MacWhirter Welsh League football preview

5:52am Friday 9th May 2008

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WHILE midweek results have handed Tredegar Town with an excellent chance of avoiding relegation from Division Two of the MacWhirter Welsh League, the Gwent club still must avoid defeat on Saturday to maintain their status.

Briton Ferry Athletic and Pontyclun are already relegated having completed their 34-match programme, but Tredegar can still be overtaken by both Troedyrhiw and Treharris Athletic, who host Caerau (Ely) and Ammanford respectively.

Going into their final matches of the season, player-manager Andrew York's side, who visit Swansea-based West End, are two points ahead of both of their rivals and hold a vastly superior goal difference.

York will have to give on-the-day fitness checks to several walking wounded before he will be able to name a squad for the key encounter.

In Division One, the battle to end as the county's highest-placed club could also be decided when Newport YMCA receive already-relegated Maesteg Park Athletic.

YMCA were in action at Croesyceiliog last night and are therefore unable to finalise their squad Eleventh-placed Caldicot Town entertain Ton Pentre at Jubilee Way while Cwmbran Town, who drew 2-2 at home with Bridgend Town on Wednesday and could yet finish as low as 14th, wrap up their season by visiting Bryntirion Athletic.

Because they contested the Gwent Senior Cup final against Cwmbran Celtic at Abergavenny last night, Caldicot are unable to finalise their squad while the Crows are at full strength.

Llanwern, who again could be minus up to nine first-team squad members, complete their fixtures by travelling to face Llangeinor still with a chance of finishing seventh in Division Two while in Division Three, the rise and rise of Aberbargoed Buds could continue at the expense of visiting Porthcawl The Buds transformation under astute manager Billy Vaughan from relegation candidates to a side which could yet finish as high as fourth has been nothing short of remarkable.

However they are without a trio of regulars - defender Mike Simmons, full back Carl Griffiths and leading scorer Chris Duggan - through injury.

Full-strength Monmouth Town also scrambled away from the drop zone to secure mid-table respectability and they will seek to consolidate ninth position with victory at promotion-seeking Penrhiwceiber Rangers.

Full-strength Risca United have two games left to end the campaign in eighth place and they are on the road at Merthyr Saints and while Abertillery Excelsiors will be full of confidence having won their last two games, they face a mighty task to gain anything from a visit to second-placed Newcastle Emlyn.

Excelsiors, who have no injury worries, are effectively relegated but have been alerted to a situation where a rival club could have enough points deducted for a rule infringement to send them down instead.

Rest of the season's McWhirter Welsh League fixtures involving Gwent clubs (2.30pm kick offs unless stated).

Division One - Bryntirion Athletic v Cwmbran Town; Caldicot Town v Ton Pentre; Newport YMCA v Maesteg Park Athletic. Division Two - Llangeinor v Llanwern; West End (Swansea) v Tredegar Town. Division Three - Aberbargoed Buds v Porthcawl Town; Newcastle Emlyn v Abertillery Excelsiors; Penrhiwceiber Rangers v Monmouth Town; Merthyr Saints v Risca United.

Tuesday, May 13. Division One - Goytre United v Caerleon. Division Three - Merthyr Saints v Risca United (6.30pm). Wednesday, May 14. Division One - Pontardawe Town v Caldicot Town (at Morriston Town FC, 7.00pm). Saturday, May 17. Division One - Newport YMCA v Afan Lido (12pm).