Following the conclusion of the JD Cymru North and JD Cymru South seasons, attentions in the second tier now turn to the Welsh Blood Service League Cup regional finals on Friday night (KO 19:45).
Welsh Blood Service League Cup Northern section
In the Northern section, Airbus UK Broughton and Bangor 1876 will hope to get over final day heartbreak in the league when they meet at the Go Goodwins Stadium in Llandudno.
Airbus had to settle for being runners-up spot in the JD Cymru North as they were pipped to the title by Colwyn Bay, despite the Wingmakers losing just two games all season and scoring 102 goals.
Mark Allen’s side did overcome Colwyn Bay in the regional semi-finals of the WBS League Cup, winning 3-2 at the Four Crosses Construction Arena, following victories over Llandudno and Llay Miners Welfare in the earlier rounds.
Airbus top scorer Danny Warren won this competition with Mold Alexandra last season and scored a hat-trick when the Wingmakers won 7-1 over Bangor 1876 in their last meeting in January.
Bangor were dramatically relegated from the JD Cymru North last weekend as they were beaten 1-0 by Ruthin Town who leapfrogged them in the table. It was an eighth consecutive defeat for Mike Johnston’s side, who had not spent a single second in the bottom three until Jamie Reed’s 83rd-minute bicycle kick winner.
The Citizens have won just three games since mid-November and two of those have come in this competition – a pair of 2-0 victories over Ruthin and Penrhyncoch, after they needed penalties to get past Caersws in Round One.
Welsh Blood Service League Cup Southern section
The Southern final also features a team who suffered relegation last weekend, as Penrhiwceiber Rangers meet Trefelin at The Renewable Centre Stadium in Briton Ferry.
Rangers drew 5-5 away at Carmarthen Town on the final day of the JD Cymru South, which was not enough to keep them up as Cwmbran Celtic defeated Llantwit Major. Nonethless, it was an admirable debut season in the second tier for Dean Brown’s side, who finished the campaign with just one defeat in their last six league games.
They have also enjoyed a memorable cup run in this competition, scoring stoppage time goals to seal comeback wins against Baglan Dragons and Carmarthen, before triumphing 2-0 away at Pontypridd United in the regional semi-finals.
Trefelin were beaten 3-0 away at champions Llanelli Town last weekend, only their second league defeat since November, but still finished fourth in the table – their highest league finish since the formation of the JD Cymru South.
Tref’s only other defeat in their last 16 games in all competitions actually came against Penrhiwceiber in March, when Rangers goalkeeper Clint Forbes saved Lee Trundle’s penalty as Dean Brown’s side won 2-1. Trundle had scored twice when Trefelin won 3-1 in the reverse fixture a month previously.
Andy Hill reached this stage of the WBS League Cup with Briton Ferry Llansawel two years ago and has led Trefelin to wins over Cambrian United, Taffs Well and Newport City in the competition so far this season.
