The final whistles have blown across pretty much all of the festive double headers in the Cymru Premier League. Only Pen-y-Bont vs Carmarthen remains outstanding. Despite what I said in my previous post (https://couchpotatoscorner.sport.blog/2019/12/28/cymru-premier-festive-fixtures/) this game didn’t take place at 2.30 today, rather it takes place at 2.30 on New Year’s Day.
In the immortal words of President Schwarzenegger in The Simpsons Movie: I was elected to lead. Not to read.
Anyway! Let’s take a look at how my predictions matched up against reality!
Connah’s Quay Nomads vs Airbus UK Broughton
For reasons that escape my recollection, I said that Connah’s Quay would only pick up four points from these two games. I guess my reasoning must have been a combination of the fact that Nomads lead the table in games drawn this season and that I’ve seen Airbus play, and win, this season. They didn’t look that bad. In fact, they looked half decent. Sure they’ve lost every game since then, but they’re due a good result!
Yeah. I was wrong. I admit it.
My confidence in my prediction was buoyed by the fact that Andy Morrison’s side only won 2-1 on home turf on Boxing Day.
With the score of the return leg standing at 0-0 at the break, I was starting to allow myself to believe I’d called a blinder.
Four unanswered second half goals put paid to that. Mike Wilde, Jamie Insall from the spot, Danny Holmes and Priestley Farquharson provided the score.
26.12.19. Connah’s Quay 2-1 Airbus UK
30.12.19 Airbus UK 0-4 Connah’s Quay
Cefn Druids vs The New Saints
I said in my last post that I was regretting my prediction that each side would take a win a piece, following the Saints’ 5-0 demolition of Druids on their own patch.
However, checking the scores around the 89th minute mark, I saw Druids were leading the return leg 1-0, thanks to Tyrone Ofori. Off I went to cook myself some chicken pakoras to celebrate having actually pulled a shock out the bag this time, after that fake Airbus drawing with Connah’s Quay shock that had been well and truly put the bed.
Twenty minutes later, I decide to check the results of the rest of the league. My eye scrolls casually down the screen and what do I see but TNS have only gone and scored twice in injury time to take all three points and stay top of the table, one point ahead of the victorious Nomads.
Greg Draper and Dean Ebbe provided the goals for the Saints.
26.12.19 Cefn Druids 0-5 TNS
30.12.19 TNS 2-1 Cefn Druids
Barry Town United vs Cardiff Met
I showed faith in Barry that they would take all six points and that was dashed in game one with a 1-1 draw.
However, they were good enough to reward my faith and claimed a 1-0 victory in the Welsh capital thanks to a goal from Momodou Touray early in the second half.
26.12.19 Barry Town 1-1 Cardiff Met
30.12.19 Cardiff Met 0-1 Barry Town
Caernarfon Town vs Bala Town
In my predictions, I said that Bala would pick up four from six in this fixture.
They were 2-1 winners at Caernarfon’s Oval, Boxing Day evening and, having watched the game, I felt sure Caernarfon showed enough on the night to prove themselves capable of grabbing a draw away from home.
It was not to be, however, as Bala kept apace with the title race thanks to a comprehensive 3-0 victory. The goals came from Golden Boot chasing duo Henry Jones and Chris Venables, as well as a late addition by Jonny Spittle.
26.12.19 Caernarfon Town 1-2 Bala Town
30.12.19 Bala Town 3-0 Caernarfon Town
Newtown vs Aberystwyth Town
I felt that each side would win one of these games each, a prediction immediately invalidated by a 1-1 draw at Newtown.
Watching the highlights of that game on Sgorio, I have absolutely no idea how Newtown didn’t win it to at least keep my prediction alive for a few short days.
It would have proven a moot point in the end as Newtown were victorious 2-1 at Aber’s Park Avenue tonight.
Lifumpa Mwandwe gave the Robins the lead in the third minute and Matthew Jones must have thought he’d rescued a valuable point for Aber in the 84th. However, George Harry grabbed the win in the 93rd minute for the visitors.
That result, coupled with Druids last minute defeat in Oswestry, sees Newtown jump ahead of Druids into sixth place, with just two games to go between now and the league split.
How long they will hold on to that spot is anyone’s guest as their next match is at home to Champions, The New Saints, while Druids entertain bottom placed Pen-y-Bont.
26.12.19 Newtown 1-1 Aberystwyth Town
30.12.19 Aberystwyth Town 1-2 Newtown
Carmarthen Town vs Pen-y-Bont
As stated above, we’re still waiting for the second leg of this double header to take place.
I called two wins from two for Carmarthen and a 3-2 home victory for the Old Gold means this remains my only hope of getting a prediction right.
Having watched the highlights, I felt all three goals were absolute gifts from Pen-y-Bont and if they sort out these defensive lapses, they stand a chance of upsetting my prediction.
Though I’m sure these defensive lapses are why they find themselves bottom of the table so they’ll probably be prone to one or two on New Year’s Day.
26.12.19 Carmarthen Town 3-2 Pen-y-Bont
01.01.20 TBC
Next up:
The Cymru Premier now takes a small winter break until 10th January 2020. That is with one exception.
On Saturday January 4th Pen-y-Bont play their rearranged game at home to Caernarfon Town. Should Pen-y-Bont avoid defeat at home to Carmarthen, a win would take them out of the drop zone. In the very least, it will see them overtake Airbus in 11th.
A win for Caernarfon would cement their place in the top half of the table post split. A draw would all but be good enough on goal difference.
Personally, I see this being an away win for Caernarfon Town.
Well, that was a pretty dismal attempt on my part. But, being Welsh, I’m not going to let a little abject failure stop me.
I’ll be back in the second week in January to preview round 21 of the Cymru Premier, as well as see how I got on with those last two predictions (if my form is anything to go by, maybe put a quid on Pen-y-Bont to win their next two games).
Couch Potato's Corner 