LLANIDLOES Town aim to pull off a notable double against Llanrhaeadr when the Spar Mid Wales League division one title rivals come face to face at Victoria Avenue on Saturday (2.30pm).

The Daffs, without a game last weekend, go into the encounter in third spot, one place and one point adrift of their visitors who have three games in hand.

Although there is still a long way to go this season, this weekend’s game could well have a significant bearing on the destiny of the league crown.

“It’s a big game, but a lot can still happen this season,” said Llanidloes manager Hugh Clarke. “Llanrhaeadr have games in hand, but you never know how they will cope with playing a lot of games at the end of the season.

“We beat them there earlier in the season, and we are the only side to do that in the league, so we can go into this Saturday’s game feeling positive.

“We’ve got a few players out, but we have got a good squad, and it’s a challenge that we’re looking forward to.”

Defender Harri Clarke, a key figure in Llani’s success this season, is out with a hamstring strain, while Josh Hartrick (ankle) is also sidelined. Richie Evans also faces a fitness check on a gashed shin picked up a couple of weeks ago.

Llanrhaeadr will go into the match in good heart after they pushed Welsh Premier League side Bangor City all the way in the Welsh Cup fourth round, before eventually bowing out 3-2.

Meanwhile, Llani’s tie with Cymru Alliance side Guilsfield in the fourth round of the Central Wales Cup - which was postponed last week due to a waterlogged pitch at Victoria Avenue was rearranged for last night (Tuesday).Llani matched the Cymru Alliance side for long periods of the game, before the villagers marched on with a 1-0 win, thanks to a goal 10 minutes from time for captain Chris Cathrall.Elsewhere Machynlleth were unable to stand in the way of Welshpool as they opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Spar Mid Wales League division one with an emphatic 11-0 home win last weekend.

Adam Davies and Will Thomas both scored four goals for the Maesydre men, with Richard Lichfield weighing in with a brace, and Ed Baker also getting his name onto the scoresheet.

In the only other division one match played last weekend, goals from Mark Weaver and a Marc Jones penalty earned a notable 2-1 win for Berriew at home against fifth-placed Carno, who had scored through Adam Williams.

• LLANRHAEADR did the Spar Mid Wales League proud as they put up a superb effort in a 3-2 defeat to Bangor City in the Welsh Cup fourth round.

Llanrhaeadr even struck first on eight minutes when Marc Griffiths was clipped by keeper Connor Roberts, and Iwan Matthews converted the penalty.

The Welsh Premier outfit were level four minutes later, however, via a great header from new signing Yves Zama.

Another debutant, Joel Bembo-Leta, then scored with a sharp finish from a Laurence Wilson free-kick on 23 minutes to put Bangor 2-1 up at the break.

When Congolese-born Bembo-Leta collected his second goal six minutes into the second half, it looked like City had one foot firmly in the last eight.

But things got trickier for the WPL outfit when Wilson was dismissed for a second yellow card after 68 minutes.

Matthews set up a nervy ending for the visitors when he made it 3-2 with three minutes remaining, but Llanrhaeadr were reduced to 10 men in added time when Dan Kelly pulled back Sam Jones, and City held on for the victory.

“We were pushed all the way by Llanrhaeadr in what was a well contested and tricky cup tie, that was played on a pitch that was extremely difficult for the players to play on,” reflected City boss Kevin Nicholson.

.