THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES
First Phase match data is shown in red
Friday 15th February
Championship Conference
Prestatyn Town v Airbus UK Broughton19:30
LAST SIX SEASONS15/08/08 / 2 / 1 / Ian Griffiths 31' 58' / Jon Slater 90' / 480
25/09/09 / 2 / 2 / Steve Rogers 64' Paul O'Neill 75' / Giovanni Feliciello 8' Paul McManus 38' / 359
10/10/10 / 1 / 1 / Steve Rogers 71' / Paul McManus 90' / 279
19/08/11 / 2 / 2 / Michael Parker 69' Neil Gibson 90'(p) / Gavin Cadwallader 29' Mike Hayes 46' / 246
19/01/13 / 1 / 6 / Michael Parker 15' / Ryan Wade 10' Glenn Rule 37' Chris Budrys 56' 71' Phil Bolland 79' Wayne Riley 83' / 216
ALL-TIME RECORDS
Home wins / 1 / Away wins / 1 / Draws / 3 / Goal aggregate / 8 – 12
CURRENT FORM (last 6 matches) / Home Team / DWWLWL / Away Team / LLWLLW
Play-off Conference
Aberystwyth Town v Bala Town19:30
LAST SIX SEASONS06/11/09 / 1 / 0 / Glyndwr Hughes 65' / - / 512
02/10/10 / 2 / 1 / Lewis Codling 28' Ricky Evans 67'(p) / Chris Mason 8' / 425
18/02/11 / 1 / 2 / Ashley Stott 8' / Mark Jones 1' Chris Mason 7' / 226
03/09/11 / 0 / 4 / - / Lee Hunt 2' 72' Mark Connolly 7' 61' / 254
24/08/12 / 1 / 1 / Jordan Follows 58' / Marc Connolly 87'(p) / 321
ALL-TIME RECORDS
Home wins / 2 / Away wins / 2 / Draws / 1 / Goal aggregate / 5 – 8
CURRENT FORM(last 6 matches / Home Team / LWWLWW / Away Team / WDLDLL
Saturday 16thFebruary
Championship Conference
Port Talbot Town v Bangor CityLIVETBA
LAST SIX SEASONS21/10/06 / 0 / 5 / - / Ashley Stott 15' 75' Marc Lloyd-Williams 34'90' Paul Roberts 9' / 315
20/10/07 / 0 / 0 / - / - / 175
21/02/09 / 2 / 1 / Drew Fahiya 34' 48' / James Brewerton 90'+2 / 174
21/11/09 / 2 / 1 / Martin Rose 55' 76'(p) / Dave Swanick 78' / 156
18/09/10 / 1 / 2 / Lee John 9' / Eddie Jebb 17' Jamie Reed 54' / 302
23/04/11 / 1 / 2 / Luke Bowen 28' / Alan Bull 45'+2 69' / 188
17/12/11 / 1 / 2 / Martin Rose 36' / Les Davies 27' Kyle Wilson 31' / 235
20/10/12 / 1 / 1 / Lee John 83' / Chris Roberts 46' / 240
ALL-TIME RECORDS
Home wins / 3 / Away wins / 7 / Draws / 4 / Goal aggregate / 12 – 24
CURRENT FORM (last 6 matches) / Home Team / WLWLWW / Away Team / WLLWDL
Play-Off Conference
Newtown AFC v Llanelli AFC14:30
LAST SIX SEASONS23/09/06 / 0 / 2 / - / Jacob Mingorance 37' Rhys Griffiths 85' / 220
20/10/07 / 3 / 5 / Danny Jellicoe 1' Craig Moses 30' Marc Lloyd-Williams 89' / Andy Legg 20' Danny Jellicoe 22'(og) Craig Williams 38' Rhys Griffiths 61' Andrew Mumford 63' / 325
18/10/08 / 2 / 6 / Adam Worton 63' Craig Moses 78' / Rhys Griffiths 18'35'(p)73' Andy Mumford 6' Wyn Thomas 39' Stephen Evans 61' / 255
06/02/10 / 0 / 2 / - / Stuart Jones 66' Jordan Follows 88' / 201
26/01/11 / 0 / 0 / - / - / 210
12/11/11 / 0 / 2 / - / Stuart Jones 45' Antinio Corbisiero 89' / 242
24/11/12 / 1 / 1 / Andy Jones 54' / Lloyd Grist 16' / 282
ALL-TIME RECORDS
Home wins / 7 / Away wins / 7 / Draws / 3 / Goal aggregate / 29 – 28
CURRENT FORM(last 6 matches / Home Team / LDDLWD / Away Team / WLDWLW
MATCH OFFICIALS
16/02/13 / Championship Conference
Port Talbot Town / Bangor City / B Jones / D Adie / M J Gardiner / R Harrington
Prestatyn Town / Airbus UK Bro’ton / A P Harms / I Griffith / M W Roberts / S L Evans
Play-Off Conference
15/02/13
Aberystwyth Tn / Bala Town / M S Whitby / T Cook / E J King / K Hames
16/02/13
Newtown AFC / Llanelli AFC / B J James / W Tregonning / S M Williams / K Fisher
SUSPENSIONS
Nicky Ward / Newtown FC / 3 mickyatches / from 06/02/2013
Second Phase Fixtures – Week 3
CHAMPIONSHIP CONFERENCE23/02/2013 / Airbus UK Broughton / v / The New Saints / Live 1715
