Match Preview

Chris Hughes’ Newtown team provide the opposition for Kevin Nicholson's Citizens this Friday evening (7:45pm Kick Off) as the JD WPL approaches the mid-season split.

The festive period proved disappointing from a Citizens viewpoint as the nine match unbeaten run came to an end in front of the Sgorio TV cameras on New Year’s Day. The last-minute winner by Llandudno’s Marc Williams was a particularly bitter pill to swallow especially after City had dominated possession and the nature of that winning goal.

The most concerning aspect of recent results for Manager Kevin Nicholson has been the lack of goals with City failing to hit the target in the last three WPL fixtures.

Following Monday's match against Llandudno, Nicholson stated:

"The lads have put a large amount of effort into the last couple of months. We’ve had a good run and played some good stuff at times, so maybe we just need that spark and something to kick start us again to get us on another run. In the meantime, we move forward and look to bounce back against Newtown."

The Citizens will be looking to prevent Newtown reproducing the calibre of performances that they produced against league leaders The New Saints over the festive period. Former Citizen Jamie Reed scored two first half goals at Latham Park on Boxing Day as the Robins raced into a 2-0 lead. However, the reigning champions struck back in the second half with three goals despite being reduced to ten men.

The Robins went one better in the return match at Park Hall last Saturday as they triumphed by a 4-2 scoreline. The Saints raced into a two goal led in the opening quarter of an hour before the tide turned and Ryan Sears and Luke Boundford levelled matters before the interval.

Robbie Parry’s dismissal moments before the half time whistle handed the initiative to the Robins and further goals from Boundford and Nick Rushton sealed all three points for Newtown. With five wins from the last eight JD WPL matches, Hughes and his charges will be looking to keep their slim hopes of Top Six football very much alive at Nantporth on Friday evening.

Historically, games between the two sides have been evenly contested with City winning 21, Newtown 22, and 7 draws since the inception of the WPL. The earlier meeting at Latham Park in November saw City take all three points thanks to a Dean Rittenberg brace, in a win that started the nine match unbeaten run.

Last meeting:
Newtown 1-2 Bangor City (04/11/17)