with the Yellow Dragon
The League of Wales Cup began over a month ago, when four sides took part in the preliminary round. As you're probably aware, this year's Cup has taken on a new format, with only one leg matches prior to a replay, extra-time and penalties - something which we may face tonight.
Ironically, then, both preliminary round matches were drawn, went to a replay, and from there went to extra-time. Those matches involved the two promoted sides, Afan Lido and Holywell Town, who were entertained by the two worst-placed sides in last year's LoW who weren't relegated - Haverfordwest County and Rhayader Town. Because of the geographical qualification for the draw, Rhayader are in the Northern side of this year's competition.
Eventually, it was Haverfordwest County and Holywell Town who progressed into the First Round proper. The West Walians had to wait until the 108th minute of the replay to ensure their place, when Richard Gay scored their winning goal. Meanwhile, at Halkyn Road, a goal from Crofts kept Holywell in the Cup after Lyn Owens goal for Rhayader had put the mid-Walians ahead. It took until the 112th minute for Vernon Keep to score the goal that put Holywell through to the next round.
Matches in the First round were played in the midweek spaces a fortnight ago. Obviously, the match between ourselvs and Caersws ended in a 2-2 draw, with Damon Russell and Geraint Lewis scoring to give the Bluebirds a 2-0 advantage, with Eifion Williams and Justin Perry scoring in the last ten minutes to earn Barry a replay.
In the Northern side of the draw, Holywell's endeavours against Rhayader meant little to another mid-Walian side, Newtown. Fresh from defeating Bangor at Farrar Road, Steve Clifford scored a 14th minute goal to take the Robins through to the Second round of the competition.
Elsewhere in North Wales, Bangor, under the caretker managership of Lee Williams, forced a 1-1 draw at home to Conwy United. The side in tangerine had gone ahead in the 22nd minute, when defender Mally Tidswell found the back of the net. However, one of the Blues' new signings, Martin Filson, rescued them in the 62nd minute, earning them a replay, which is to be played at the Morfa this evening.
On the Wednesday night, some more of the South Walian matches were played, including a game at Park Avenue, where more than 500 people saw Aberystwyth lose at home to Inter Cabletel. A goal from Dai Withers gave the Cardiff side a 7th minute lead, but they were pegged back by Gavin Allen's 31st minute strike. The home fans went home disappointed though, as Richard Williams scored six minutes after the half-time break to give Inter a 2-1 lead which takes them through to round two.
In the other South Walian tie, Haverfordwest were well worth their victory at Carmarthen's Richmond Park. In front of a crowd of more than 300 people, A.Jones fired them into an 8th minute lead, but ex-Barry and Haverfordwest striker, Paul Burrows, pulled Carmarthen level on the hour. That good work was undone a few minutes later, as Richard Gay put the Bluebirds back ahead, giving Haverfordwest a 2-1 win, and avoiding a replay.
Back in the Northern half of the group, Caernarfon booked a place in the Second Round, after beating Rhyl 2-1 at the Oval. Daley's 18th minute goal set the Canaries on their way, and Rhyl's chances weren't helped when Murphy put the ball into his own goal. Rhyl's arrears were reduced a few minutes later, when Leighton Sumner scored in the 61st minute, but they weren't able to score again and force a draw.
At Llansantffraid, Total Network Solutions and Connah's Quay Nomads fought out a 1-1 draw. Ken McKenna put the home side ahead after 25 minutes, but the Nomads response was swift, with Edge scoring two minutes later - the final goal of the match. The replay for this game will take place at the Deeside Stadium next Tuesday evening, the 13th October.
The other South Walian match was scheduled to be between Cwmbran Town and Ebbw Vale, but following the expulsion of Ebbw Vale from the League of Wales, and subsequently the League Cup, Cwmbran Town have been awarded a bye to the second round.
That means that, in South Wales, the draw consists of Cwmbran Town, Haverfordwest County, Inter Cabletel and the winners of our tie this evening. Meanwhile, in North Wales, Newtown and Caernarfon are definitely through, while there will be replays between Total Network Solutions and Connah's Quay Nomads and also between Conwy United and Bangor City.
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This page is edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
All material on this page was first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Caersws, League of Wales Cup First Round Replay, 06.10.1998.
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