Prestatyn Town / v / Port Talbot Town
No games for Gap Connah's Quay/Carmarthen Town /Bangor City
PLAY-OFF CONFERENCE
23/02/2013 / Afan Lido FC / v / Bala Town
23/02/2013 / Newtown AFC / v / Aberystwyth Town
No games for Gap Connah's Quay/Carmarthen Town /Llanelli AFC
Aizlewood reckons it’s Saints’ title
Carmarthen Town manager Mark Aizlewood is in no doubt about the destination of the Welsh Premier League title. The former Wales international has told the Carmarthen Journal that he feels The New Saints will easily win this season's crown.
"I have little doubt that The New Saints will claim the title once again, with Bangor City chasing them all the way," he said. "The next ten games are massive for Neville Powell and his management team. Nev knew that his side needed a shake-up and he has acted accordingly.
"He is a top manager and his efforts are to ensure that European football is seen at Nantporth again next season.
"However, my tip for the runners-up spot must be Andy Preece's Airbus. They have been hugely active during this transfer window and I am sure this will be translated on to the field".
Aizlewood has been busy himself during the transfer window and is pleased at his acquisitions.
He added; "We have managed to bring in three players whose presence has enhanced our selection possibilities.
"Christian Doidge from Barry Town is a young striker for the future. Luke Cummings, who came from Neath via Bath City, has had an excellent start to his Carmarthen career and is possibly the best known of our signings.
"Geoff Kellaway came to us from Llanelli and he adds to our attacking options. I am delighted with these three new players and look forward to the challenge ahead.
"It has been extremely difficult for us trying to sign new players as we are unable to compete with the spending power of clubs like Aberystwyth Town and Port Talbot. They have certainly raised the bar in terms of spending power and they will be keen to see some kind of success for their investment.
"The Welsh Premier League is no different from any other league in Europe, irrespective of any transfer window activity.
"The big boys are at the top and no-one expected otherwise. But what is proving to be very interesting is that two clubs in particular - Aberystwyth and Port Talbot - have very ambitious chairmen who have invested heavily in quality players to try to break into that 'big boys' bracket."
Prestatyn bolster defensive options
Prestatyn Town have signed experienced former TNS defender Tommy Holmes ahead of the crucial Phase Two games.
A regular in the Saints back line after arriving from Tranmere Rovers in 2000/1 Tommy, 33, made more than 250 league appearances for the Park Hall outfit representing the club 17 times in European competition.
He was voted WPL Player of the Month in February 2009 and comes from a footballing family - his brother Jamie played for Connah's Quay Nomads for a short time and his younger brother Danny joined him in the TNS squad in June 2009.
Both were released in the 2011 close season and Tommy signed a two-year deal with Airbus UK Broughton.
After a season and a half with the Wingmakers, Tommy was released by mutual consent last week and was snapped up by Town boss Neil Gibson in a deal which will keep him at the seaside until June 2014.
He is permitted to sign outside the transfer window as his last registration was as a contract player, with his contract cancelled before the window closed, which is a FIFA ruling.
In total he has made 285 + 16 appearances in the Welsh Premier League, finding the net on 11 occasions.
