The 2023/24 season kicked off with the Nathaniel MG Cup first round on Friday and Saturday, as 13 clubs advanced to the second round.
Northern section
Perhaps the shock of the first round came in Flintshire, where newly-promoted JD Cymru North side Bangor 1876 triumphed 3-2 away at last season’s JD Cymru North runners-up Holywell Town.
A Zebb Edwards penalty put the Wellmen 1-0 ahead at half-time, but after a red card for James Rutter, the visitors turned the tie around through Corrig McGonigle, Iolo Hughes and an Edwards own goal. Another spot-kick from Edwards in stoppage time was not enough to save Johnny Haseldin’s side.
The best individual performance of the weekend came from Shaun Cavanagh, who netted four goals on his return to Porthmadog in a 4-2 win over Llanidloes Town. The forward, who signed from Llandudno this summer, hit a seven-minute hat-trick early in the second half after James Smallwood had given the Daffs the lead at the break.
Guilsfield came from behind to win 3-1 away at fellow Powys outfit Caersws. Neil Mitchell’s 11th-minute penalty gave the hosts, newly-promoted in the JD Cymru North, a half-time lead but Iwan Matthews’ double and a debut goal for Andy Evans helped the Guils to progress.
There was also a debut goal for Mason Blackwell-Jones on Friday night, as he netted on his Denbigh Town bow away at Chirk AAA. It was the only goal of the game at Holyhead Road as the newly-promoted side made it through to round two.
A young, new-look Llandudno team put in a spirited performance away Ruthin Town but ultimately were defeated 3-2. Owain Morris struck the winner in the 82nd minute to complete a comeback for the hosts after the Seasiders led 2-1 at half-time.
Goalkeeper Ryan Goldston was the hero for Buckley in their 2-1 win over Mold Alexandra. The shot-stopper saved a late penalty to see out the result for his side after substitute Connor Littler struck the decisive goal just two minutes after coming off the bench.
Southern section
The biggest winners of the weekend were wildcard entry Swansea City, who earned an impressive 4-0 victory away at Carmarthen Town.
All four goals came in the first half as Cymru U17 international Iwan Morgan struck twice, alongside Ben Lloyd and Glory Nzingo. A red card for captain Greg Walters on the stroke of half-time made the hosts’ second half challenge even harder.
Cardiff City also made it through to round two, but had to do so on penalties following a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes away at Cambrian & Clydach Vale. Ceri Morgan had scored a 91st-minute equaliser to send the tie to spot-kicks after Clydach native Cian Ashford looked to have won it for the Bluebirds in his home village.
Cardiff missed two of their first three penalties in the shootout, but saw Aarran Caffell spurn the chance to win the tie for Cambrian & Clydach. After Will Spiers scored his effort, a miss from Dan Spencer sent the Bluebirds through.
There was also a penalty shootout at Celtic Park, in which Taffs Well goalkeeper Ed King was the hero to send his team through against Cwmbran Celtic. The 21-year-old saved all three of the hosts’ spot-kicks as the Wellmen scored all three of theirs.
It followed a dramatic end to the 90 minutes, when Gabriel Howells and Andrew Hewitt scored in the 94th and 99th minutes respectively for Cwmbran Celtic to make it 2-2 after Taffs Well appeared to be coasting to a two-goal victory.
Danny Woolfenden scored a brace on his debut for Llantwit Major as Stevie McCarthy-Campbell’s men recovered from going behind to a third-minute Keane Watts penalty to win 2-1 away at Goytre United.
Llanelli Town left it late to beat Pontardawe Town on Friday night, with Eli Phipps holding his nerve to convert a 95th-minute penalty and send the Reds through to the second round.
Friday’s early kick-off was a Port Talbot derby that went the way of Afan Lido in a 3-1 win for Paul Evans’ side away at newly-promoted Baglan Dragons. Captain Liam Griffiths scored twice and Josh Webber struck late on to wrap up the victory.
Briton Ferry Llansawel forward Tom Walters made the perfect start to the new campaign as he netted two first half goals to earn his side a 2-0 away win at Abergavenny Town.
One tie did not take place on Saturday afternoon as the clash between Abertillery Bluebirds and Ammanford was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Cwm Nant Y Groes. The fixture will now take place on Tuesday 25 July (KO 19:45) at Ammanford Recreation Ground.
Nathaniel MG Cup first round results:
Northern section
Chirk AAA 0-1 Denbigh Town
Ruthin Town 3-2 Llandudno
Buckley Town 2-1 Mold Alexandra
Caersws 1-3 Guilsfield
Holywell Town 2-3 Bangor 1876
Porthmadog 4-2 Llanidloes Town
Southern section
Baglan Dragons 1-3 Afan Lido
Abergavenny Town 0-2 Briton Ferry Llansawel
Cambrian & Clydach Vale 2-2 Cardiff City (3-4 on penalties)
Llanelli Town 1-0 Pontardawe Town
Abertillery Bluebirds P-P Ammanford
Carmarthen Town 0-4 Swansea City
Cwmbran Celtic 2-2 Taffs Well (0-3 on penalties)
Goytre United 1-2 Llantwit Major
The Nathaniel MG Cup second round draw will be broadcast on the JD Cymru Leagues Facebook page at 8pm on Monday 24 July.
