Newtown make the short journey to Guilsfield on Saturday for a local derby that provides another important opportunity for the Robins to push upward in the table. Despite the clubs spending much of the last decade in different divisions, the fixtures they have shared have been competitive ones, with Newtown winning two of the last three encounters before Guilsfield edged the most recent meeting in 2023.
That 2023 fixture included several players who are now central figures at Latham Park. Jamie Hyne and JoJo Harries both started for Guilsfield that afternoon, while Ollie Sharp, Devon Torry, Kieran Mills-Evans and Robbie Evans were all involved as well. The familiarity between the squads adds an extra layer to Saturday’s meeting.
For Newtown manager Nathan Leonard, the trip to Guilsfield brings him back to a club that played a significant role in his coaching journey. Leonard spent well over 100 matches in charge there and has openly acknowledged how important that time was for his development. After the recent win over Ffostrasol, he reflected: “I wouldn’t have been able to get the Newtown job without Guilsfield,” adding that he remains “grateful for that period” in his career. Assistant manager Jason Brindley also worked alongside Leonard during their time at Guilsfield, strengthening the personal links to the opposition.
Several current Robins have worn the Guilsfield shirt earlier in their careers, including Hyne, Mike Jones, Harries and Greg Draper, which ensures Saturday’s derby carries plenty of meaning for those players as well.
Guilsfield arrive at this match under Gavin Allen, who has guided them into becoming a difficult side to face on their own ground.
While Newtown know Allen well from his time at Aberystwyth — where he managed just one loss in four meetings with the Robins — the focus this weekend will be on ensuring Newtown’s improvement in form continues and that past records have little bearing on the outcome.
One factor Newtown will hope to take advantage of is Guilsfield’s lack of recent game time. The hosts have not played since the 8th November, while the Robins have kept momentum going with competitive performances and important points collected in recent weeks.
Even so, Guilsfield carry threats of their own. Forward Iwan Matthews comes into the match in strong form, having contributed four goals or assists across his last two games, while centre-back Adam Knott has been an unexpected source of goals throughout the season.
Newtown, meanwhile, enter the weekend level on points with Airbus and know that a positive result could see them move into the top three by Saturday night. With the squad showing growth, confidence and a clear sense of direction, the Robins will travel to Guilsfield determined to continue their progress and take another big step forward in the league campaign.
