Welcome back readers to another weekend round-up after a positive set of results for the four Welsh sides in the English pyramid and an intriguing round of Cymru Premier action!

Don’t worry if the season has started poorly for your team, there’s only 44 weeks to go in the EFL…

Contrasting Fortunes for Cardiff and Swansea

Ahead of this weekend, Sportin Wales wrote about Cardiff and Swansea’s need for a first league win of the season. What’s the saying? ‘One defeat is unlucky, two is careless?’

Anyway, Luke Williams’ side do not have to worry about accusations of carelessness after their 3-0 home victory over Preston North End on Saturday.

After dominating the opening stages without much penetration, Swansea were gifted a penalty after Eom Ji-sung’s cross was handled by Preston defender Liam Lindsay.

Skipper Matt Grimes, who missed a penalty in the last match at the Swansea.com Stadium, on the last day of last season, tucked the ball home with aplomb and sent the Swans into halftime with a lead.

Preston rallied after halftime but Swansea put the game beyond doubt on the hour mark when Ollie Cooper’s strike deflected kindly off Azeem Abdullai to double the lead. New signing Zan Vipontik put the cherry on the cake late on as he converted Ronald’s low cross from close range after some good work from the Brazilian.

In contrast to the excellent display from Swansea, Cardiff were lacklustre as they fell to a 5-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.

The game started in disastrous fashion for the Bluebirds when Ethan Horvath mis-controlled Dmitri Goutas’ back pass into his own net. Burnley would score again before the break, this time through one of their own players: Luca Koleosho.

Josh Brownhill put the result beyond doubt after 51 minutes before Zeki Amdouni and Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s stunning late goals really dug the knife in.

This result leaves Cardiff bottom of the Championship after two games and they are yet to score a goal in the league this season. A 2-0 EFL Cup win over Bristol Rovers in midweek will be of some consolation, but results need to change soon in the Championship.

Wrexham’s Draw Points To Positive Season

It’s not often a 0-0 draw will have people saying things like ‘this has confirmed that Wrexham are going to be one of the contenders to get promotion’ but that is what former Wrexham player Waynne Phillips said on BBC Radio Wales in reaction to the goalless draw with Bolton on Sunday.

While Bolton, who finished 3rd in League One last season, had most of the ball and the chances, Arthur Okonkwo was excellent in goal. The League Two back three of Eoghan O’Connell, Tom O’Connor, and Max Cleworth were solid and look ready for this step up in level, while new signing Seb Revan looked composed.

Elliott Lee went closest for Wrexham and they will have to rely on him a little until talisman Paul Mullin returns from injury. Overall, a solid second game of the season for Wrexham, back at Phil Parkinson’s old stomping ground.

Newport Arrest The Slide

Can there be a slide after just two games? Not for me to say, but Newport certainly corrected a few issues and allayed some fears with a 3-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Rodney Parade.

It was not all rosy as County went into halftime a goal down thanks to an excellent half-volley from Owen Bailey. Nelson Jardim’s side rallied, though, and equalised two minutes into the second half thanks to Courtney Baker-Richardson improvised flick from a Bobby Kamwa cross-shot.

Two goals in three minutes from Kai Whitmore and Matt Baker (not that one) gave Newport the win and eased some pressure off the shoulders of new manager Jardim.

Cymru Premier 2: Electric Boogaloo

While there was not a lot of breakdancing in the Cymru Premier this weekend, fans were treated to no shortage of excitement on Friday and Saturday.

The New Saints got their delayed campaign off to a good start, with a 4-1 victory over Flint Town, while fellow late-starters Caernarfon Town lost their opening match of the season at home to Haverfordwest County.

That result puts County top of the table, the only side with two wins from two, while Newtown, Bala Town, Penybont, and Cardiff Met sit two points back on four.

The two promoted teams, Flint Town and Briton Ferry, are yet to put a point on the board as Briton feel to a 2-0 defeat at Bala.

Aberystwyth and Connah’s Quay handed each other their first points of the season with a 1-1 draw on Friday night.

Results:

Friday 16th

Bala Town 2-0 Briton Ferry

Cardiff MU 1-1 Barry

Flint 1-4 The New Saints

Penybont 0-0 Newtown

Aberystwyth 1-1 Connah’s Quay

Saturday 17th

Swansea 3-0 Preston North End

Burnley 5-0 Swansea

Newport County 3-1 Doncaster Rovers

Caernarfon Town 1-2 Haverfordwest County

Sunday 18th

Bolton 0-0 Wrexham

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