The Nomads sign deal with Ultimate Sports Nutrition
The Nomads are pleased to announce we have signed a deal with one of the leading sports nutrition companies to aid the physical development for first team and senior academy players.
We have always advised players each season through our nutrition and rehydration programme the importance of proper diet within the sporting world.
Last week we signed a deal with USN who are one of the biggest suppliers in sports nutrition.
Again this is optional for all players but is recommended for all of our players from the U14's to our First Team.
This link and deal has been put together by our Sports Scientist Edward Harper, who works with all of our players in SAQ (speed, agility, quickness) sessions at the academy as well as working part time at Sale Sharks with their first team and holding a Masters Degree in Sports Science.
All players interested in purchasing the above or any other products from USN please speak to Ed this evening or any Monday or contact Ed on his mobile on 07837 232325.
The Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League
Manager of the Month for January is
MARK McGREGOR of Gap Connah’s Quay
Gap started their calendar year with a thumping 4-1 victory over local rivals Airbus UK – which were followed by commendable draws against in-form Carmarthen and high-flying Prestatyn. The Nomads have surprised many people this season with their performances and quality of play. Mark McGregor deserves credit much credit for Gap Connah’s Quay’s development as well as the standard of his personal performances during the month of January.
Dechreuodd 2013 yn arbennig o dda i Gap wrth iddyn nhw chwalu eu cymdogion agos Airbus UK o 4 i 1. Wedi hynny cafwyd gemau cyfartal clodwiw yn erbyn Caerfyrddin a Phrestatyn. Mae Cei Connah wedi creu argraff ffafriol iawn ar nifer o bobl am eu perfformiadau ar y maes y tymor hwn ac mae Mark McGregor yn haeddu canmoliaeth am ei berfformiadau unigol hefyd.
Congratulations to Mark on his award which will be presented soon by a representative of League sponsors Corbett Sports
The Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League
Player of the Month for Januaryis
LIAM THOMAS of Carmarthen Town
Liam Thomas has created a big impression at Carmarthen Town this season. The former Afan Lido and Neath midfielder caught the eye once again and scored two league goals during the month of January – a month which saw ‘The Old Gold’ capture theWord Cup by beating The New Saints on penalties.
Carmarthen Town rate Thomas highly and have put him on contract because Mark Aizlewood expects bigger clubs to come knocking on their door.
Our congratulations to Liam on winning this award.
Mae Liam Thomas wedi creu argraff fawr yng Nghaerfyrddin y tymor yma. Sgoriodd cyn chwaraewr canol cae Castell Nedd a Lido Afan ddwywaith yn ystod mis Ionawr – mis welodd ‘Yr Hen Aur’ yn codi Cwpan Word hefyd drwy guro’r Seintiau Newydd ar giciau o’r smotyn.
Mae gan Gaerfyrddin feddwl mawr o Thomas ac maent wedi ei roi ar gytundeb gan bod Mark Aizlewood yn disgwyl i glybiau mwy ddod i guro ar eu drws yn y dyfodol agos.
Llongyfarchiadau i Liamar enill y wobr.
International support for the profile of our national league
By Mark Pitman -
A blog on some welcome national team interest in the Welsh Premier League.
The popular public perception of the Welsh Premier League is generally not a positive one. Although formed just two decades ago, the league has maintained a comprehensive list of critics in the press and remains an easy target for those choosing to follow the verdict of others rather than judge the domestic league for themselves.
However, the league has received a welcome boost over the course of the last year in the form of Wales manager Chris Coleman, who has actively shown his support to the national league and backed-up his lip-service with his presence at a number of games. Earlier this month Coleman was at Newtown to watch Carmarthen Town defeat The New Saints on penalties in the League Cup final, and while the standard of the playing surface left little chance of positive comment, Coleman again spoke positively about a standard of football that has been largely ignored by his predecessors.
Bobby Gould is the only other Wales manager to show a clear interest in the national league. In 1997, Gould selected Barry Town left-back Gary Lloyd for his squad to face Belgium, but while Lloyd did not come off the bench, his mere presence in the international set-up was a tremendous boost for the league.
