Newport County Under-18s kick off the calendar year with a tough test against Swindon Town on Saturday morning (11am).
The young Exiles host the Robins at USW Sport Park in the Youth Alliance League, as they look to return to winning ways.
After winning just one of their last five league matches, County will be eager to turn their fortunes around and kick off 2025 with a positive result.
Swindon Town, who will be making the trip to South Wales, come into the match on the back of a defeat but have had a more consistent run recently, with two wins and a draw in their last five league outings.
The last time these two sides met was in the FA Youth Cup earlier this season, where Swindon triumphed 3-1 at the County Ground to progress to the second round of the competition.
County will be hoping to make amends for that loss and put in a solid performance against a strong Robins side.
Speaking prior to his side’s test, academy manager Luke Hussey said: "We are glad to get back to league action this weekend. Swindon Town U18 is always a strong side, and we’ve prepared well all week for the challenge.
“With loans and injuries, this is a great opportunity for some of the younger scholars to step up, it’s these tough tests that push us to raise our standards.”
TICKET INFORMATION
Entry for this Saturday's match at USW Sport Park will be free for all supporters.
REACHING THE GROUND
Supporters planning on attending on Saturday should use the following address:
USW Sport Park
University of South Wales
Treforest Industrial Estate
Pontypridd
CF37 5UP
The ground is located a 5-minute walk away from Treforest Estate station. Train links to Treforest Estate station run regularly from Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street stations.