Now in its seventh year of existence, the League of Wales Cup has changed dramatically over the years. Indeed, the only consistency is the nominally geographical split in the country. The Yellow Dragon looks at how this has happened.
The League of Wales Cup came into being at the same time as the League of Wales itself, in the 1992-93 season. In that year, the original idea was for the League of Wales sides to be split into four groups of five clubs, with clubs playing a round-robin/mini-league system, with the ultimate group winners qualifying for the semi-finals, and then take part in the final. All of this was done on a geographical basis, with the then-four mid-Wales sides split between the groups. That first final then took place between our opponents today, Caersws, and Afan Lido, who had overcome Maesteg Park in the semi-final. That first trophy eventually came south with Afan Lido winning on penalties.
Indeed, the trophy was kept by the Port Talbot coast for a further year, despite a change in format for the competition. The competition was played over a series of two-legged matches, which resulted in Afan Lido winning in South Wales and Bangor City winning through from the North. Despite Bangor having won the League of Wales, Andrew Webber's 35th minute free-kick meant that Afan Lido again won the Cup.
Early elimination meant that it wasn't to be 'Three in a Row' for Afan Lido, but it wasn't to be Barry either, as the Dragons were taken out of the competition by Inter Cardiff. Maintaining the same format as in the previous season, Llansantffraid and Ton Pentre fought their way through to the final, in Ton's case via an extra-time semi final against Inter. The final took place at Latham Park, Newtown, where Ton took an early lead. However, Llansantffraid dragged their way back into the game, and showed enough tenacity to eventually came out 2-1 winners.
The 1995-96 season saw a return to the group format, but in a slightly different fashion. This time there were to be five groups, four of them consisting of four, with the North-West Wales group featuring five sides following the return of Caernarfon to League of Wales football. The winners of all five groups went forward to the quarter-finals, alongside the three best runners-up. Barry qualified from a group including Afan Lido, Llanelli and Briton Ferry, before beating Cwmbran in the two-legged quarter-finals. Eventually, though, Barry were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Ebbw Vale. Having drawn 0-0 at Eugene Cross Park, the return saw a 2-2 and Ebbw's qualification by means of the away goals rule. That final was played at Caersws's Recreation Ground, where the North Walian finalists, Connah's Quay Nomads, scraped home with a 1-0 victory.
A return to the two-legged matches saw Barry take the trophy in the 1996-97 season. After knocking out Ebbw Vale and Inter Cabletel, Barry went on to a semi-final with Ton Pentre. Despite shock defeat in the away leg, the aggregate score was 3-3, with an away goal in Barry's advantage. That took Barry through to the final against Bangor City, which was once again played at Aberystwyth's Park Avenue. Barry went ahead, but Bangor got back into the game, and took the lead during extra-time. With only three minutes remaining, Barry made the score 2-2, and took the final to penalties. Eventually, a converted penalty from Craig Evans, and two saves from Mark Ovendale gave Barry the trophy.
Last year saw a continuation of the two-legged matches, and Barry and Bangor again reach the final. For the first time, though, the final took place at the home of one of the participants, with Bangor City as the lucky winners of that particular toss of the coin. Of course in a continued repetition of the previous seasons events, Barry took the lead, the game went to penalties, and Barry again won the League of Wales Cup.
This year's tournament is therefore the first occasion on which the League of Wales Cup is to be played over one leg, although, of course, with replays, of which tonight is an obvious example. The competition remains on a regional basis, with mid-Walian sides Caersws and Aberystwyth Town joining the other South Walian sides in the Southern half of the draw.
Other ideas have also been suggested for the Cup, not least of which is the inclusion of sids from the top feeder leagues who have the obvious criterion of floodlighting and so forth.
As always, though, we have another season of midweek League of Wales Cup football to look forward to. Or, rather, the winner of tonight's game (there is going to be one!) will have a few weeks to look forward to their Second Round tie.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
All material on this page first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Haverfordwest County, Gilbert LoW Cup Second Round , 10.11.1998
