For the first time since the formation of the Welsh Premier League in 1992, two teams from outside the top-flight have managed to reach the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup.
There have been several cases where one of the lower league clubs has reached the semi-finals in the past, with Colwyn Bay being the latest of those in 2022, but we have never had two clubs from the second tier reach the semi-finals in the same season until this year.
Llanelli Town and Cambrian United are the two clubs that have achieved that feat, and they face a significant challenge this weekend against the teams that reached last year’s final, Connah’s Quay and The New Saints.
In addition to the two cup games, two JD Cymru Premier Top Six fixtures will be held over the weekend as Pen-y-bont and Haverfordwest County continue their quest to finish as runners-up in the JD Cymru Premier.
If Pen-y-bont drop points against Cardiff Met then The New Saints will be confirmed as champions on Friday night.
Connah’s Quay v Llanelli Town | Saturday – 12:30 (S4C) (Park Avenue, Aberystwyth)
Connah’s Quay are the current holders of the JD Welsh Cup after the Nomads beat The New Saints 2-1 in the final last season, and Billy Paynter will be determined to win the cup again this year to claim his first trophy since being appointed manager of the club.
Connah’s Quay have won their last four games without conceding a goal, but overall, it hasn’t been a glowing season for the Nomads as the club failed to secure their place among the Top Six, but if the team were to lift the Welsh Cup in May, then that would surely be enough to turn a sour season into a successful one.
Llanelli Town on the other hand are enjoying an excellent campaign in the JD Cymru South, in a strong position to secure promotion back to the JD Cymru Premier for the first time since 2019 and have managed to reach the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup for the first time in 14 years.
Llanelli Town have only lost one of their last 21 games in all competitions and the Reds are two points clear at the top of their league with only four rounds of games left to play.
In 2011 Llanelli Town won the Welsh Cup for the only time in their history, beating Bangor City in the final with Rhys Griffiths and Chris Venables among the scorers for the Reds at Parc y Scarlets that day.
Connah’s Quay have lifted the cup twice – the first in 2017/18 after beating Aberystwyth Town in the final, before winning the competition for the second time last season.
Llanelli Town will be the fifth club from the second tier to face the Nomads in the cup this season, with Connah’s Quay beating Guilsfield (5-0), Trefelin (1-2), Mold Alexandra (1-0) and Caerau Ely (0-2) in the competition so far.
Llanelli Town have not conceded a goal in their four cup fixtures to date after defeating Clwb Cymric (0-3), AFC Pill (4-0), Haverfordwest County (0-2), and Denbigh Town (0-1) in the previous rounds.
These clubs met two years ago in the fourth round of the cup with Connah’s Quay winning 2-0 at Stebonheath Park after Ben Nash and Joe Malkin headed in the goals for the Nomads from two corners.
Before that the clubs had not met since their league matches in 2018/19 when Connah’s Quay demolished the Reds 7-0 at Stebonheath Park and 6-0 at Deeside Stadium.
Considering those results, it was not surprising to see Llanelli Town relegated from the top tier in the summer of 2019, but Lee John’s men have strengthened once again and hope to cause a shock on Saturday to reach the final for the fourth time in the club’s history.
Cambrian United v The New Saints | Sunday – 12:45 (Live online) (Park Avenue, Aberystwyth)
The Cambrian United squad have created history as the club have reached the semi-finals for the first time ever this year.
Cambrian sit mid-table in the JD Cymru South, and like Connah’s Quay, the Miners have reached the semi-finals without facing a top-flight club, knocking out Goytre Utd (p 0-0), Llandudno (3-2), Afan Lido (0-0 p) and Carmarthen Town (3-1).
Tim Parker was the hero for the Sky Blues in the last round, netting twice against Carmarthen Town to add to his goal against Llandudno in the third round.
It will be a monumental task for the Cam Army at Park Avenue against the only professional club in the Welsh football pyramid, and the team that is currently on an incredible run of 13 consecutive victories.
