It’s Round of 16 time in the Genero Adran Trophy, as the eight top-flight sides enter the competition against the eight teams from the second tier who progressed from the group stage.
Cup holders The New Saints begin their defence of the trophy away at Genero Adran North side Llanfair United.
The Saints, who defeated Swansea City 3-1 in last season’s final to claim their first ever piece of Welsh domestic silverware, currently sit fourth in the Genero Adran Premier but will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-0 derby defeat against Wrexham last weekend.
Llanfair are into the knockout stage for the second consecutive season after topping Group 4 with six points. The Powys side finished as runners-up in the Genero Adran North last season, but have started the new campaign with one win and two defeats to currently sit fifth in the table.
Current Genero Adran Premier leaders Cardiff City are on home turf as they welcome Genero Adran North side Flint Town United to the CIS Stadium.
The Bluebirds won the Genero Adran Trophy for the first time in 2024, but were then knocked out by TNS in last season’s quarter-finals. Iain Darbyshire’s head into Sunday’s tie in impressive form, having secured 7-1 and 4-2 victories over Pontypridd United and Barry Town United respectively in the past fortnight.
Flint came close to causing an upset in the Round of 16 last season as they led twice away at Barry Town United before ultimately losing 4-2. This term, the Silkwomen finished second in Group 4 with six points, while they have taken four points from their opening two matches in the Genero Adran North.
The two most successful clubs in the competition’s history meet at Llandarcy as Swansea City host Cardiff Met.
The Swans have lifted the trophy on two previous occasions but have lost the last two finals. Yzzy Taylor’s side are currently third in the Genero Adran Premier, having won their last four league games in a row while scoring 21 goals.
Met have won the Genero Adran Trophy a record five times – with three of those coming during Yzzy Taylor’s time as manager. They entered through the group stage for the first time this season and won all three matches, while they are also still yet to drop points in the Genero Adran South.
Swansea have won the last six meetings between the two sides in all competitions, while Met have not won away at Llandarcy since 2022.
It is a knockout stage debut for Llanelli Town, who host Genero Adran Premier strugglers Pontypridd United at Stebonheath.
Despite losing their first group game against Cardiff Met, Llanelli turned their fortunes around by claiming four points from their next two matches – including a crucial 3-2 victory over Carmarthen Town – to progress to the Round of 16. The Reds squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 against Taffs Well in the Genero Adran South last weekend.
Pontypridd will be hoping that the Genero Adran Trophy can off some respite from their league form, as they have lost all eight matches since returning to the Genero Adran Premier. They did show signs of improvement last weekend however, conceding late on to narrowly lose 2-1 away at Briton Ferry Llansawel.
Nicole Fenton scored six goals across Ponty’s 6-1 and 4-0 wins over Llanelli on their way to lifting the Genero Adran South title last season.
Wrexham will aim to continue their impressive start to the season when they host Llandudno at The Globe.
The Red Dragons are currently second in the Genero Adran Premier, only behind leaders Cardiff City on goal difference. Having reached the semi-finals of this competition last season and back-to-back Bute Energy Welsh Cup finals, Wrexham are still on the hunt for a trophy.
This is Llandudno’s fifth consecutive appearance in the Round of 16 after they earned three wins from three games in the group stage. Jay Thomas’ side earned their first Genero Adran North win of the season last weekend with a hard-fought 2-0 victory away at Llanfair United.
The two sides last met in the 2022/23 Genero Adran North campaign, when Rosie Hughes scored hat-tricks in 5-2 and 5-0 wins for Wrexham – who went on to lift the title and secure promotion to the top-flight.
Mia Roberts relishing Wrexham challenge
Briton Ferry Llansawel are also on home turf for their Round of 16 tie as they host Cwmbran Celtic at The Renewable Centre Stadium.
Ferry were 2-0 up in the 81st minute of last season’s semi-final against TNS, but a late collapse saw them remarkably lose 3-2. The Reds have won four out of their last six Genero Adran Premier matches and currently sit fifth in the table.
Cwmbran Celtic went unbeaten in the group stage, with two wins and a draw seeing them top Group 1. Georgia Schwartz’s side are currently fourth in the Genero Adran South after Cerys Pinchard’s late equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw with Penybont last weekend.
Ferry won three meetings against Celtic in the 2023/24 season, with victories on their way to lifting the Genero Adran South title either side of an emphatic 10-0 triumph in the group stage of this competition.
Cascade were the only second tier side to win in the Round of 16 last season and they will hope to do so again against Barry Town United.
Barry are currently seventh in the Genero Adran Premier, having won just two of their opening eight matches of the campaign. New boss James Fishlock has suffered back-to-back 4-2 defeat to The New Saints and Cardiff City in his two games in charge so far.
Cascade stunned Cardiff Met in a memorable last 16 triumph last term but were then knocked out in the quarter-finals by Swansea City. This season, Wayne Lewis’ side picked up six points to finish second in Group 1, but they have lost all three of their Genero Adran South matches so far in addition to being knocked out of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup by third tier Trefelin.
Aberystwyth Town will be hoping to book a place in the Genero Adran Trophy quarter-finals for the fifth consecutive season when they host Felinheli at Park Avenue.
Aber suffered late heartbreak in their 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Briton Ferry Llansawel last season. The Seasiders are currently sixth in the Genero Adran Premier and are hoping to bounce back from a 2-1 home loss to Swansea City last weekend.
Felinheli reached the knockout stage in dramatic style as Llywela Edwards’ hat-trick secured a 3-2 win away at Connah’s Quay Nomads in the final group game. Aaron Jones-Evans’ side have won one and lost one of their opening two league matches, while suffering a 4-2 defeat to third tier Wrexham Foresters in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup.
The two sides last met in the quarter-finals of this competition in 2023/24, when Gwen Jones’ brace inspired Aber to a 4-0 away win.
