Friday Night Belongs to the New-look Cymru Premier
INTERNATIONAL football may have dominated the headlines recently, but on Friday night attention turns back towards the domestic game — and there is plenty happening across Wales.
Seven Novira Cymru Premier matches kick off at 7.45pm on Friday, October 9, with the eighth game of Matchday 13 following on Saturday when Flint Town United entertain Colwyn Bay in front of the Sgorio cameras.
It provides the perfect opportunity to shine a little more light on a competition which has undergone one of the biggest changes in its recent history.
At the top, The New Saints continue to set the pace.
The champions have won 11 consecutive league games and sit six points clear after the opening 12 matches. Their latest victory was an emphatic 9–0 win over Cambrian United.
On Friday they travel to Holywell Town, where the contrast could hardly be greater. Holywell sit at the foot of the table and have already conceded 38 goals.
But one of the most intriguing games takes place further south.
Penybont host Barry Town United in a meeting between third and fourth at the M&P 3G Stadium.
Penybont had been unbeaten until last weekend, when a 1–0 defeat by Connah’s Quay allowed the Nomads to climb above them into second place. Barry therefore arrive in Bridgend with both clubs firmly involved in the early battle behind TNS.
Elsewhere, Cambrian United face Ammanford, who finally recorded their first ever Cymru Premier victory last weekend when they defeated Holywell 2–1, an important moment for one of the clubs adjusting to life in the expanded top flight.
Cambrian, meanwhile, will be hoping to rediscover the form they have shown at home after suffering two extraordinary heavy away defeats in recent weeks — 9–1 at Caernarfon and 9–0 against TNS.
There is another attractive contest at Haverfordwest County, where Caernarfon Town are the visitors, while Briton Ferry Llansawel host Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Connah’s Quay arrive on a high after becoming the first side this season to beat Penybont, while Briton Ferry produced an eye-catching result of their own last weekend by defeating in-form Colwyn Bay despite playing part of the game with 10 men.
Friday’s other fixtures see Cardiff Met host Trefelin and Llandudno face Airbus UK Broughton.
Then there is one more game to come.
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Saturday night football live on TV
Flint Town United v Colwyn Bay has been moved to Saturday, October 10, with a 5.15pm kick-off and live coverage through Sgorio on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
It is another game with an interesting story attached.
Flint had gone 16 matches without a win in all competitions before appointing Danny Holmes as manager at the end of September.
He has started with two victories from two — 3–0 against Ammanford followed by a 1–0 success at Haverfordwest — and Flint have yet to concede under him.
Colwyn Bay, meanwhile, had won four successive league matches before last weekend’s defeat to Briton Ferry. Their home record has been perfect, but their form away from home has been considerably less impressive.
Cymru Premier fixtures
Friday, October 9 – 7.45pm
Briton Ferry Llansawel v Connah’s Quay Nomads
Cambrian United v Ammanford
Cardiff Met v Trefelin
Haverfordwest County v Caernarfon Town
Holywell Town v The New Saints
Llandudno v Airbus UK Broughton
Penybont v Barry Town United
Saturday, October 10 – 5.15pm
Flint Town United v Colwyn Bay
The expanded Cymru Premier means there are more clubs, more communities and more stories competing at the highest level of the domestic game in Wales.
This weekend provides a particularly good snapshot.
From title contenders and newly promoted clubs to managerial changes, local rivalries and teams attempting to establish themselves at a new level, there should be plenty happening long after Friday evening’s floodlights are switched on.
Did Ewe Know?
The Cymru Premier expanded from 12 to 16 clubs for the 2026–27 season, bringing four additional teams into Wales’ top division and producing an unusually neat geographical balance — eight clubs from the north and eight from the south.