The midweek matches this week are the quarter-finals of the Gilbert League of Wales Cup, a competition which Barry have won on the past two successive occasions. Matches are played over one leg (it was two last year) with the draw being made on a regional (North/South) basis.
Tonight's other match is one of the North Walian ties, with Bangor City entertaining Newtown at Farrar Road. This will already be the third occasion this season on which these two clubs have met, with Newtown having come out on top in both previous games. The first game, at Farrar Road resulted in a 3-2 victory for the mid-Wales club, despite Bangor goalkeeper-manager, Leigh Williams, scoring a free-kick from his own half. The return at Newtown's Latham Park saw the home side come out clear 3-1 victors. Despite those two victories, Newtown will still be looking to avenge their Welsh Cup semi-final defeat last year, when Bangor beat them in extra-time and went on to win the Cup. Tonight would be a perfect opportunity for Newtown to make it three victories in a row and to go through to the semi-finals of the Gilbert League of Wales Cup.
In last year's competition, Newtown played in the South Wales group and were knocked out by Cwmbran Town. Bangor City, of course, reached the final, only to lose on penalties to Barry.
Tomorrow night is the other quarter-final in South Wales, and the winner of our tie tonight will be playing the winner of the Cwmbran Town v Inter Cabletel game. These sides have also met in the League of Wales, with Cwmbran coming out on top in that match, former Barry player, Chris Pike, scoring the only goal of the match. The two clubs have also met in the FAW Premier Cup this year, where Inter came out on top with a 2-0 scoreline. Based on League of Wales positions alone, Cwmbran, challenging at the top, would appear a safe bet, but despite their lowly position, Inter have succeeded in cup competitions this season. They top their FAW Premier Cup group and knocked out Aberystwyth Town (then LoW leaders) in the first round of the League Cup. This game may go right to the wire.
Both sides were knocked out of last year's cup by Barry. Inter were beaten in the quarter-final stage, 3-2 on aggregate, while Barry cruised to a 9-1 aggregate win over Cwmbran in the semi-final.
The final quarter-final is that at the Oval, Caernarfon, where they entertain Total Network Solutions. These two sides have yet to meet in the League of Wales, but both will relish the opportunity to get close to a trophy. Total Network Solutions are renowned as a cup side, their Welsh Cup win over Barry being their crowning glory, but they also won the League of Wales Cup the season before, defeating Ton Pentre 2-1. The Llansantffraid side, who needed a reply to defeat Connah's Quay, will certainly want to repeat that feat. Caernarfon, meanwhile, beat Rhyl in the previous round, and, should they get through, will fancy their chances against either Newtown, with whom they drew 1-1, or against local rivals, Bangor City, a match which would be sure to draw attention all over North-West Wales. However, if T.N.S keep their heads about them, then they should get through this tie.
Caernarfon were knocked out 1-0 on aggregate by Bangor City in the semi-final last season, while T.N.S found themselves surprisingly dumped out by Cemaes Ynys Mon, who were later relegated from the League of Wales.
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
Barry Town matchday magazine index
Gilbert League of Wales Cup results 1998-9
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Haverfordwest County, 10.11.98, Gilbert LoW Cup Rd.2
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