NEW-LOOK Cwmbran Town bid for a first win in seven games tomorrow, when their status as Gwent's top MacWhirter Welsh League club will come under serious threat from both Newport YMCA and Caerleon.
Having slipped from first to sixth in Division One, the Crows visit third-placed Dinas Powys with five new signings but not having scored a goal in 460 minutes of football.
YMCA are only goal-difference worse off in seventh position and Caerleon, eighth, trail by just one point with the former having two matches and the latter four games in hand over the Crows.
Cwmbran's Spanish manager Guillermo Ganet this week brought in former coach Gary Proctor as his assistant plus Ohmar Pike, a 17-year-old from Cameroon previously with London League outfit Cuitural, Uwa Ogbodu, a 29-year-old from Nigeria who arrives via Conference South side Basingstoke Town, England-born Oliver Collins, aged 25, who has experience with Ryman League Division One outfit Moseley, Frenchman Tidiany Kone, a 25-year-old brought in from French League club Lilas FC, and Michael Makasi, a 21-year-old English-born player who has appeared in the MWL with student side UWIC.
Should Cwmbran slip up, then YMCA and Caerleon should both take advantage with matches against sides firmly entrenched in the three-strong relegation zone.
YMCA visit Pontypridd Town while Caerleon, whose game at Cambrian & Clydach was postponed on Wednesday because of a pre-match floodlight failure, entertain Maesteg Park Athletic.
YMCA will be minus Michael Palmer, who is serving the second of a three-match suspension while Caerleon are missing Luke Cueto, who is out for exactly the same reason.
However Caerleon have Dale Clarke back from a ban and skipper Martyn Phillips from a hamstring strain.
Full-strength Caldicot Town have eased themselves away from trouble with two successive victories, although hopes for a hat-trick of wins aren't high ahead of a trip to face the leaders, Goytre United.
There's good news for Croesyceiliog who will defiantly have Jody Jenkins, Chris Watkins, Carl Evans and Danny Jenkins back and possibly Daniel Clare for the visit of Cambrian & Clydach, although Callum Mile will be on Gwent FA Youth duty.
In Division Two, postponements and cup games means Llanwern have not played a league match since November 3 and they will seek to get their promotion campaign back on track by winning at relegation-threatened Llangeinor.
Llanwern will be without the holidaying Matthew Currie, but welcome back Gareth Wysome, although there are doubts over Carl Baugh and Steve Stinton.
Cwmbran Celtic, who've received seven days notice of approach on defender Mark Parfitt from Croesyceiliog, are on the edge of the promotion race in ninth position and will doubtless face a stern test at third-placed Bettws while full-strength Tredegar Town visit Barry Town determined to reproduce the form which has seen them climb away from danger.
The game at Jenner Park will be a trip down memory lane for Tredegar player-manager Andrew York, who skippered Barry to a whole series of domestic and European successes in the 1990s.
Risca United are the county's highest-placed Division Three side in seventh, but they will be pushed all the way by a Monmouth Town team which is unbeaten in its last six league outings.
Risca are minus the suspended Mark Mears and have player-manager Jeff Eckhardt available again.
They will also give a debut to central midfielder Paul Michaels who has signed from Division One side Ton Pentre, while Monmouth report a full-strength squad.
Tenth-placed Goytre, who are unable to finalise a squad, are only four points adrift of Risca and with a couple of matches in hand, although their in-form status will come under fierce scrutiny when they make the long trip to face promotion-seeking second-placed Newcastle Emlyn.
Like Monmouth, Abertillery Buds, who'll give match-day fitness tests to several players, have recently moved out of the drop-zone and they'll want to continue their improvement against visiting mid-table outfit Porthcawl Town.
However bottom-placed Abertillery Excelsiors face a real six-pointer when they host the only side above them, Morriston Town.
With only two teams to be relegated, provided the same amount of clubs match promotion criteria, a win for Excelsiors, who welcome back Anthony Phillips from holiday, would take them out of danger - but only if Ystradgynlais lose at home to AFC Llwydcoed.
Fixtures
MacWhirter Welsh League (all 2pm kick-offs)
Division One: Caerleon v Maesteg Park Athletic; Croesyceiliog v Cambrian & Clydach; Dinas Powys v Cwmbran Town; Goytre United v Caldicot Town; Pontypridd Town v Newport YMCA
Division Two: Barry Town v Tredegar Town; Bettws v Cwmbran Celtic; Llangeinor v Llanwern
Division Three: Aberbargoed Buds v Porthcawl Town; Morriston Town v Abertillery Excelsiors; Newcastle Emlyn v Goytre; Risca United v Monmouth Town
Welsh Autoparts Gwent County League Division One: Abertillery Bluebirds v Abercarn United; Blaenavon Blues v Undy Athletic; Cefn Forest v Spencer Youth & Boys; Chepstow Town v Panteg; Clydach Wasps v Newport Civil Service; Coed Eva Athletic v Mardy; Cwmffrwdoer Sports v Treowen Stars
Division Two: Fairfeild United v Llanhilleth Athletic; Lliswerry v Cromwell; Lucas Cwmbran v West Pontnewydd; Malpas Gladiators v Trinant; Newport Corinthians v Tranch; Pentwynmawr Athletic v RTB Ebbw Vale; Rogerstone v Trethomas Bluebirds
Division Three: Caldicot Castle v AC Pontymister; Crickhowell v Abergavenny Thursdays; Crusaders v Whiteheads; Govilon v Villa Dino/Christchurch; New Inn v Sudbrook Cricket Club; PILCS v Sebastopol; Race v Underwood
Monmouthshire Building Society Newport and District League Premier X: Pill AFC v St Julians Youth; Caerleon Town v Malpas; Llanwern RTB v Henllys Rangers; Oakfield v Duffryn; Llanwern Sports & Social v Marshfield; Pill Hibernians v Ship & Pilot
Premier Y: Cwmbran Town v Rogerstone; Malpas Gladiator v AC Pontymister; Trethomas Bluebirds v Newport Civil Service; Albion Rovers v Spencer Youth & Boys; Cromwell v Coed Eva Athletic; Lucas Cwmbran v Cwmbran Celtic
Division One: Spencer Old Boys v Caerleon Town; Cwmcarn Athletic v Marshfield; Shaftesbury Youth v Villa Dino/Christchurch; The Royal Mail v Pontnewydd United; Croesyceiliog v Newport Corinthians
Knauf Insulation Gwent Central League Premier Division: Lower New Inn v Llanarth; Goytre v Pandy; Gilwern & District v Trevethin; Llanfoist v Usk Town
Division One: Panteg v Cwmffrwdoer; Mardy v Fairfield United; Abergavenny Thursdays v Clydach Wasps; Sebastopol v Govilon; Tranch v Race
Division Two: Clydach Wasps B v Gilwern & District B; Trevethin B v Pontypool Town B; Usk Town B v Prescoed
East Gwent League Division One: Rockfield Rovers A v Chepstow Athletic A; Undy Athletic A v Tintern Abbey; Caldicot Town v Chepstow Town A
Division Two: Undy Athletic B v Devauden Green; Bulwark A v Sudbrook Cricket Club A; Thornwell Red & White v Tippling Philosopher; Monmouth Town B v Mathern Wanderers A
Division Three: Rogiet v Caldicot Castle B; Chepstow Ath B v Portskewett & Sudbrook B; Mathern Wdrs B v Chepstow Town B; Sudbrook Cricket Club B v Bulwark B; Wyesham Wdrs v Rockfield Rovers B
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