SATURDAY'S OPPONENTS - BRIDGEND TOWN

BRIDGEND Town currently lie 12th out of 18 clubs in MacWhirter Welsh League Division One - the next level below Rhyl.
The South Wales club made it all the way to the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup last season, losing only 2-1 to eventual trophy winners Bangor City - and to a very late goal.
Managed by Drewe Phillips, Bridgend have a number of ex-Welsh Premier League players in their squad, including Pakistan international Atif Bashir, formerly with Haverfordwest County, ex-Neath defender Brian Showdery and Hayden Fleming, who was with Cardiff as a youngster and made 123 WPL appearances, featuring for Aberystwyth, Port Talbot and Carmarthen.
Assistant manager Craig Lima, 37, is a Wales semi-pro international who has turned out for Merthyr and Newport as well as UWIC, Ebbw Vale, Carmarthen and Port Talbot in the WPL.
Recent signing, midfielder Mike Waters, has worn the colours of Port Talbot, Neath and Aberystwyth, Mike Hartley has also returned to Bridgend this season after a spell with Haverfordwest and Dale Raven is a wide midfielder who Rhyl fans may remember playing for Cwmbran and Newtown.
Bridgend have been making good strides in this season's Welsh Cup, knocking out Ton Pentre, Rhyl's conquerors in 2006/07, 2-0 in the previous round.
Town were only denied victory over league leaders Goytre last weekend by a 95th minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

This is the Bridgend Town current squad:

GOALKEEPER
Neil Collins

DEFENDERS
Geraint Frowen
Atif Bashir
Brian Showdery
Craig Lima
Keeron Stone
Lloyd Evans
Ian Turner

MIDFIELD
Hayden Fleming
Harrison Kingston
Mike Waters
Anthony Waters
Grant Thomas
Gianluca Palladoni
Jon Phillips
Dale Raven
Mike Hartley
Gregg Coombes
Leigh Pratt

STRIKERS
Jamal Roberts
Rameer Outlaw
Raith Plant
Vinnie Wattleworth

BRIEF HISTORY
Bridgend Town were originally formed in the early 1920's playing in the Welsh section of the Southern League. Despite finishing 6th, 14th and 4th, the team disbanded.
The club re-emerged in the 1960's playing in the Welsh League. In the 1976/1977 season Bridgend reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup, losing to Cardiff City.
The following season Bridgend rejoined the Southern League and were promoted to the Southern Premier Division. In 1979/1980, Bridgend were crowned overall champions of the Southern League, having won the Midland Division of the Southern League, beating Dorchester Town 5-1 in the Championship play-off.
Bridgend returned to the Welsh pyramid in 1983, where they finished runner-up in the National Division twice. After being relegated to the Welsh League First Division and subsequently the Second Division, the club were eventually promoted back to the First Division in 2002/2003, where they have remained since.
Bridgend Town vacated Coychurch Road in 2006 - their home for many years - to make way for associated works related to a new supermarket. They finished up with a comprehensive 7-0 win in their last ever fixture at the ground.
Bridgend Town have recently announced a ground breaking deal where by the club now shares the Brewery Field in Bridgend with the Celtic Crusaders (Rugby League) and Bridgend Ravens (Rugby Union).