As ourselves and Newtown were semi-finalists in last season's Welsh Cup, the draw looks faintly odd without both clubs, but then that's the magic of the cup, isn't it?
The tie of the round is clear to see, even in today's last eight. Hopefully, the pitch at the Deeside Stadium will be in a playable condition for Connah's Quay Nomads game against Inter Cabletel. Should the game be played then it should be all a cup tie is billed to be. The Nomads have shown themselves to be a very good cup side, having reached the semi-final back in 1993, and last year's final, losing only on penalties. However, that's hardly news to Barry or Newtown, both of whom were knocked out of this year's cup by Connah's Quay. Newtown took the Nomads to a replay only to be caught out by a Jamie Hughes goal, while Stuart Raine's thigh took Nomads through here at Jenner Park last month.
Nevertheless, the money has to be on Inter Cabletel today. The city slickers impressive run continues, and having had a break midweek they should pick up where they left off. Their only stutter in recent months was their 1-1 draw with CC Sports side Pontardawe in the last round of the Welsh Cup, which might show a chink in their armour, but they won 3-0 away at the Swansea Valley side. Against Connah's Quay, they certainly hold the upper hand this season, with three wins and a draw.
The other all-League of Wales clash is at Llansantffraid, where Total Network Solutions meet Cwmbran Town. Both sides are on a roll in the league, with TNS defeating Aberystwyth last week and Cwmbran keeping up a good unbeaten run, assisted by the return of striker Mattie Davies. TNS are another club known as a good cup side, but much could depend on the intermittent form of Ken McKenna up front for the mid-Walian side. Cwmbran, though, will surely be grateful for a cup competition where they haven't yet met Inter Cabletel who've knocked the Crows out of both the Gilbert League Cup and the Premier Cup.
The other two matches feature League of Wales clubs taking on feeder league clubs, both of whom come from the South Walian CC Sports League. The LoW sides have to be favourites - no CC Sports side has beaten an LoW side for two and a half years.
At Ammanford, who play in division two of the CC Sports League (i.e two divisions below the LoW), Conwy United are the visitors. While it may appear churlish, Ammanford have had a relatively easy ride in this competition, having had a bye from the second to the fourth round of the Cup (due to the exclusion of Ebbw Vale), and then met Colwyn Bay YMCA, who play at the same level of the pyramid. Despite Ammanford's home advantage, Conwy United have to be favourites, especially after their 7-0 demolition of BP Llandarcy (from the CC Sports first division) in the last round. Certainly, if the LoW side keep their cool then they'll go through to the last four.
The final tie is at Carmarthen's Richmond Park, where the LoW side entertain CC Sports first division club, Port Talbot Athletic, should the pitch be playable. Despite an inconsistent LoW season, Carmarthen are favourites to reach their first ever Welsh Cup semi-final, with their opponents doing well in the CC Sports league, but possibly not well enough to spring a surprise. Tomi Morgan's club to go through.
the Yellow Dragon.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Newtown, League of Wales, 13.03.1999
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