This weekend, 32 clubs will compete in the third round of the JD Welsh Cup, and here’s a look at some of the stand-out ties.
Friday, 24 September
Caernarfon Town v Prestatyn Town | Friday – 19:45
Huw Griffiths will be determined to see a reaction from his players following their 5-0 thumping at Newtown in the Nathaniel MG Cup third round on Tuesday night.
Caernarfon Town had kept three consecutive clean sheets before their heavy defeat at Newtown, but the Cofis are still sitting pretty in fourth place of the JD Cymru Premier.
Prestatyn Town were also knocked out of the League Cup on Tuesday as two of their ex-players, Zebb Edwards and Oliver Buckley netted at their old ground to help Holywell Town to a 4-3 away win.
This was Prestatyn’s third loss on the bounce, and the Seasiders will certainly be disappointed with their start to the season as they’re currently in 10th position in the JD Cymru North with only two wins from eight league matches.
These two clubs also met in the Welsh Cup third round back in 2018/19 with the Cofis winning 3-0 at Bastion Gardens through goals from Cai Jones (2) and Noah Edwards.
The teams have met once since that Welsh Cup clash with Prestatyn Town enjoying a 4-1 revenge victory at the Oval in the Nathaniel MG Cup back in September 2019.
Caernarfon Town have reached this season’s third round after defeating Denbigh Town (0-4), while Prestatyn Town were too powerful for Rhostyllen (6-0).
Conwy Borough v The New Saints | Friday – 19:45
These two teams will be feeling fresh after no mid-week distractions, as both Conwy Borough and The New Saints had been knocked out of the Nathaniel MG Cup in the previous round.
Conwy Borough are currently 8th in the JD Cymru North, but Matthew Jones’ men have only won one of their last six outings, which was their second round Welsh Cup win against Cefn Albion (3-2).
TNS had no trouble in seeing off Llanrwst in the second round (6-0), and the JD Cymru Premier league leaders are in fine form having not lost any of their last seven matches (won 6, drawn 1).
This will be the third time in a decade that these two teams go head-to-head in the Welsh Cup third round, and the last two meetings have had to go to extra time before the Saints eventually got the better of their lower league opponents.
Saturday, 18 September
Trefelin BGC v Connah’s Quay | Saturday – 12:45 (S4C)
The 2018 Welsh Cup winners, Connah’s Quay, will make the journey down to Ynys Park to face Trefelin BGC who are 9th in the JD Cymru South.
Trefelin BGC have had to win two fixtures to reach this stage of the competition (8-1 vs Fairwater, 0-3 vs Briton Ferry), while Connah’s Quay eased past Y Rhyl 1879 in the last round (5-0).
This will be the second time in five days that Trefelin will face the challenge of a top tier side as they were beaten 3-0 by Barry Town United in the Nathaniel MG Cup on Tuesday night.
That became the third successive defeat for Richard Ryan’s side, who had started the season strongly having gone 10 games without defeat.
There was a goal-fest at the Deeside Stadium on Tuesday night, as Connah’s Quay ultimately knocked Airbus UK out of the Nathaniel MG Cup.
The Nomads were 3-0 up within 16 minutes and looked to be on their way to a comfortable win, but Airbus hit back and brought it back to 3-3 at half-time, before Connah’s Quay scored another three goals after the break to secure a 6-3 victory against Andy Morrison’s former club.
This will be the first ever meeting between Trefelin BGC and Connah’s Quay, and the first time that Trefelin will play live on television.
Airbus UK v Haverfordwest County | Saturday – 14:30
Airbus UK gave Connah’s Quay a bit of a scare on Tuesday night, but Steve O’Shaughnessy’s side will hope to go one better on Saturday and beat Haverfordwest County of the JD Cymru Premier.
Airbus have won their previous seven meetings with Haverfordwest County, knocking the Bluebirds out of the Welsh Cup in 2014 and 2015.
The Wingmakers are flying high in the JD Cymru North and are currently top of the league with eight wins from nine games, and the Broughton boys are on track to take Haverfordwest County’s place in the top-flight as the Bluebirds are presently in the relegation zone of the JD Cymru Premier.
Despite being in the bottom two, Haverfordwest County seem to have turned the corner recently with three wins from their last four outings, which include Saturday’s 2-0 triumph against Flint Town United, before beating Undy Athletic 5-0 in the Nathaniel MG Cup on Tuesday night.
Airbus UK have reached the Welsh Cup third round after defeating Llandudno (1-2), while Haverfordwest County hammered Brecon Corries in the second round (6-0).
Penrhiwceiber Rangers v Flint Town United | Saturday – 14:30
Penrhiwceiber Rangers are one of only four tier three sides to have reached the third round of the JD Welsh Cup this season.
Sitting 7th in the Ardal South West League, Penrhiwceiber Rangers are on a run of five games without defeat, and will be keen to cause an upset against a fierce Flint Town United outfit who have been this season’s dark horses, and are currently 2nd in the JD Cymru Premier.
Flint Town United have won five of their last seven matches, but Neil Gibson will demand more from his players who fell to a disappointing 2-0 loss at Haverfordwest on Saturday.
Penrhiwceiber Rangers have had to win four games to reach this stage of the competition (1-2 vs AFC Penrhiwceiber, 0-6 vs Aberfan, 2-12 vs West End, 0-3 vs Ammanford), while Flint Town United saw off Penrhyncoch in the previous round (5-0).
Bala Town v Pontypridd Town | Saturday – 14:30
For the second round running, Bala Town won on penalties to progress to the next stage of the Nathaniel MG Cup on Tuesday night.
The Lakesiders had beaten Flint on penalties in the previous round, and Colin Caton’s crew were once again triumphant from 12 yards against Bangor City, following a total of 20 penalty kicks.
The results means that Bala Town remain unbeaten in the domestic season after nine games.
But Bala Town’s run is nothing compared to Pontypridd Town’s remarkable record, as the 2nd placed club in the JD Cymru South are unbeaten since December 2019 (3-2 vs Haverfordwest County).
A League Cup victory against Penrhyncoch on Wednesday night stretched Ponty’s unbeaten run to 26 games, which includes their 6-0 thrashing against Penydarren in the second round of this season’s Welsh Cup.
But if 6-0 is considered a thrashing, it’s difficult to find the adjective to describe Bala Town’s win against Brymbo earlier this month!
Bala Town’s unbelievable 17-1 win over Brymbo was the biggest win in the Welsh Cup since Mold Alyn Stars 0-21 Shrewsbury Town in the 1894/95 first round, and the second highest score in the history of the competition since 1877.
The confidence is certainly high in both camps, but unfortunately, one of the unbeaten records will have to come to and at Maes Tegid this Saturday.
Full fixtures for the JD Welsh Cup 3rd Round:
Friday: Caernarfon Town v Prestatyn Town, Cambrian & Clydach v Pen-y-bont, Colwyn Bay v Ruthin Town, Conwy Borough v The New Saints, Taffs Well v Llantwit Major
Saturday: Aberystwyth Town v Cefn Druids, Airbus UK v Haverfordwest County, Bala Town v Pontypridd Town, Buckley Town v Monmouth Town, Cardiff Met v Barry Town United, Dinas Powys v Guilsfield, Newtown v Carmarthen Town, Penrhiwceiber Rangers v Flint Town United, Saltney Town v Penrhyncoch, Swansea University v Bangor City, Trefelin BGC v Connah’s Quay
