved in, Bangor twice, Cardiff Met, TNS and Bala, to still be in the mix of achieving top six football, I couldn’t be prouder of the lads and I can’t be happier for them than I am.
“It is a straight shootout next week at Druids, I’ve got a lot of respect for Huw Griffiths and the work he’s done there – they’ve had a fantastic season so far – but it was the objective (to reach the top six) when I came into the club and to still be in the mix is something I’m quite proud of myself, but I can’t be any prouder of the effort and determination shown by the lads,” he added.
“Look at today, a number of lads carrying knocks, they’ve worked their socks off for me since day one and especially recently over a busy Christmas period, and yet we’re still in it, we’re not giving up and we’re really looking forward to Saturday.”
Barry Town are also still have a faint chance of making the Championship Conference, but their hopes rest on a Llandudno victory and then the Dragons must better Llandudno’s result by at least seven goals.
Matchday 22 fixtures (all 5.15)
Aberystywth vs Connah’s Quay; Barry Town vs Bala Town; Carmarthen vs Cardiff Met; Cefn Druids vs Llandudno; Newtown vs Prestatyn; The New Saints vs Bangor City
