This Saturday, 16 clubs will compete in the fourth round of the JD Welsh Cup.
Saturday, 13 December
14:00 – Caerau Ely (T2) v Llandudno (T2)
14:00 – Bangor City 1876 (T3) v Trefelin (T2)
14:00 – Pen-y-bont (T1) v Flint Town United (T1)
14:00 – Pontypridd United (T2) v Colwyn Bay (T1)
14:00 – Porthmadog (T3) v Y Rhyl 1879 (T2)
14:00 – Barry Town United (T1) v Gresford Athletic (T2)
17:25 – Cardiff Met (T1) v Caernarfon Town (T1)
17:30 – Trearddur Bay (T3) v Newport City (T2)
The JD Welsh Cup has been thrown wide open this year after The New Saints and Connah’s Quay were knocked out in the third round, and now only two former winners are left in the competition, Barry Town United and Flint Town United.
Only six of the JD Cymru Premier clubs have reached the fourth round, and they’ll all be determined to seize this golden opportunity to lift the cup and secure their place in Europe for next season.
And at least two more top-flight teams will leave the competition in this round because there are two matches involving two of the JD Cymru Premier sides as Pen-y-bont host Flint Town United, and Cardiff Met face Caernarfon Town.
Barry Town United and Colwyn Bay have a good chance of reaching the last eight as they face clubs in the bottom half of the second tier, with Barry Town United hosting Gresford Athletic at Jenner Park, whilst Colwyn Bay travel to Pontypridd.
Dinas Bangor City 1876 are the only club in Wales who have not lost a single game this season, and after beating Holywell Town in the last round, the Citizens, who are at the top of the Ardal North West League (tier 3), will hope to cause another upset against one of JD Cymru South’s strongest sides, Trefelin.
It should be a special occasion at Y Traeth when two of north Wales’ most popular clubs go head-to-head as third-tier, Porthmadog take on second-tier, Y Rhyl 1879.
And after suffering their first defeat of the season last Saturday at the hands of The New Saints, the JD Cymru North leaders, Llandudno will look to respond immediately against Caerau Ely.
In the last game of the afternoon, both Trearddur Bay and Newport City will compete in the fourth round of the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history.
Caerau Ely (T2) v Llandudno (T2) | Saturday – 14:00
Caerau Ely are aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the second successive season, while Llandudno have reached the fourth round for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign.
Last year was the first time Caerau Ely have ever reached the quarter-finals, after seeing off Barry Town United and Bala Town from the JD Cymru Premier, before eventually losing out to Connah’s Quay.
Caerau Ely are enjoying another strong season and currently sit in 5th place in the JD Cymru South with two games in hand, which means promotion is certainly on the cards for the Cardiff based club.
Promotion is also the main goal for Llandudno, who are top of the JD Cymru North and are hoping to return to the JD Cymru Premier for the first time since 2019.
Before last Saturday’s narrow 2-1 defeat against The New Saints in the semi-final of the Nathaniel MG Cup, Jordan Hadaway’s team had not lost any of their opening 18 games in all competitions this season (W16, D2),
Road to the 4th round:
Caerau Ely: Penydarren (0-5), Morriston (3-0), Dolgellau (0-2)
Llandudno: Flint Mountain (3-0), Connah’s Quay (2-1)
Caerau Ely have not conceded once in the Welsh Cup this season, but their opponents so far have been clubs from the lower divisions.
Llandudno, on the other hand, have played one game less, but have beaten Connah’s Quay, a club that had reached four of the last six finals.
This will be the first meeting between these two clubs, and the only match between two teams from the second tier in this round.
Bangor City 1876 (T3) v Trefelin (T2) | Saturday – 14:00
There is a wealth of history and memories of Welsh Cup successes in the city of Bangor as the trophy was lifted on eight occasions by the Citizens, but with the original club dissolved, the successors are now keen to emulate the previous club’s achievements.
Bangor City 1876 sit at the top of the Adran North West league and are the only team in Wales who have not lost a single game this season (W20, D2).
