Gap Connah’s Quay manager Andy Morrison has urged his squad to rise to the challenge in their push to secure European football.
The Nomads are locked in a three-way battle with Bala Town and Bangor City for an automatic European place. Connah’s Quay currently sit third in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League on 47 points and sandwich their two rivals.
At present, only second-place guarantees a money spinning UEFA Europa League qualifying place – but that would change if The New Saints were to win the Welsh Cup, meaning the team that finishes third would also then be awarded an automatic European place.
Connah’s Quay have a game in hand over both Bala and Bangor City which leaves Andy Morrison’s men facing three games in eight days as the season heads into the final straight.
In one of the key games of the weekend in the Welsh Premier League, Bala Town (50 points) visit Bangor City (45 points) tonight.
Connah’s Quay meanwhile will travel to Carmarthen on Saturday before facing The New Saints on Tuesday night.
Andy Morrison has already seen his side face three tough games against the Old Gold this season and having drawn 0-0 at the Cymru Tyres Stadium in August and been narrowly beaten in their last meeting, the Nomads boss is fully aware of the challenge that faces his team.
“All of our games against Carmarthen this season have been tight and Saturday’s match will be no different. Such is the quality of the Top Six this season, any point is a good point – after the Bala game, I said that the point there would prove to be a massive point, and to follow that up with a thoroughly professional performance against Cardiff Met was very pleasing.”
The Nomads will then quickly turn their attentions to their arranged mid-week fixture with The New Saints before another mammoth clash against Bangor City at the Deeside Stadium.
“We have a fully fit squad to choose from apart from our long-term injuries, so I will be using the full squad over the next three games which all come in the space of a week, so again everyone must be at the top of their game to stay in the team,” Morrison said.
Airbus UK are on the verge of relegation and their fate could be confirmed with a defeat to Aberystwyth Town, who hover dangerously above the relegation zone.
Rhyl (26 points), 11th, play Cefn Druids on Friday night and a victory for the Lilywhites would almost certainly end the Wingmakers’ 12 year stint in the top-flight if they lose to Aberystwyth on Saturday.
Aberystwyth (27 points) themselves are in grave danger of slipping into the bottom-two with their form seemingly deserting them with just four league games remaining.
After crashing to a 4-0 defeat to Newtown last weekend, Aberystwyth have now taken just a point from their last four outings and need to quickly rediscover their form with the ever-present status in the Welsh Premier League under threat.
NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS
Prestatyn Town are set to return to the Welsh Premier League after securing the Huws Gray Alliance league title last weekend. The Seasiders’ promotion will be confirmed following approval of an FAW domestic licence.
The FAW have announced that Bangor City’s University Stadium will host the 130th Welsh Cup final on Sunday, 30 April.
Aberystwyth will be without Luke Sherbon for all bar one of their remaining league fixtures after the midfielder picked up a three-match ban for his dismissal against Newtown last weekend. Welsh League Division One side Afan Lido have also announced the signing of Aberystwyth winger Chris Jones. The winger has been out of favour at Park Avenue and was linked in January with a move to WPL rivals Newtown.
Dafabet Welsh Premier League weekend fixtures:
Championship Conference: Bangor City v Bala Town (Fri), Cardiff Met v The New Saints (Sat), Carmarthen v gap Connah’s Quay (Sat).
Play-Off Conference: Cefn Druids v Rhyl (Fri), Airbus UK v Aberystwyth Town (Sat), Newtown v Llandudno (Sun).
Featured image courtesy of NCM Media/Nick Mesney/gap Connah’s Quay