JD Cymru Premier previews: We look ahead to the biggest clashes of the weekend

New Saints v Newtown (Friday, 7.45pm) – by Jacob Phillips

Table-toppers the New Saints suffered their first league defeat of the season against Aberystwyth last time out so will be looking to bounce back in suitable fashion.

But third-placed Newtown go to Park Hall on the back of a 3-3 draw with Bala Town and looking in good shape to pile more pressure on their opponents.

The fixture has the potential to produce goals, as the league’s top scoring players go head-to-head.

The New Saints’ Declan McManus is currently leading the Cymru Premier goal-scoring chart with 12, though Newtown’s Aaron Williams is breathing down his neck with 11.

The New Saints thrashed Newtown 4-1 at the start of the season and a repeat result would take them nine points clear at the top of the table, and 12 clear of Newtown in third.

Alternatively a win for Newtown would see them leapfrog Flint Town United into second, and just 6 points behind the leaders.

The New Saints manager Anthony Limbrick said: “They’re a good side, they’ve got forward threats, are very well organised defensively and a threat on the counter-attack

“But we’re at home where our record is good and we’ll be on the front foot.”

Barry Town United v Cefn Druids (Saturday, 2.30pm) – by Owen Griffiths

Barry go into this fixture in buoyant fashion after five games unbeaten in all competitions and will hope to pile on more misery for the visitors.

The Dragons’ up-turn in recent form has been helped by the goalscoring exploits of leading marksman Kayne Mclaggon, whose tally of nine goals in his last seven matches saw the skipper earn the JD Cymru Premier Player of the Month award.

Druids will be looking to cause an upset at Jenner Park by recording their first league victory of the season after a torrid start which has left them rooted to the foot of the table. Currently averaging 3 goals conceded per game, something has to change if they are to start getting points on the board.

However, the away side, who boast the proud achievement of being the oldest football club in Wales founded in 1872, come into the fixture following an impressive 1-1 draw against high-flying Flint Town United.

Druids will be without attacking midfielder Niall Flint after the 24-year-old was sent off for two yellow card offences against Flint.

Connah’s Quay Nomads v Penybont (Saturday, 2.30pm) – by Will Taylor

Penybont make the 220-mile journey north to the Deeside Stadium for this fourth v fifth clash.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw in August when the two sides last met, with a first half strike from Lewis Harling putting Penybont 1-0 up, before Connah’s Quay replied just after the half hour mark through former Stevenage, AFC Wimbledon and Cheltenham striker Byron Harrison.

Reigning champions Nomads sit one point above their visitors coming into the 14th round of fixtures and come into this game off a 1-0 victory against Caernarfon Town. They are now unbeaten in seven games, a run that has propelled them up the league.

The visitors played host to a memorable game on Tuesday, coming from a goal behind to beat a spirited Cardiff Met side, a result which leaves them fourth in the table, three points off Newtown in third.

Nomads will want to keep Penybont attacker James Waite quiet. The 22-year-old has six goals in 13 games this season and the ex-Cardiff City player has acclimatised well after leaving the Bluebirds in the summer, averaging a goal every 183 minutes.

It could be said that Connah’s Quay are lacking up front, especially with their top goalscorer from last season Michael Wilde leaving in the summer to join Flint Town United. The league’s player of the season finished runner-up in the goal standings with 18, helping the Nomads to back to back league titles before making a controversial switch to Flint.

The two sides are both quite high up in the form table, with Penybont winning four of their last five, losing the other and Connah’s Quay having three wins, one draw and one loss.

Bala Town v Flint Town United (Friday, 7.45pm) – by Will Gregory

Bala come into this game as slight underdogs sitting in sixth place and one point above the relegation group.

They will also be looking to win their first league fixture since October 1 after picking up two draws and two losses in their last four games.

If Bala can win they will shorten the gap between them and Flint by five points and end Flint’s six-match unbeaten run.

Bala have conceded an average of 1.46 goals per game this season and have conceded at least one goal in the last seven matches that they have taken part in. 6

The key player for Bala will be ex-Wolves star David Edwards, who is their top goalscorer this season with seven.

Former Southport star Bradley Bauress may also cause problems for Flint with his technical ability and pace.

However Bala will be without midfield maestro Kieran Smith who picked up a red card suspension which could prove costly for the Lakesiders.

Flint will be raring to get into this fixture after a brilliant start to the season which has seen them climb up to second place and six points behind league leaders New Saints.

Their key player will be Michael Wilde who has scored 11 goals this season and is the second top goal scorer in the division behind TNS striker Declan McManus.