MACWHIRTER WELSH LEAGUE FOOTBALL: Monmouth win can secure 107-year high

MacWhirter Welsh League (figures in brackets relate to league positions, all 2pm kick-off).

Division One.

Sports Ground: Monmouth Town (5) v Caerleon (12).

Red-hot Monmouth seek a fifth-successive league win to stretch their unbeaten, all-competition run to a 12th game.

A spot at the very top of the table could be theirs if results elsewhere are favourable and doubtless the visitors will be be aware the the Kingfishers’ goal total of 31 in 11 games is the highest in the 16-strong division.

Caerleon, on the other hand, have faded after a reasonable start and are bidding to end a run of five league matches without a success.

The one glimmer of hope is that the 22 goals they have conceded is the lowest total in the bottom six – and it’s a figure matched by Monmouth.

Form guide: Monmouth: LDWWWW, Caerleon: WLLLLD

Division Two

Jubilee Way: Caldicot Town (12) v Penrhiwceiber Rangers (10).

Under joint managers Jason Pritchard and Mark Williams, Caldicot are unbeaten in the two games they have been in charge and this game represents a fair chance to make it three.

They are, however, forced to make a goalkeeper change as Tom Pass is suspended – although teenager Mark Sandiford is a more the capable deputy.

If they are successful and Ely Rangers don’t win at Ammanford, then Caldicot will rise to 10th position, but they must start to score more if they are to climb any higher – their 17-goal total is the least in the top 14.

The visitors started the season well and won three of their first four matches, but start here on a poor run of seven without a victory.

Form guide: Caldicot: WLLLWD, Rangers: LDLLDL

Woodland Road: Croesyceiliog (14) v Dinas Powys (8).

Croesyceiliog striker Zac Osbourne is in good form and has seven league goals to his credit, but prolific scorer Jody Jenkins has not found the net in any of the last four fixtures. Manager Mark Waddon’s side has won only two of 11 league games, but the feeling is there are better days ahead if Jenkins can rediscover his form.

Here they start on the back of a 5-2 defeat at Ammanford, although the visitors are also struggling to to gain points following a decent start to the season.

Last Saturday’s 3-0 home reverse at the hands of Newport YMCA was Dinas’ third consecutive loss and they failed to score in any of those matches.

Form guide: Croesyceiliog: DDWLDL, Dinas Powys: WDDLLL

Glanaman Road: Cwmaman Institute (16) v Undy Athletic (7)

Undy returned to winning ways with a 2-1 home win over then-second-placed Briton Ferry Llansawel, although manager Mark Crook insists nothing changed from two of the three displays in a previous run of a trio of successive defeats.

If Undy can now return to the sort of highly-consistent form which was their trademark in winning last season’s Division Three title, then expect them to be vying for a second consecutive championship victory.

Striker Gareth Cullimore is second in the league’s top-scorers’ list with 14 goals, just four short of Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Ross Frame.

The home side lost it’s opening 10 league fixtures, but some good recent signings enabled them to draw their last two games – so this will not be as easy a task as it may have been a week or two ago.

Form guide: Cwmaman Institute: LLLLDD, Undy: WWLLLW

Stafford Common: Garden Village (6) v Newport YMCA (5).

YMCA have been the entire league’s most successful on-the-road team over recent campaigns and they carried on the good work by winning 3-0 at Dinas Powys last weekend.

The success took YM's away record this season to 13 points from a possible 21 and the clean-sheet was their first in five outings.

However, another here may be necessary against hosts who will be flat out for a fourth straight victory.

But they will be without Daniel Edwards, who was sent off in that win just a couple of minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Form guide: Garden Village: LDLWWWW, YMCA: WDWLLW

Division Three

Cwmnant-Y-Groes Field: Abertillery Bluebirds (12) v Pontypridd Town (3).

Difficult task this againstpromotion-seeking visitors for Abertillery to return to winning ways following successive defeats.

Abertillery's last victory was 3-0 at home against fellow-strugglers Bettws (Bridgend) on October 20, the visitors' goal blank being the only time in 12 games that manager Adrian Howells' men have kept a clean-sheet.

In seven-goal Luke Lewis, the home team has a talent who can upset the best of defences and here he will, if selected, face just that.

