BALA IN THE HAT ONCE AGAIN!

Bala Town took a step closer to a second cup final as they finally broke down the stubborn resistance of Briton Ferry Llansawel to progress to the semi-finals of the JD Welsh Cup.

The Lakesiders clinched the Nathaniel MG Cup with a penalty shoot-out success against Connah’s Quay Nomads and are now in the final four of a competition they last won in 2017.

The JD Cymru South side had done well to keep the score level in the first half, but then found themselves being undone by two goals in three minutes just after the hour mark.

Adam Roscrow came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 53rd minute with a pinpoint shot from the edge of the area, but the Briton Ferry keeper was equal to it. Then the dam broke just after the hour mark when Bala skipper Chris Venables struck brilliantly.

It was Roscrow who assisted him for that goal and then he turned goal scorer in the 72nd minute with a headed effort that trickled into the bottom corner. Briton Ferry’s hopes of hitting back were further hindered in the 76th minute when Connor Goldsworthy was given a red card for his foul on Luke Wall as the last man in defence.

Jack Kenny launched Connah’s Quay Nomads on a 5-0 home win over Airbus UK Broughton to reach the semi-finals. He struck first in the sixth minute, but it was still only 1-0 at the break.

Harry Franklin then doubled the lead in the 63rd minute before George Horan and Joe Malkin, twice in two minutes at the death, completed the scoring.

Cup holders The New Saints had to head south to take on JD Cymru South team Cwmbran Celtic and found themselves embroiled in a classic ‘David v Goliath’ contest. Having come this far the Gwent cub had little to lose and threw the kitchen sink at the unbeaten leaders of the JD Cymru Premier.

The minnows conceded the opening goal in the 13th minute to Ryan Brobbel, but hit back a minute later through Josh Rippon to level the scores. It stayed at 1-1 into the second half, when that man Brobbel struck again.

His second goal came from the penalty spot on the hour mark and then six minutes later he completed his hat-trick. TNS went into cruise control after that to ensure they reached the final four without any mishaps.

Penybont, who finished as runners-up last season, host Holywell Town in the fourth quarter-final today.

In the JD Cymru North, unbeaten league leaders Colwyn Bay extended there dominance with a 4-2 home win ove Llanidloes Town.

Two goals in the opening 10 minutes set them on their way, before they pushed on to confirm the win.