As Barry romped to an 8-0 win at Knighton in last week's Welsh Cup Fourth round, other League of Wales clubs were being equally successful in beating minor league opposition, ensuring that next month's quarter-finals will be an all-LoW affair, for the first time in history!
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated tie of the round was that at Park Avenue in Aberystwyth, where the Seasiders entertained Bangor City. Aberystwyth had defeated Bangor 3-1 in December, but lightning didn't strike twice, as after a goalless first half, Bangor coasted to a 3-1 victory. It would be wrong to say that Bangor had the match to themselves, as 'keeper, Dave Williams, was forced to pull off a series of saves from players such as Ryan Nicholls, Gavin Allen and Haydn Fleming. The turning point was the injury to Aber player/chairman, Donald Kane, who, as centre-half had prevented Bangor from getting into scoring positions. Without him, Bangor began to take control, with Craig Dulson scoring in the 61st minute. This was added to soon after by Marc Lloyd-Williams, who scored twice in succession to give the Farrar Road side a 3-0 lead. Aberystwyth scored a late consolation goal through Glyndwr Hughes.
Our opponents today, Caersws, also tasted Welsh cup success last Saturday, defeating Inter Cabletel at the Athletic Stadium in Cardiff. While many pundits expressed surprise at the Bluebirds' success, it should be remembered that they recently defeated Inter in Caersws as well, and so last week's result was hardly a fluke. First half goals from Craig Edwards and Mark Evans gave Caersws a two goal lead, before Damon Russell's 47th minute goal put them three clear. Two goals from Neil Cooper almost brought Inter back into contention, but Caersws were able to prevent further goals and steer themselves on into the quarter-finals.
The only other 'shock' of any magnitude was Caernarfon's 2-1 home victory over Carmarthen. Again, this was only an upset in terms of league positioning, as the South Walians are in mid-table, while the victorious North Walians are in the relegation zone. However, as with Caersws' success over Inter, Caernarfon had recently defeated Carmarthen in a League of Wales match at Richmond Park, so, in many ways, this too was not a real surprise. The South Walians appear to have had the best of the first half, with Ceri Williams hitting a post, and David Webley having a goal disallowed. However, they hit the lead after 38 minutes, when Simon Rocke scored, following up after Webley had twice failed to net. Caernarfon then equalised through Darren Wilson, before top scorer, Mark Aitken hammered home from the edge of the box, giving the home side victory at the Oval, and setting them up for that local derby with Bangor City.
Despite their midweek defeat against Barry in the Gilbert League Cup, Cwmbran were back to full form against Hoover Sports. Hoovers are in the CC Sports Welsh League Second Division, i.e two divisions below the LoW, and were shown the gap which exists between the LoW and the feeder leagues. Cwmbran opened the scoring after only two minutes, Simon Dyer scoring for the Crows. However, the Merthyr side, equalised soon after, with Ricky Collins getting their goal. After half an hour, Mattie Davies put the LoW side back ahead, and despite some desperate defending, the second half saw them blitz the Welsh League side, with goals from Chris Watkins and Adam Moore.
With rugby being played at Ebbw Vale's Eugene Cross Park, their home tie against Newtown was switched to Latham Park, the home of their mid-Walian opponents. It certainly wasn't a good switch for the Gwent side, who were defeated by the same scoreline as in their recent LoW meeting with the Robins. Kevin Morrison, formerly with Aberystwyth and Porthmadog, was the Newtown hero, scoring a hat-trick in the 4-0 win. The first goal came after six minutes, with Morrison netting from a Scott Ruscoe cross. Paul Line scored Newtown's second, a diving header from six yards, while Morrison scored twice more to see Newtown through to the quarter-finals, and a tie against their near neighbours, and our opponents today, Caersws.
Now playing at Rhyl's Belle Vue ground, there was no surprise for Connah's Quay as they defeated CC Sports side, Llanwern. The Gwent side lost 4-0, although that may appear a touch cruel. They battled well throughout, although never really threatening the Nomads' goal. Connah's Quay's first goal came in the 26th minute, when a Paul Jones corner was headed in by Carl Smythe. The second came in the second half, as Chris Davies scored in the 55th minute. Nomads' substitute, Stuart Rain, scored two goals in the last eight minutes, to ensure that the feeder league side weren't flattered by the final scoreline. That victory earns Connah's Quay a 'home' tie against Cwmbran in the quarter-final next month.
The other tie in last week's Welsh Cup also saw victory for the LoW side over CC Sports' League opposition. Although Ton Pentre withdrew from the League of Wales of their own accord, and were top of the CC Sports' League last week, they still weren't good enough to beat Total Network Solutions at Ynys Park. TNS took the lead in the 25th minute, as Adrian Jones scored from Gary Curtis's corner. However, the Rhondda valley side were back on equal terms before half-time, with another set-piece goal, Andrew Hughes heading home from a corner. Unsurprisingly, then, it was another set-piece that saw the League of Wales club clinch victory in the 71st minute. Gary Curtis's free-kick to the back post was met by Gary Evans to make it 2-1 to the visitors, and set up that intriguing tie here at Jenner Park next month.
In the League of Wales, an away win for Flint, doing the double over Porthmadog, moved them ahead of Caernarfon Town. Jimmy Carberry crossed from the left to allow Steve Jones to score a winner from 25 yards. Although not out of the relegation zone, Flint are behind Total Network Solutions on goal difference only, and with several other sides near the four unlucky places, the last two/three months of the season look to be very exciting for the clubs at the bottom of the table.
No-one looks very keen to lose their LoW place, and Welshpool are one of the sides to find form in recent weeks. Despite being denied a point at Rhyl a few weeks ago, the two Lilywhites shared the points last Saturday at Maes-y-Dref in a 3-3 draw. The mid-Walians took the lead on all three occasions. The first goal came after 9 minutes, Ian Clarke scoring after Rhyl 'keeper, Dave Edwards, fumbled a shot. Rhyl's Timmy Steele equalised after eighteen minutes. Dave Taylor, formerly Golden Boot winner with Porthmadog, put Welshpool back in the lead, but Gareth Wilson again levelled for Rhyl. Welshpool went ahead for the third time when Steve Clifford beat the offside trap, but Timmy Steele scored his second of the game to earn the visitors, and new manager, Dean Martin a point. The point pushes Rhyl into sixth place, above Connah's Quay Nomads, who were on cup duty. Welshpool remain last but one, but are now only three points behind Caernarfon.
The Yellow Dragon.
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