Aberystwyth head into Friday night’s encounter with high-flying Cefn Druids looking to build on a promising run which has seen them lose just once in their last five league outings.
The Green and Black’s claimed what was only their second win of the season last weekend when they rallied to a 2-1 victory over Prestatyn.
Manager Nev Powell believes his side are finally improving after a poor start to the season has left them in the bottom-two.
“We’re getting the right type of players in and playing the right type of football knowing when to knock it up to the big fellas and when to get it down to try play so it’s all coming together but we’ve still got a lot of hard work to do – we’re not getting carried away,” he explained to Sgorio.
Only TNS have beaten Aberystwyth in that five-game run – after Powell’s side took a shock lead against the league leaders – but Aber’s new-found resolve can expect to be firmly tested by Cefn Druids.
The Druids’ fine start has been one of the storylines of the season so far with Huw Griffiths assembling a low-budget squad that find themselves in contention for one of the league’s sought-after top-six places.
A top-half finish would ensure survival and would be a considerable achievement for Druids, who defied the odds last season by avoiding the drop on their return to the top-flight.
Alec Mudimu’s winner against Bangor City last weekend saw Cefn Druids extend their unbeaten run to seven league games, elevating them to the lofty heights of fourth in the JD Welsh Premier League table.
Connah’s Quay, second, will be looking to maintain pressure the pressure on The New Saints when they host Prestatyn Town.
Saints face Barry Town on Saturday and the Nomads can cut their three-point lead overnight at the top of the table.
Bottom side Carmarthen Town, now five points adrift at the foot of the table, face south Wales rivals Cardiff Met in the weekend’s televised game (12.45).
Fixtures MD12
Bala v Llandudno (Fri), Connah’s Quay v Prestatyn (Fri), Aberystwyth v Cefn Druids (Fri), Cardiff Met v Carmarthen (Sat), Newtown v Bangor (Sat), TNS v Barry Town (Sat).