Welsh Football
THIS weekend sees the last 16 of the JD Welsh Cup and there are some key ties for South Wales clubs hoping to make their way to the quarter-final stages.
Taffs Well, from the Cymru South, are looking to progress as far in the competition as they ever have and Craig Sampson takes his side north tomorrow to take on Buckley Town.
‘The Wellmen’ are sitting comfortably in the league in mid-table, while Buckley are currently fourth in the Cymru North.
After a shaky start to their campaign, Taffs Well have only suffered two defeats in their last 10 fixtures and they were against current Cymru South leaders Llantwit Major.
The Wellmen reversed those defeats against Llantwit in the last round of the Cup with a superb 2-1 win at Rhiw Dda to add to wins against Abergavenny, who they beat 3-1, and an excellent 3-0 victory at Goytre United.
Sampson is definitely a manager who believes a good cup run lifts the spirits at a club and said: “There is a buzz around the club at present, with training numbers at their peak and very few injuries, which shows how keen players are to make the starting eleven.”
Sampson, who assisted Nana Baah in his successful spell at Caerau Ely, has stepped up to be number one at Rhiw Dda and is assisted by Danny Hooper, who was also involved at Caerau.
“My players have really performed well as underdogs in the Cup so far and I hope the likes of David Lyon, Marcus Jones, Jack Fox and the experienced Scott Hillman keep putting in performances like they have already, as well as the rest of the lads, to keep this special cup run going,” he added.
“We are taking a supporters’ bus up north with us on Saturday morning and the likes of our chairman Lee Bridgeman and committee members Norma Samuel and the legendary Don James will all hope to see our club progress to the quarter-finals for a piece of history for Taffs Well.”
It’s a massive game for the Wellmen, but they have goalscorers in their ranks and an away win is not an impossible task.
Cardiff Met University and Penybont both have difficult cup ties, but should be confident after fine midweek results in the Cymru Premier.
The Cyncoed students once again came out on top against Barry Town when a late Elliott Evans penalty gave Christian Edwards’ team the win and the three points at Jenner in a game which could have gone either way.
The Met will start as favourites against their
opponents Colwyn Bay, but the home team will be boosted by a 1000-plus crowd at their Four Crosses Arena ground.
The North Walians see this game as their best chance to show Welsh football fans they are here for the long run and want to challenge for top honours after rejoining the Welsh system in 2019 after playing in the English pyramid for decades.
Evans could be a key figure and Adam Roscrow seems to be settling back in after spending a couple of seasons away at AFC Wimbledon and The New Saints.
The smart money would be on a Met victory tomorrow, but there is no doubt they will have to be near their best form to make the quarter-final draw come Monday evening.
Nathan Wood and Billy Borge were on target for Penybont as they defeated Haverfordwest 2-1 in an open game at their SDM Stadium in midweek.
Rhys Griffiths’ ‘Bont’ host Caernarfon in what could be arguably the tie of the round tomorrow.
The league encounter only a fortnight ago finished 1-1 in a game where each side dominated a half, so tomorrow’s game is very tough to call.
The importance of who goes through in the Welsh Cup is vital as a Europa League slot is guaranteed to the winners of the competition which has been played since Wrexham first lifted it in 1877-78.
Former winners Carmarthen Town entertain current Cymru Premier leaders TNS, while Haverfordwest County host Bala Town at Bridge Meadow.
Swansea University play host to Guilsfield, Flint Town United welcome Connah’s Quay in a North Wales derby and Saltney Town, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, entertain Aberystwyth.