Costcutter Division One Title Race
The top two title challengers face very difficult games this afternoon and both are without their star strikers. Lampeter who currently occupy third place but who have two games in hand over Newcastle Emlyn take on Cardigan Town without their top scorer Gethin Hunter. Whilst at Parc Tir Y Dref Llandysul host Crannog and their hot shot Simon Davies is also missing and he may be out for the season following a leg injury.
The Magpies hit a bit of form last time out when they beat arch rivals St Dogmaels by 4-1 and if they are as clinical in front of goal this afternoon Lampeter could be in trouble.
Luke Lovell and co will travel to the King George with a strong side and Town will have to play very well to beat a team that hasn’t lost in the league since the opening day of the season.
The greasy pitch will make it very difficult to knock the ball about but the young Town outfit are starting to believe in themselves following a difficult start to the season and if they are given some time on the ball they are dangerous. Lampeter though are a very physical side and they should have too much for Iestyn Evans and co.
Leaders Llandysul will have their hands full this afternoon when they take on Crannog, a side who beat them just a few weeks ago in the Cwpan Dai Dynamo. Dylan Evans and his men have got better as the season has progressed and they look a decent bet for some silverware this term.
Swallows manager Chris Davies is also without Andrew Evans and he may use utility player Mathew Newbold as a stand in striker in place of Simon Davies or push Adrian Hazelby further up the field. Crannog though will hope that Davies opts for the first option as Hazelby is a handful with his pace. The Llangrannog outfit are good enough to inflict the first league defeat of the season on Llandysul but how much will they want it? They have two very important cup matches looming and they may be more focussed on them with the league championship well out of their reach.
Bargod Rangers are still without a win this season but surely their luck is going to change soon. They entertain St Dogmaels this afternoon at Parc Puw and they will feel they have a good opportunity of doubling their league points against a Saints team that have only won three games to date. At Parc Y Dre, Cilgerran will be looking to do the double over Dewi Stars following an exciting match at Llanddewi last month which the coraclemen eventually shaded. Many observers expected Neil Morgan and his men to struggle in division one following promotion with the Stars but they have done very well and their sixth place is well deserved.
New Quay had their confidence boosted with a narrow win over local rivals Aberaeron on Boxing Day and the seasiders will be hoping for similar this afternoon at Parc Arthur against Felinfach whilst at Cae Sgwar Newcastle Emlyn, who currently occupy the runners up slot, will be too strong for the black and ambers.
Division two leaders Maesglas should increase their goal advantage this afternoon unless the Lampeter University Students have created a brand new degree course for footballers since Christmas. SDUC have endured a torrid season so far and have been leaking goals by the dozen and they may well experience similar this afternoon at the hands of the blues. Second placed Ffostrasol who will overtake Maesglas if they win their games in hand, make the long trip to Cae Dandre to take on a Llanboidy team who are far better than their league position suggests and the Wanderers are in for a tough afternoon.
In the other game scheduled Pencader entertain Aberporth.
