Today's fixtures are the return matches of the opening week of the League of Wales season, but whereas that opening week was in golden Summer sunshine, today's match will take place in the traditional glow of the New Year celebrations, with everyone wrapped up warm!
Bangor see Caersws as their bogey side, and defeat to the mid-Walians in August did little to change that feeling in North West Wales. Leigh Williams will want his side to get off to a good start to the year,although, of course, Mickey Evans, the LoW's longest-serving manager, will want to see his village side climb the table, following an Autumn of inconsequential results. The match at the Recreation Ground ended in a 2-0 win for Caersws.
There is a mid-Wales derby at Latham Park, where Newtown entertain Rhayader Town. In their earlier meeting at the Weirglodd, Newtown ran out 2-0 winners, with both goals coming from Kevin Morrison (now at Aberystwyth). Rhayader are still looking to move out of the bottom few places, while Newtown do not look the confident foes of old. Rhayader also feature a number of ex-Newtown players, all of whom will want to make a point to the Robins' manager, Brian Coyne. The game could be closer than expected from their league positions.
At Connah's Quay's Deeside Stadium, Rhyl are the visitors. This should be a new experience for the Lilywhites, who hosted Connah's Quay during Spring '98 while the new ground was under construction. Despite a confident start to the season, Connah's Quay have slid down the table, while Rhyl have had an unsettled Autumn, with the resignation of manager, Dean Martin, and his replacement with player/manager, Adrian Jones. Today's game looks close to call, although Connah's Quay won the first match 1-0.
Inter Cabletel travel to Carmarthen Town today, looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat at the start of the season. Inter took the lead, but Carmarthen took the points. Inter's form in recent months has seen them race up the table, but with Tomi Morgan in charge at Richmond Park, could Carmarthen follow them to the top? Today's match could well be very close, but if Tomi Morgan's honeymoon period continues then the home team may well shade it.
In mid-Wales, Total Network Solutions entertain Haverfordwest County. Both are mid-table sides, who looked as if they could become front-runners in this season's League of Wales. In the first match of the season, T.N.S were the victors with a 2-0 win at Bridge Meadow, and it is easy to see T.N.S again taking the points on their own turf.
Meanwhile, at Halkyn Road, the LoW's draw specialists meet each other. The first game between Holywell and Caernarfon took place at the Oval, and ended in a...draw. That was 2-2, with Caernarfon pulling back from two behind. Both sides have drawn half of their matches this season, but where Holywell have lost games, the Cofis have won them, leaving one side at the top and the other languishing at the bottom. Despite those league positions, today may also be a draw.
The other League of Wales game takes place in Port Talbot, where Afan Lido entertain Aberystwyth Town. In their meeting at Park Avenue, Aber won 2-1, and the Lido will be looking forward to taking another scalp, and winning another game at their Aberafan home. Nevertheless, Aberystwyth should go home with all three points.
Conwy United are the club without a match today.
2nd JANUARY, 1999. AFAN LIDO v ABERYSTWYTH TOWN BANGOR CITY v CAERSWS BARRY TOWN v CWMBRAN TOWN CARMARTHEN TOWN v INTER CABLETEL CONNAH'S QUAY NOMADS v RHYL HOLYWELL TOWN v CAERNARFON TOWN NEWTOWN v RHAYADER TOWN TOTAL NETWORK SOLUTIONS v HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
Barry Town matchday magazine index
League of Wales results 1998-99
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
This article first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Cwmbran Town, 02.01.1999
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