This weekend four JD Cymru Premier teams will battle it out for a place in this season’s Nathaniel MG Cup final.
Friday, 26 November
Bala Town v Connah’s Quay | Friday – 19:45
As the competition was cancelled last year due to Covid-19, Connah’s Quay are still the Nathaniel MG Cup holders after beating STM Sports 3-0 in the 2019/20 final.
It was only the second time that the Nomads lifted the League Cup following their previous success in 1995/96.
Connah’s Quay had to beat Bala Town in the 2019/20 semi-finals before going on to win the competition, and Craig Harrison will be looking to repeat that feat this season.
Bala Town reached two consecutive finals in 2014 and 2015 but fell short on both occasions to Carmarthen Town and then The New Saints, which leaves the Lakesiders as the only remaining team in the competition that is yet to lift the cup.
Colin Caton’s clan lost 3-0 against The New Saints in the 2015 final, and only once since then has the final been played out between two top-flight teams (Met 0-1 TNS – 2018), but that will certainly be the case this year as no lower league club has reached this season’s semi-final.
Just one point separates these two teams in the league after Bala Town climbed above Connah’s Quay to 5th spot following their 3-1 victory over Flint Town United last Friday, ahead of the Nomads’ goalless draw with Pen-y-bont on Saturday.
But the Nomads could have the psychological advantage as no more than three weeks have gone by since the Deeside syndicate thrashed their counterparts 4-0 in a league match at Maes Tegid.
With five red cards shown in the last five meetings between these two sides, it will undoubtedly be a feisty affair on Friday night.
Bala Town have knocked out Flint Town United, Bangor City and Newtown to reach this stage of the competition, while Connah’s Quay have managed to avoid the tier 1 sides to get to the semi-finals by beating Llandudno, Airbus UK and Holywell Town.
Saturday, 27 November
Cardiff Met v Barry Town United | Saturday – 14:30
At Cyncoed Campus, Cardiff Met will be aiming to topple Barry Town United for the third time this campaign.
The students have already knocked Barry Town United out of the Welsh Cup (3-0) and have beaten them in the league (0-1), and Dr Christian Edwards will be determined to make it a hat-trick on Saturday.
Barry Town United have lifted the League Cup on four occasions, which happened to be consecutively during their golden era between 1997-2000.
Despite being in the second tier at the time, the Dragons reached the final once again in 2017 but lost 4-0 to The New Saints at Cardiff Met’s home ground.
And it was the students who suffered at the hands of the Saints the following season as Cardiff Met lost 1-0 against the Oswestry outfit in the 2018 final.
But a year later, and Cardiff Met managed to go onE step further as they triumphed over Cambrian & Clydach in the 2019 final and lifted the cup at Barry Town’s ground, Jenner Park.
Like Connah’s Quay, Barry Town United have reached the semi-final by beating three second tier sides (Llanelli, Trefelin and Pontypridd), while Cardiff Met have had to win three away games against Ammanford, Aberystwyth Town and Haverfordwest County.
The Archers will be glad of the well-needed distraction from the league as they dropped into the relegation zone following their 1-0 loss at home to Aberystwyth Town on Friday, while Barry Town United are in 8th position and unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions.
Highlights of the semi-finals will be available on Sgorio’s online accounts and on S4C at 17:30 on Monday afternoon.