While Coleman (left) is unlikely to emulate Gould in this respect when he names his squad for the upcoming international friendly against Austria, his presence at Welsh Premier League grounds has been a welcome positive for a league struggling to attract support and interest. Cynics may look at Coleman’s interest in the league as nothing more than a public relations stunt instigated by his employers, and they may indeed be right, but Coleman has also benefited from offering his support to the national league and his respected actions have earned the much-criticised figurehead some sympathy as he continues in his impossible job.
The job was made impossible by the circumstances of his appointment, and Coleman was first to admit the difficulty in taking over from the late Gary Speed. Coleman’s tenure has been well-documented, but before his talking took place on the pitch he went to great lengths to inspire the same positivity amongst the fans that Speed had generated with results and performances before him.
Coleman used the Welsh Premier League and clubs such as Bangor City, Airbus UK Broughton, Port Talbot Town and others to hold question and answer amongst fans in an attempt to lift a football public still in shock over the change in their international fortunes. Coleman used his welcome presence at these smaller venues to explain his plans for the future, and while the implementation has so far left a lot to be desired, he has not been afraid to continue leaving himself open to the public.
Before the League Cup final, Coleman held another question and answer session in the clubhouse at Newtown FC. Attended by those present for the final, Coleman rejected the chance to shirk behind the camera or press and once again opened himself to the questions and criticisms of the Welsh football public. Coleman then remained a focal part of the day as he discussed the match live on television during half-time and presented the trophy to the victorious Old Gold at the end of the game.
Before the match, Coleman assisted broadcasters S4/C by choosing the December goal of the month award, and discussed his choice of Port Talbot Town’s Daniel Thomas and the reasons for it ahead of Monday nights airing. While such contributions appear small, almost token-like, the fact that the national team manager has watched a number of Welsh Premier League games and visited a number of clubs should not be under-estimated for a league desperate to improve its profile.
While Coleman’s presence was positive at Newtown, he had little choice but to discuss the elephant in the room when asked for his comments at half-time. Newtown’s Latham Park is a facility deserving of such a high-profile game, but this unfortunately does not extend to the playing surface. Criticised by Coleman, despite his appreciation about the effects of winter, the standard of football was severely affected by the muddy platform on which the two sides performed.
The night before Bala Town had hosted rivals Bangor City at Maes Tegid, but the much-anticipated derby turned into nothing but a farce due to the heavy rain that turned the already heavy surface into something a local parks team would refuse to play on. Coleman spent many months after his appointment as Wales manager talking a good game, but results and performances have not lived-up to expectation.
Coleman has made positive comments about the Welsh Premier League and the standard of football, but playing surfaces like those seen at Newtown and Bala in the last fortnight deny any quality in the product being promoted.
There are active plans for more Welsh Premier League clubs to follow champions The New Saints and install artificial surfaces. Far-removed from the old plastic pitches of the eighties and nineties, the new 3G and 4G surfaces are slowly becoming common-place in other European countries and have been approved by various governing bodies in the process.
The push for more Welsh Premier League clubs to follow this trend has been instigated by the additional income that can be generated from such surfaces, but with highlights of every Welsh Premier League game now available through S4/C, there is more focus than ever on the standard of football being produced, and the standard produced on some of the current surfaces during the winter months is of no benefit to anyone other than those that choose to knock the national league.
While Coleman offers welcome lip-service to a more positive perception of the league, it may be of more benefit if Geraint Williams would accompany him to the odd domestic fixture. As manager of the intermediate teams, Williams is responsible for identifying the best young players in Wales, and his remit must now extend to supporting the academies of the twelve Welsh Premier League clubs.
Academy football at the twelve domestic clubs is well-managed and well-funded, and each year impressive teenagers emerge, the most recent being GAP Connah’s Quay prodigy Rhys Healey who recently completed a move to Championship leaders Cardiff City. Promoting Welsh Premier League youngsters to the Welsh U19 and U21 squads would be an instant boost for the clubs involved and for the reputation of the league, and the action is a simple and justifiable one.
Coleman may have learnt that actions speak louder than words the hard way since taking charge of Wales, but showing his support for the Welsh Premier League with international recognition at any level would be a far more constructive way of showing how much he really does support the national league.
Top Scorers
SurnameFirstname:League League Cup Total
PARKINSONAndyPrestatyn Town18018
SIMMChrisBangor City18018
JONESMarkAberystwyth Town13417