Nathaniel MG Cup | Semi-final preview

The Nathaniel MG Cup semi-finals are upon us and both ties take place on Wednesday night with the prize of a spot in the final at Jenner Park at stake.

Despite the semi-final draw not being regionalised, the two Northern section clubs were pitted against each other and likewise the two Southern section clubs.

JD Cymru Premier leaders The New Saints make the trip to Guilsfield, hoping to reach their first final since winning the competition in 2018.

Despite lifting the Nathaniel MG Cup on a record nine occasions, the Saints have not found much joy in the competition in recent seasons – being knocked out in the second round in each of the previous three campaigns.

However, they broke the hoodoo back in August by coming from behind to defeat Connah’s Quay Nomads in round two and they have since progressed past JD Cymru North sides Porthmadog and Gresford Athletic to reach the last four.

Craig Harrison’s side come into this tie off the back of 21 consecutive wins in all competitions and they have not lost since being knocked out of the UEFA Europa Conference League by Swift Hesperange at the start of August.

It means that an almighty challenge lies in wait for Guilsfield, who have reached the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup for the first time in their history.

However, Nathan Leonard’s side are not averse to giant killings as they have already knocked out top-flight sides Newtown and the current cup holders Bala Town this season.

Those upsets followed a round one victory against Caersws, while they booked their spot in the last four courtesy of a penalty shootout win over Prestatyn Town in the quarter-finals.

Guilsfield are currently eighth in the JD Cymru North, but only the division’s top three have lost on fewer occasions this season – Leonard’s team have suffered defeat just twice in their last 11 league outings.

The two sides last met in the quarter-finals of the JD Welsh Cup in 2021/22, when goals from Jon Routledge and Ben Clark earned a 2-0 victory for TNS.

Wednesday night’s other semi-final tie sees wildcard side Swansea City host Cardiff Met at Landore Academy.

This season has been the first time that the Swans have entered the Nathaniel MG Cup and while there are no age restrictions on the team that the club can select, it has been a young side that have excelled so far.

Cymru youth internationals such as Cameron Congreve and Ben Lloyd have featured, while the highly-rated Iwan Morgan scored three goals in the first two rounds before his move to Brentford B.

The Swans have so far swept aside second tier opposition in Carmarthen Town and Caerau Ely, before getting the better of fellow wildcard side Cardiff City on penalties. Their biggest victory then came in the quarter-finals as triumphed 6-0 over JD Cymru South leaders Briton Ferry Llansawel.

It means that they will encounter JD Cymru Premier opposition for the first time when Cardiff Met make the trip down the M4.

The Archers have made a habit of reaching the latter stages of the Nathaniel MG Cup, with this being their fifth semi-final appearance in the last six years. They will be keen on returning to Jenner Park where they lifted the trophy in 2019.

Ryan Jenkins’ side struggled over the festive period as they lost 3-0 to Penybont and were held to a goalless draw by Barry Town United, but they have nonetheless secured their spot in the JD Cymru Premier top six for phase two.

Met are the only one of the semi-finalists who are yet to concede a goal in this season’s Nathaniel MG Cup, having reached this stage courtesy of clean sheet wins over Taffs Well, Afan Lido and Pontypridd United.

There are a couple of former Swans in the Archers’ side, with goalkeeper Alex Lang and midfielder Tom Price spending time in the youth set-up. Lang is actually now back at Swansea as an academy goalkeeper coach, which certainly adds an extra narrative to Wednesday night’s fixture.