Pontypridd have let in only10 goals in as many outings and here they will seek to increase their unbeaten league run to seven – including last Saturday's 2-1 home success over Llanwern.

Form guide: Abertillery: LL LWLL, Pontypridd: WDWWDW

The Willows, Tremorfa: Bridgend Street (Cardiff) (14) v Newport Civil Service (10).

NCS’ home game against then-leaders AFC Llwydcoed was postponed and they were last in action the previous week when they drew 2-2 at Tredegar Town.

It means they are two unbeaten following a series of consecutive losses and here they face a host club which is re-building following a managerial change.

The capital outfit had recruited no less than 12 players ahead of last Saturday game at Risca United, a game I watched as they gained a throughly-deserved point from a 1-1 draw.

Although both teams will obviously want to win, parity is very much on the cards here – an outcome which would arguably suit each club.

Form guide: Bridgend St: LWDLLD, NCS: LLLLWD

Larkfield Ground: Chepstow Town (9) v Risca United (4).

Intriguing county derby between a couple of teams who have only lost once each in the 17 league games they have played between them.

The hosts are league returnees, have won four and drawn one of their last five outings – including a 3-2 home success over Abertillery Bluebirds last time out.

Risca were held to a 1-1 home draw by much-changed Bridgend Street with skipper Brendon Scott taking his season's league tally 11 with a late equaliser.

Much too close to call this one and don't be too surprised if this is yet another fixture which ends all square.

Form guide: Chepstow: LWWWDW, Risca: DWDWLD

Sports Complex: Tredegar Town (11) v Treharris Athletic Western (16).

Tredegar start here shell-shocked following a 9-2 drubbing at the hands of hosts Cardiff Metropolitan University, whose win took them to the top of the 16-strong table.

The defeat stretched the north Gwent clubs' games-without-a-win sequence to five, although at first glance a home match against the bottom-placed side gives hope that won't be stretched to six.

But a word of warning here because Treharris have drawn two of their last three league games – including 3-3 against visiting Treowen Stars last time out.

This game is really a must-win one for both sides and following such a heavy defeat as they suffered in the capital last weekend, then it's also a must-not-lose match for Tredegar.

Form guide: Tredegar: LWL LDL, Treharris: LLLDLD

FAW Trophy, round four.

Recreation Ground: Aberbargoed Buds v STM Sports.

Division Two outfit Aberbargoed slumped to a 6-1 away Welsh Cup defeat at Ely Rangers last weekend, but there have a fair opportunity here to make progress.

The visitors are placed 12th of 16 in Division One of the South Wales Amateur League with a record of three wins, a draw and four defeats in eight outings.

Recreation Ground: Creiglau v Treowen Stars.

Treowen drew 3-3 at Treharris Athletic Western last time out and remained in seventh place in the Division One table and will start as red-hot favourites here to move into round five.

Creiglau play in the lower-level Cardiff & District League's Premier Division and for various reasons have not played a league games since September 15.

Other fixtures.

Division One: AFC Porth v Bryntirion Athletic; Taffs Well v Bridgend Town.

Division Two: Ammanford v Ely Rangers.

Division Three: AFC Llwydcoed v Cardiff Met University; Bettws (Bridgend) v Newcastle Emlyn; Cardiff Grange Harlequins v Llantwit Major.

Welsh Auto Parts Gwent County League, Division One: Abercarn United v Coed Eva Athletic; Blaenavon Blues v Pentwynmawr Athletic; Cwmbran Town v Albion Rovers; Fairfield United v Abertillery Excelsiors; Lliswerry; v AC Pontymister; Panteg v Govilon; P.I.L.C.S. v Clydach Wasps; Pill v Fleur-De-Lys Welfare.

Division Two: Blackrock Rovers v RTB Ebbw Vale; Cefn Fforest v Tredegar Athletic; Mardy v Cwmffrwdoer Sports; Newport Corinthians v Cromwell; Rockfield Rovers v Malpas United; Spencer Youth & Boys v Rogerstone; Trethomas Bluebirds v Llanhilleth Athletic.

Division Three: Caldicot Castle v Pontypool Town; New Inn v Whiteheads; Race v Ponthir; Rhymney v Abergavenny Thursdays; Sebastopol v Ynysddu Crusaders; Tranch v Marshfield; Trinant v Thornwell Red & White.