From Ely to Europe
with the Yellow Dragon
Today sees Barry's first match in the 1998/99 Welsh Cup, the competition which we have won on three occasions in our history.
Having reached the semi-final last season, we were awarded a bye to this, the Third round, alongside holders, Bangor City, finalist, Connah's Quay Nomads, additional semi-finalists, Newtown and Inter Cable-tel, awarded a bye due to their League of Wales position last season.
For other clubs, though, the competition began on 19th September, when the clubs from the Feeder Leagues throughout Wales took part. The remainder of the other League of Wales sides joined in last month in the Second round.
Sixteen of the seventeen League of Wales sides have made it through to the Third round, with only Aberystwyth Town, ironically 2nd in the LoW, being knocked out so far.
THIRD ROUND
Today's Welsh Cup matches pit twelve League of Wales sides together, with today's match being just one of the six all-LoW clashes around Wales.
ALL LEAGUE OF WALES CLASHES
The top match of the day is that at the Deeside Stadium, where 6th placed Connah's Quay Nomads entertain 4th placed Newtown today. Both sides reached the late stages of last season's competition, both losing to Bangor City after extra-time. Newtown lost in the semi-final, with Bangor winning 2-1, while the Nomads reached the final, and took the lead before losing on penalties. Both sides have had mixed results in recent weeks, and neither has played in the Welsh Cup this year, so the tie is entirely up for grabs.
At Caersws' Recreation Ground, the mid-Wales side will meet Cwmbran for the second time in three weeks. Both clubs met in the League of Wales a fortnight ago when the Crows won 3-1 with three second half goals. The Crows are third in the LoW, while Caersws have slipped to fourteenth. Last year, Caersws went out to Newtown in the quarter-final after a replay, while Cwmbran were also knocked out in the last eight, traveling to North Wales and losing 3-2 to Connah's Quay. This season, Caersws thrashed fellow mid-Walians, Guilsfield in the second round, while Cwmbran knocked out Goytre United 3-0 at the Cwmbran Stadium.
BANGOR GO TO MID-WALES TO DEFEND THEIR TROPHY
Another all League of Wales game is at the Weirglodd, where Rhayader Town entertain Bangor City. Both sides have had mixed form of late, losing regularly, but able to turn the screw when necessary. City defeated Newtown 5-0 last week, while Rhayader beat Cwmbran 6-3, belying their position near the bottom of the LoW. Mid-Wales has never been the happiest of hunting-grounds for Bangor, and they will be wary of the journey South today.
City, of course, are current holders of the Welsh Cup and were exempted to this round, while, in contrast, Rhayader had a very poor run in last year's Welsh Cup. Then newly promoted from the Cymru Alliance, Rhayader went to a replay against T.N.S, having drawn 2-2 in Llansantffraid. Back at the Weirglodd, the sides drew 3-3 after extra time, before T.N.S won the resulting spot-kicks. This year, Rhayader beat fellow mid-Walians, Welshpool Town in the second round, the Cymru Alliance side unable to enact revenge on the side who sent them down last year.
CAPITAL WELCOME FOR WELLMEN
Inter Cable-tel welcome Holywell to Cardiff this afternoon, as the capital city side play their first game in this year's Cup. Inter, ninth in the League of Wales at the moment, were given a bye to this round because of their LoW record last season, despite having flopped in the Welsh Cup. They were knocked out in the fourth round last season, when Caersws came from behind to win 3-2 in Cardiff.
Holywell were in the Cymru Alliance last season, and fought their way through from the first round to round three. There, they drew away with CC Sports side, Hoover Sports of Merthyr, but lost 1-0 in the replay at Halkyn Road. This season, they coasted to a 2-0 second round victory over Porthmadog, the club they replaced in the League of Wales.
Holywell's away record hasn't been too impressive this season, while Inter have improved in recent weeks, especially in the cup competitions. Today should be a close game.
CUP GLORY AGAIN FOR SAINTS?
Another match between two League of Wales sides is that at Total Network Solutions, who entertain Afan Lido. The two clubs met in the League of Wales two weeks ago, when they shared the honours in a 1-1 draw at Llansantffraid. The Recreation Ground is again the venue for today's match between the two sides.
T.N.S, of course, are famous for their victory over Barry in the Welsh Cup in 1996, but last year, they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by the Jenner Park outfit. Ironically, Darren Ryan, now at T.N.S, scored a hat-trick for Barry that afternoon. In the second round of this year's Welsh Cup, T.N.S played Aberystwyth, drawing 2-2 at the Recreation Ground on a Friday night. Back at Park Avenue, Aber were 2 goals clear until the final minutes, when T.N.S pulled back to 2-2. Then, in extra-time, Darren Ryan scored the crucial goal to take T.N.S through to the third round.
In contrast, Afan Lido had the slightly easier task of entertaining Caerleon of the CC Sports Welsh League. They thrashed them 5-1 at the Afan Lido Sports Ground in Aberafan, an improvement on their days in the CC Sports League last year, when they were knocked out in the second round, drawing at home 0-0, before losing 3-0 in a replay to Ton Pentre.
Following the result a fortnight ago, predictions don't come easy, but Afan Lido haven't won for two months, and today will be difficult against a side renowned as cup experts.
BIG BOYS V FEEDER LEAGUES
Carmarthen Town have the apparently easy task of entertaining Chepstow Town at Richmond Park this afternoon, the League of Wales side playing a CC Sports League side from the lower divisions. Carmarthen eased past Hoover Sports in the second round, while Chepstow forced their way past Morriston Town. Carmarthen were lucky with their draw this time last year, playing Ely Rangers of the CC Sports Third Division. However, they went out 2-1 to Caernarfon Town a round later. Chepstow reached the second round of last year's Welsh Cup, before being smashed 6-1 by Goytre United.