The New Saints have already lifted the Nathaniel MG Cup this season, and the league title is more or less in the bag, and so the Welsh Cup is the last trophy the Oswestry outfit need to complete the domestic treble for the first time in nine years.
The New Saints have won the Welsh Cup on nine occasions, and only the Exiles have had more success – Wrexham (23), Cardiff City (22), Swansea City (10).
The Saints have played in 13 finals (won 9, lost 4), and have reached eight of the last nine finals, winning six of those against six different clubs (Aber, Newtown, Airbus, Connah’s Quay, Pen-y-bont, Bala).
But it was an unexpected defeat for TNS in last year’s final at Rodney Parade with Connah’s Quay lifting the cup, but Craig Harrison will be desperate to bring the trophy back over the border this year.
The Saints started their cup campaign in style with an emphatic win over Llangollen Town (16-0), before going on to beat Cardiff Met (1-3), Colwyn Bay (4-1) and Airbus UK (5-0) on the road to the semi-finals.
This will be the first meetings between the clubs since November 2018 when Cambrian United won 2-1 after extra time against the Saints in the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup, and it would be a special story if the Clydach Vale club could achieve the impossible once more.
TOP SIX
Pen-y-bont (2nd) v Cardiff Met (4th) | Friday – 19:45
After clinching the victory late on against Bala Town on Saturday afternoon, Pen-y-bont remain six points above Haverfordwest County (3rd) with only five rounds of games left to play.
If the New Saints were to win the two remaining trophies (league and Welsh Cup), then the team that finishes second would seal an automatic place in Europe, and therefore Pen-y-bont will be keen to hold on to second place.
Pen-y-bont and Haverfordwest County will meet in a crucial match in the race for second place at the Bridge Meadow next weekend, and after spending a large part of the season at the top of the table the Bryntirion boys will be determined not to drop any further.
Remaining fixtures:
Pen-y-bont – Hav (a), TNS (h), Cfon (h), Bala (a)
Haverfordwest County – Pen (h), Cfon (h), Met (a), YSN (h)
Cardiff Met climbed to 4th place on Saturday afternoon after beating Caernarfon Town, but a lack of consistency has been an issue for the students as the Archers have not won back-to-back games since September.
These clubs have met four times since the start of the season and Cardiff Met have had the better of things, winning twice and drawn twice, and therefore the Archers are the only team that have not lost against Pen-y-bont this season.
The New Saints will be keeping a close eye on this game as they could seal the championship if Pen-y-bont were to drop points on Friday night.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ͏❌➖❌❌✅
Cardiff Met: ͏✅❌✅❌✅
Bala Town (6th) v Haverfordwest County (3rd) | Saturday – 14:30
After scraping their way into the top half, life hasn’t been easy for Bala Town among the elite as the club have failed to pick up a single point since the split.
Bala Town have lost five league games in a row, and the Lakesiders will be determined not to extend that run and make it six successive defeats for the first time since April 2018.
Bala Town have qualified for Europe on nine occasions since the summer of 2013, but the spirit of Colin Caton’s squad will need to be lifted if they are to reach the goal again this year.
Haverfordwest County are enjoying an impressive season, and despite conceding five goals against the champions last weekend, the Bluebirds still have the best defensive record in the league.
Tony Pennock’s team have only conceded 19 goals in 27 games this season (0.7 goals per game), and 26% of those goals came against the Saints last Saturday.
Zac Jones has 14 clean sheets to his name so far, and as the games run out, one more clean sheet would be enough to claim the Golden Glove.
Haverfordwest County have claimed seven points out of a possible nine in their three meetings with Bala Town this season, winning 2-0 on their last visit to Maes Tegid in October.
League form:
Bala Town: ❌❌❌❌❌
Haverfordwest County: ✅➖➖✅❌
Highlights of all matches will be available on Sgorio’s online accounts.
