Llandudno manager Iwan Williams takes his side to league leaders Connah’s Quay this afternoon, determined to lift his team out of their slump.
A winless run of nine WPL matches has left Llandudno at the bottom of the table, and the club were dealt another major blow ahead of today’s visit to the title challengers when it was announced this week that recent signing Gary Taylor-Fletcher had departed the club.
Williams refuses to be downbeat however, and says his team have been working hard on the training ground as they attempt to end their miserable run.
“After losing, especially on the run we’re on, you always want the next game to come as quickly as possible. But the break has given us time to reflect and train hard. We are an honest group who know we’re on a bad run and are desperate to turn it around,” he said.
Taylor-Fletcher’s departure was confirmed this week after he was named as manager of Bangor City – just three weeks after putting pen to paper for Llandudno.
“Losing Fletch was a massive blow but again upon reflection he was always going to be a short-term fix. He scored three goals but no points were picked up so we have to look at ourselves as a group and come up with solutions on how to find that one win which will change everything,” added Williams.
Llandudno have also confirmed the loan singing of goalkeeper Connor Roberts from The New Saints until January.
Roberts, who was close to joining Aberystwyth Town earlier this season, will compete with current first-choice stopper Shaun Pearson signs until January.
“We have signed Connor Roberts who is available for selection, so we have a few headaches in terms of selection, which is a nice problem to have, “said Williams.
“Connor comes in to add competition to Shaun Pearson who we’ve had concerns with regarding niggles of late. With us having no cover in the goalkeeping department we now have two fantastic keepers battling against each other until January, which can only be a positive.”
NOMADS STRIKER WORRIES
Connah’s Quay manager Andy Morrison has selection headaches of his own to content with as he looks to press ahead at the top of the table with The New Saints and Barry Town in hot pursuit.
Morrison could be without both his first-choice strikers with Andy Owens and Michael Wilde again expected to be absent this weekend.
Wilde completes a three-match ban this weekend and third-choice striker Jack Kenny lasted just 45-minutes in the Nomads’ defeat to Cardiff Met last weekend, resulting in defender George Horan being used as a makeshift centre-forward.
The New Saints, second, will be looking to bounce back from their shock Nathaniel MG Cup defeat at home to Cardiff Met.
Barry Town are third but just a point off the summit but entertain a tricky Newtown side without leading scorer Momodou Touray (suspended) in front of live TV cameras this evening (7.30).
Relegation candidates Llanelli are searching for a successive league win at home to Caernarfon.
WPL WEEKEND RESULTS/FIXTURES
Fri: Aberystwyth 1-1 Carmarthen, Cefn Druids 2-2 Bala Town. Sat: Connah’s Quay v Llandudno, Llanelli v Caernarfon, The New Saints v Cardiff Met, Barry Town v Newtown (7.30, TV game).