Although romanticised, it's difficult to see anything other than a Carmarthen victory.
CANARIES MEET DRUIDS
Caernarfon Town will be visiting Flexsys Cefn Druids this afternoon, as they do battle with the side who top the Cymru Alliance. These two clubs played each other in last year's Welsh Cup third round, then a tussle between the side bottom of the LoW and the top club in the Alliance. Caernarfon are now in seventh, but it'll still be difficult for them.
In the original game at the Oval last season, the two sides deadlocked at 0-0, with Caernarfon winning the replay 2-0 a few days later. However, Flexys have been in devastating form, and could spring a surprise today.
In the previous round, Caernarfon dismissed Llangefni 3-0 while Flexys eased past former LoW side Cemaes Bay. Caernarfon were eventually knocked out in the quarter-final of last season's Welsh Cup, beaten 2-0 away at local rivals, Bangor City.
EX-LOW SIDE TO GET REVENGE?
Another match between a League of Wales club and a Cymru Alliance side is that at Belle Vue, where Rhyl entertain local neighbours and former LoW side, Flint Town United. Rhyl scraped through their second round tie, defeating Alliance side, Denbigh Town, 5-4. Rhyl scored twice in the final minutes of the match, but, manager, Dean Martin, resigned after the game. Rhyl have since slumped to the bottom of the League of Wales, and it will be interesting to see whether Flint can motivate themselves to defeat a side from the division above.
Flint comfortably beat Castell Alun Colts (Wrexham) 6-2 in the last round. Last year, Flint reached the third round, where they lost at home 3-0 to Bangor City, while Rhyl were knocked out by Newtown in the second round, the Lilywhites going down to a 2-0 defeat at Latham Park.
Today's game is rated as potentially one of the upsets in this year's competition.
HOT SPURS TO PLAY MUSSELMEN
Conwy United, semi-finalists 2 years ago, are on their travels to a Cymru Alliance club today, with the LoW's 11th placed club visiting Holyhead Hotspurs. As a Fitlock Alliance side, Holyhead lost 5-2 to Cwmbran Town last year, but will be looking to improve on that this season. They won away at Owens Corning Wrexham in the second round, and are having a good season in the Cymru Alliance, and there's no reason why they couldn't pull off a shock this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Conwy took a replay to dispose of another Cymru Alliance side, last year's champions, Rhydymwyn. After an away draw, Conwy returned to the Morfa in confident fashion, although it wasn't until the 89th minute that they secured their place in the third round. Conwy have special reason to be wary of feeder league clubs, having been thrashed 4-1 by Knighton Town, then of the Cymru Alliance in last year's third round.
Whether or not any of the above clubs can spring a surprise on their LoW counterparts, there'll still be at least six feeder league sides in the hat tomorrow for the fourth round draw (live on 'Gol' on S4C).
LOWER LEAGUE SIDES GOING THROUGH
Five of today's games are between sides from the lower leagues, with Ammanford Town of the CC Sports League being the lucky side awarded a bye to the fourth round, having defeated AFC Rhondda in the third round and drawn to play the ghost side of 'Ebbw Vale'. Last year, Ammanford were knocked out by Treowen Stars in the second round, the Gwent club winning 4-1.
NORTH V SOUTH
Only one game is between a North and South Walian side, that being the match between British Aerospace in North Wales and BP Llandarcy from the South. BP's big moment came two years ago, when they played Conwy United in the quarter-final, losing 2-0 to the LoW side. In this year's tournament, British Aerospace beat Brymbo-Broughton in the second round while BP Llandarcy beat Gwynfi United. Last year, BP Llandarcy were knocked out in the second round, after a replay against our opponents today, Haverfordwest County. Meanwhile, British Aerospace lost out to Llangefni in the first round 3-2.
CC SPORTS LEAGUE MATCHES
Llanelli have to be favourites in the all-CC Sports League match against Tredegar Town, not least because their opponents are two divisons below them. However, Tredegar are newly promoted and did well to defeat Pontlottyn Blast Furnace in the previous round. Llanelli knocked out Aberaman Athletic to get through to this stage.
Treowen Stars entertain Pontardawe Athletic in an all-CC Sports first division affair. Treowen had an easy route to the third round, thumping Ely Rangers 5-0 in round two, Pontardawe had a more difficult time. They played University of Wales Cardiff, drawing the first match, and winning the replay 4-3. In last season's Welsh Cup, Treowen went out 2-0 in an away game at Newtown, while Pontardawe lost 6-2 to Hoover Sports.
THIRD DIVISION CONTEST
In Mid Wales, Penrhyncoch entertain Colwyn Bay YMCA. Penrhyncoch voluntarily moved down to the Spar Mid Wales League, while Colwyn YMCA are top of the Fitlock Welsh Alliance, both 'third' divisions in North/Mid Wales. Penrhyncoch knocked out Oswestry Town in the second round, while Colwyn Bay YMCA defeated Ruthin Town. In last season's competition, Penrhyncoch went out 1-0 to Holywell in the first round,while Colwyn Bay YMCA were also early to exit, going out 1-0 to Brymbo-Broughton.
PORT V PORT
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the second round was the result at Porth Tywyn Suburbs, who met Ton Pentre in the previous round. They won 2-1 against the CC Sports League champions, and now meet Port Talbot Athletic, second in the CC Sports 1st Division, as a reward. The West Walian club are also in the CC Sports' top flight, but face tough opposition, as Port Talbot knocked out Grange Quins 7-0 in the previous round.
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
Barry Town matchday magazine index
Welsh Cup results 1998-99
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Haverfordwest County, 21.11.98, Welsh Cup Rd.3
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