The Citizens’ cup journey began in the first qualifying round, and since then Michael Johnston’s team have defeated two clubs from the second tier.
Road to the 4th round:
Bangor 1876: Mochdre (3-1), Conwy Swifts (0-12), St Asaph (0-6), Guilsfield (p 1-1), Holywell (2-1)
Trefelin: Pure Swansea (1-6), Cardiff Draconians (p 3-3)
Trefelin have gone on a fantastic run of 10 games without defeat, reaching the fourth round of the JD Welsh Cup for the first time in their history.
This will be the first ever meeting between the clubs and the 2nd placed team in the JD Cymru South will look to become the first club to beat Bangor this season.
Pen-y-bont (T1) v Flint Town United (T1) | Saturday – 14:00
As the highest ranked club remaining in the competition (3rd in the JD Cymru Premier), Pen-y-bont are one of the favourites to lift the cup this season.
Pen-y-bont played in the final for the first time in the 2021/22 season, losing 3-2 against TNS at the Cardiff City Stadium, and Rhys Griffiths’ team will be desperate to go one step further this year.
Road to the 4th round:
Pen-y-bont: Briton Ferry Llansawel (0-5), Cambrian (1-3)
Flint Town United: Bow Street (0-3), Airbus UK (1-0)
Flint Town United were the winners of the Welsh Cup in 1954 after beating Chester in the final at the Racecourse, but the Silkmen have not reached the final in the 70 years since.
Flint Town United have only won one of their last seven matches, and that victory came against 10-man Airbus UK in the last round of the cup.
Pen-y-bont are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Flint Town United (W5, D1), and the Blues have scored nine goals in two league games against Lee Fowler’s side this season.
James Crole scored in the previous two meetings with Flint Town United, and the Pen-y-bont forward has been on fire this season scoring 19 goals in all competitions, including five in the Welsh Cup.
Pontypridd United (T2) v Colwyn Bay (T1) | Saturday – 14:00
Colwyn Bay have never reached the final of the JD Welsh Cup, but the Seagulls have a real chance of getting into the last eight this season.
Pontypridd United are in 10th place in the JD Cymru South but have been in good form lately having not lost in their last five outings (W3, D2).
Pontypridd United will aim to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1996, while Colwyn Bay have done so twice in the last four years.
Road to the 4th round:
Pontypridd United: Cefn Cribwr (3-1), Treowen Stars (p 1-1)
Colwyn Bay: Kinmel Bay (5-0), Carmarthen (1-3)
The clubs faced each other four times during the 2023/24 season, which was the year in which both clubs were relegated from the JD Cymru Premier, and their head-to-head record was equal with both clubs winning two games apiece.
Colwyn Bay won comfortably on their trip to Carmarthen in the last round, and Michael Wilde will be hoping for a similar result against another Cymru South side this weekend.
Porthmadog (T3) v Y Rhyl 1879 (T2) | Saturday – 14:00
It will be a competitive game at Porthmadog between the team that is currently 2nd in the Adran North West league, and the team that is 8th in the JD Cymru North.
Porthmadog have reached the fourth round of the Welsh Cup for the second time in three years, but this is the first time that Y Rhyl 1879 have reached the fourth round since the new club was formed in 2020.
The old club of Rhyl FC won the cup on four occasions, with the last success coming in 2006 when they beat Bangor in the final at the Racecourse in Wrexham.
Porthmadog have had to win five games to reach this round, beating two teams from the JD Cymru North on penalties, and they’ll look to complete the hat-trick on Saturday.
Road to the 4th round:
Porthmadog: Barmouth (1-0), Llandudno Amateurs (1-4), Denbigh (p 2-2), Buckley (p 0-0), Port Talbot (3-2)
Rhyl 1879: Pwllheli (1-3), Brickfield (1-0), Cwmbran (3-2)
Y Rhyl 1879 will also be full of confidence after beating Holywell last weekend, who are currently 2nd in the JD Cymru North.
