Form horses looking to negotiate hurdle in cup
JD WELSH CUP
TWO form horses meet tonight in round three of the JD Welsh Cup.
Barry Town, who are currently second in the Premier League, entertain Penybont, who are leaders of Welsh League Division One (7.45pm).
The Jenner Park side produced a barnstorming second-half last Saturday night putting Newtown to the sword with four goals after the break.
McCauley Southam, Drew Fahiya, Jordan Cotterill and Luke Cooper were all on target for the Linnetts after Newtown had given as good as they got in the first period.
The three points give Gavin Chesterfield’s team a realistic chance of bringing European football back to Barry next summer if his relatively young squad can reproduce their second half form in the rest of the season.
Penybont arrive at Jenner with plenty of confidence in their camp.
The two clubs met in the competition two years ago and Penybont ran out 3-0 winners in a shock result.
Barry’s captain that day, James Sadler, will start in midfield tonight for Penybont and should receive a good welcome from the Jenner faithful after captaining Barry through their re-emergence from the Welsh League.
Realistically Barry would be one of the favourites to at least to make it to the semi-finals and the Welsh Cup is the quickest way to a £210,000 Europa League pay out.
The other South Wales ties in the area this weekend see Ton Pentre host Cardiff Met on Saturday.
Met have recently overcome a poor spell in the Premier League, with a win against Connah’s Quay and draw at The New Saints in their last two games.
The win at Quay put them into the Nathaniel MG Cup final for the second season running, and they’ll want to improve on last season’s Welsh Cup run, where they were knocked out in the fourth round at home to Aberystwyth.
Ton came through a tricky away test at Cwmbran Town in the last round to reach this stage, and although they will start as underdogs, Kevin Richards’ side will give it their all to try and create an upset at Ynys Park.
Tons’ neighbours Cambrian & Clydach have been writing their own cup history this season, having swept aside four top flight sides on their way to the Nathaniel MG Cup final meeting with Met.
They’ll travel north this weekend to face Denbigh Town, who currently find themselves in the bottom half of the Huws Gray Alliance.
Pontypridd are another team to watch out for this weekend.
They’ve finally begun playing home games in Leckwith after a delay due to issues with the pitch, and have found their feet there with a couple of positive results.
Gavin Beddard’s team face a long trip to Haverfordwest County, who ran out 10-1 winners when the sides met at Bridge Meadow in the League back in August.
There’s a few other games of note in south Wales.
Briton Ferry Llansawel and Goytre United are both hosting WPL opposition in Llandudno and Carmarthen Town respectively, while Gwentbased Ynysddu Welfare, the lowest ranked side left, also host a Welsh Premier side, this time Cefn Druids.
■ There are a few key fixtures in Welsh League Division Two tomorrow and Caerau Ely will look to stay in touch at the top when they go looking for a win at Aberdare Town, who are rooted at the bottom of the league without a win from 16 games.
Bridgend Street will travel to second-placed Abergavenny Town in the top game in the division tomorrow. John Jones’ team will do well to gain a three point haul from the form team in the league of late and would not be too disappointed to return with a point.
Dinas Powys have a difficult task tomorrow when they visit the league leaders Croesyceillog in Cwmbran.
Sixth-placed STM Sports travel to Swansea to take on West End.
An away win for the St Mellons club could lift them back among the leading pack with a few games in hand.
Ely Rangers will kick off the action in Division Three tonight when they travel to Newport City.
The big game in Division Three tomorrow is at Ivor Park, in Ponyclun, where the home team entertain Penydarren Boys and Girls Club.