There are only seven games in today's League of Wales fixture programme, with Connah's Quay v Rhayader having already been played at the start of the season.
One of the most interesting clashes today is that at the Cardiff Athletic Stadium, where two of the LoW's 'sleeping giants' play each other. Inter Cabletel had a bad start to the season, but have picked up well in the past month. Bangor City, meanwhile, have had a mixed season, winning every other match and not creating any sort of consistency. In terms of position, Inter are now several places higher, although a Bangor win would see the Citizens move above Inter. The Cardiff side have had the better form in recent weeks, and are favourites to take them again today.
Another interesting match takes place at Latham Park where fourth placed Newtown entertain Cwmbran, who are in third. The clubs met recently in the Premier Cup, where Cwmbran inflicted a heavy defeat on the mid-Wales side, and the Crows are favourites to do that again today. Cwmbran have been regular high scorers, and consistent in recent times, barring their defeat to Rhayader. Newtown have been nothing if not inconsistent, and despite their position in the table, are unlikely to take all three points today.
At Belle Vue, second placed Aberystwyth travel to Rhyl, with the Seasiders looking to protect their unbeaten record prior to visiting Barry in a fortnight. Aber's difficulty is that they continue to draw matches which they need to win to sustain their tile challenge. Today is a game which they need to win to keep up with Barry, although Rhyl aren't going to make it easy for them. The home side now have a taste for success, and after Holywell held Aber to a draw last week, know that it is possible for a lowly side to shut out Aber, who have several strikers missing at the moment. Nevertheless, based purely on position, Aberystwyth should win this match.
At Holywell's Halkyn Road, the two promoted sides meet. Neither Holywell nor Afan Lido have set the League of Wales alight, although both have caused shocks of their own this season. Both sides have slipped down the table, Holywell in thirteenth and Afan Lido to sixteenth spot. Both have the same goal difference and even the same number of wins (two each), but Holywell have that vital steel of earning a draw, rather than losing by a single goal. That steel should see them come out on top today.
Conwy United are back at the Morfa today for a home match with Total Network Solutions, with a three point gap between the sides. T.N.S have drawn more than half of their matches this year, and nothing here points to much more than a seventh of those for the Llanasantffraid side. However, it could swing either way in this mid-table battle.
At the Oval, Caersws are the visitors, with mid-Walian side looking to complement their mid-table position, while the home side, Caernarfon, try to catch up with the leaders. Another side who like to draw their matches (6 in 12), Caernarfon aren't easy meat for anyone, whether home or away, and should take a point, if not all three from today's game. Nevertheless, there'll be a lot of effort from both sides.
Carmarthen Town are the other side not playing today, as the odd side out this week. That'll give them an extra week to prepare for our visit to Richmond Park next Saturday.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
This article first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Haverfordwest County, 05.12.1998, League of Wales.
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