Nathaniel MG Cup: Semi-Final preview

The semi-finals have arrived in this season’s Nathaniel MG Cup, with both ties taking place on Saturday 6 December. 

First up, cup holders and JD Cymru Premier leaders The New Saints host JD Cymru North leaders Llandudno at Park Hall (KO 14:30). 

TNS are currently 12 points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier, following a 2-0 home win over Caernarfon Town last weekend. However, they have already suffered one shock cup exit this season, losing to Cardiff Met in the JD Welsh Cup a fortnight ago, so will hope to avoid the same fate on Saturday. 

The Oswestry side have won this competition in each of the last two seasons, and a record 11 times in total,  and have beaten Airbus UK Broughton, Connah’s Quay Nomads and Caernarfon to reach this year’s semis. 

Llandudno are enjoying a very impressive campaign, with their only defeat in any competition coming on penalties against Newtown in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup in August. The Seasiders are currently a point clear at the top of the JD Cymru North, with two games in hand over the teams directly below them, while they knocked out top-flight Connah’s Quay Nomads in the JD Welsh Cup two weeks ago.  

This is Llandudno’s first ever appearance in the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup, having beaten Gresford Athletic, Denbigh Town and Newtown to reach this stage. Mark Cadwallader is the competition’s top scorer this term with five goals to his name. 

TNS have won 13 of the 14 previous encounters between the two sides, the other being a draw, most recently triumphing 8-1 in a JD Welsh Cup quarter-final clash in March 2019. 

On Saturday evening, JD Cymru South leaders Cambrian United host top-flight Barry Town United at the M&P Group 3G (KO 17:15), with this tie live on BBC iPlayer, S4C Clic and Sgorio’s YouTube channel. 

Cambrian have won six of their last eight matches in all competitions, with a 2-1 away win over Aberystwyth Town last weekend – sealed by Calum Bateman’s goal in the 14^th minute of stoppage time – taking them five points clear at the top of the JD Cymru South. 

This is the Rhondda side’s first appearance in the Nathaniel MG Cup semi-finals since they reached the final in 2019, and they have already beaten two top-flight sides – Cardiff Met and Briton Ferry Llansawel – in the competition this season after knocking out Treowen Stars and Cardiff City in the earlier rounds. 

Barry head into Saturday’s tie on an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions, while also keeping a clean sheet in five of those games. A 4-0 home win over Haverfordwest County last weekend saw Steve Jenkins’ side climb up to sixth in the JD Cymru Premier table. 

This is the second consecutive season that Barry have reached the Nathaniel MG Cup semi-finals, after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to TNS last season, but they are targeting a first appearance in the final since 2017. The Linnets, who won the competition in four successive seasons from 1996 to 2000, have beaten Aberystwyth Town, Llanelli Town and Haverfordwest County to reach the last four. 

Cambrian defeated Barry on penalties at the start of their famous run to the final in 2018/19, but the Linnets have won the last three meetings between the two sides – most recently a 4-2 victory in the JD Cymru South in March 2023.