The clubs met three times in the third-tier last season with Porthmadog winning twice, but Rhyl 1879 triumphing in the final battle in April before securing promotion.
Barry Town United (T1) v Gresford Athletic (T2) | Saturday – 14:00
Barry Town United have lifted the cup on four occasions winning the competition three times in a row between 2001 and 2003.
The Dragons will be hoping to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2018/19 season when Barry Town progressed to the semi-finals before losing 2-0 against The New Saints.
Barry Town United are on an impressive run of 10 games without defeat in all competitions and have kept seven clean sheets during that period.
Road to the 4th round:
Barry Town United: Aberystwyth (0-5), Llanelli (0-6)
Gresford Athletic: Saltney (3-7), Llanrug (9-0), Penrhiwceibr (0-3)
The Welsh Cup has been a blessing for Gresford Athletic this season with the club having a difficult time in the JD Cymru North, sitting one place off the bottom after a run of eight league games without a win.
Major changes have taken place behind the scenes recently as Eddie Maurice-Jones stepped aside after five years at the helm, and Dave Evans has been appointed as the new manager of Gresford less than two weeks ago.
It will be an entertaining match-up between Barry Town forward, Ollie Hulbert, and Gresford striker, Jake Roberts, with both having scored five goals each in the competition so far.
This will be the first meeting between the teams since November 2022 when Gresford won 2-0 at Jenner Park in the third round of the Welsh Cup.
Cardiff Met (T1) v Caernarfon Town (T1) | Saturday – 17:25 (S4C)
In one of the biggest games of the weekend, two of the top-flight teams will meet at Cyncoed Campus, with both clubs aware of the supreme significance of the game.
Neither Cardiff Met nor Caernarfon Town have ever lifted the Welsh Cup, and they’re unlikely to get a better opportunity for years to come considering the strength of the clubs that have already been knocked out of the competition.
And the main reason for that is due to Cardiff Met’s miraculous victory in the last round against the holders, The New Saints, and therefore the Archers will feel that they deserve to progress into the last eight.
Road to the 4th round:
Cardiff Met: Taffs Well (5-1), The New Saints (2-1)
Caernarfon Town: Newtown (0-3), Penrhyncoch (4-0)
Caernarfon Town have not conceded a goal in the competition so far after facing two clubs from the second tier, but the Cofis have not been firing recently, winning only one of their last six games, and that against JD Cymru North’s bottom side, Penrhyncoch.
Caernarfon Town have made the semi-finals on five occasions in the past, but have never reached the final, and that will be the aim this year.
InterCable Tel lifted the cup in 1999 before merging with Cardiff Met to create the current club, and the students have reached the semi-finals three times since 2018.
In the 2019/20 season Cardiff Met and Caernarfon were due to meet in the semi-final, but the competition was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Having lost just one of their last 11 games in all competitions, momentum is certainly on Cardiff Met’s side, and Ryan Jenkins’ crew will be confident after crushing Caernarfon in the last meeting between the teams in September (Cfon 0-3 Met).
Trearddur Bay (T3) v Newport City (T2) | Saturday – 17:30
Trearddur Bay and Newport City have reached the fourth round of the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history.
Road to the 4th round:
Trearddur Bay: Llangefni (3-5), Berriew (0-3), Broughton (0-6), Glyn-neath (2-5)
Newport City: Penygraig (3-1), Blaenavon (p 2-2)
Although Trearddur Bay are the lowest remaining club in the competition (4th in the Ardal North West) they have won their last seven matches, and there are several former JD Cymru Premier players among the squad.
There are also a number of familiar faces in the Newport City squad, which include two ex-Barry Town United former captains; Kayne McLaggon and Luke Cooper.
But Trearddur Bay forward Tom Hilditch will be the one to watch on Saturday afternoon, as he is the competition’s top scorer this year with nine goals in four games, including a hat-trick in the last round against Glyn-neath.
Newport City have not been at their best recently, winning only one of their last five games, and that on penalties against Blaenavon Blues from the lower tier.
