16 teams remain in this season’s Welsh Blood Service League Cup, with plenty of exciting ties across Round Two this weekend.
Another bumper crowd is expected for the third mid-Wales derby of the season between Newtown and Caersws at Latham Park on Saturday afternoon.
1,362 fans were at Latham Park in August when Fin Starkey-Jones scored a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory for Newtown, before Caersws earned revenge on New Year’s Day as Tommy Rowlands’ strike secured a 1-0 win at the Recreation Ground in front of 1,300 supporters.
Newtown defeated current JD Cymru North leaders Llandudno on penalties in the first round of this competition, but they head into Round Two after picking up just one point from their last four league games – falling eight points behind the promotion spots in the process.
In contrast, Caersws have won their last three league games to climb to 11th in the table, while they also triumphed 2-1 away Guilsfield in the CWFA Senior Cup in midweek. The Bluebirds reached Round Two of the WBS League Cup courtesy of a 2-0 home win over Brickfield Rangers.
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Airbus UK Broughton and Holywell Town will put their battle for promotion aside when they meet at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium on Saturday.
The Wingmakers are currently second in the JD Cymru North, one point ahead of the third-place Wellmen who have played a game more. It finished goalless when the two sides met in league action in October.
Airbus are the current holders of this competition after defeating Trefelin in last year’s national final, but they had to come from behind in Round One this season as they triumphed 3-1 over Mold Alexandra. Mark Allen’s side have won their last three consecutive league games.
A brace from Jamie Breese secured a 2-0 win over Penrhyncoch for Holywell in Round One. The veteran forward has scored in each of his last four games, while he netted one and assisted twice in the Wellmen’s 3-3 draw away at Ruthin Town last weekend.
Having already reached the JD Welsh Cup quarter-finals this season, Rhyl 1879 will aim to continue another cup run as they host Guilsfield on Saturday.
The Lilywhites, who needed penalties to defeat Denbigh Town in Round One, have lost just one of their last seven matches in all competitions. Paul Moore’s side became the first team to beat JD Cymru North leaders Llandudno in the league this season when they triumphed 3-1 over the Seasiders in their most recent outing.
Guilsfield were the biggest winners in Round One as they earned a 5-0 victory over Flint Mountain. Gavin Allen’s side, who sit fifth in the JD Cymru North, were on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions until recent back-to-back defeats to Penrhyncoch and Caersws in the league and CWFA Senior Cup respectively.
Morgan Murray, Ben Lawrence and Archie Jones were all on target as Rhyl claimed a 3-2 win away at Guilsfield in their last meeting in the JD Cymru North in August.
The final tie in the Northern section sees league strugglers Ruthin Town host Buckley Town on Saturday afternoon.
Ruthin currently sit 14th in the JD Cymru North table – three points above the relegation zone – and while a 3-3 draw against high-flying Holywell Town was not a result to be sniffed at last weekend, they have won just one of their last nine league games. Ruthin reached Round Two courtesy of a penalty shootout win over Gresford Athletic.
Buckley are also out of form, having won just one of their last five games, but remain sixth in the JD Cymru North table. Hugh Holland and Harvey Ellis found the net in a 2-1 win away at Holyhead Hotspur in Round One.
Ruthin led 2-0 at half-time when the two sides last met in the league in August, but Buckley staged a second half comeback to triumph 3-2 as Connor Littler netted an 89th-minute winner.
In the Southern section, in-form pair Ammanford and Treowen Stars go head-to-head at the Recreation Ground on Friday night.
Ammanford – third in the JD Cymru South – have won their last four consecutive games, keeping clean sheets in all of them, and are on a 11-match unbeaten run. Wyn Thomas’ side earned an impressive win in Round One, triumphing 1-0 away at last season’s WBS League Cup Southern winners Trefelin.
Treowen have also won their last four league games, a run that has seen them climb to ninth in the JD Cymru South table. They have already beaten one promotion-chasing side in this competition this season, winning 3-2 away at Caerau Ely in Round One.
Adam John scored the only goal as Ammanford triumphed 1-0 at home over the Stars in their league meeting in August.
There is a local derby at the Evans Bevans Playing Fields on Friday night as Baglan Dragons host Afan Lido.
The two sides have already met twice in the league this season, drawing 1-1 in October before Andzejs Dubjaga’s hat-trick earned Baglan a 3-1 victory on Boxing Day. The Dragons are now unbeaten in their last five matches against Lido.
Carl Clement’s side currently sit 11th in the JD Cymru South, sandwiched firmly in mid-table, so may hope for a cup run to inject some life into the latter part of their season. They were 1-0 winners away at Aberystwyth Town in Round One, courtesy of Artiom Legavec’s penalty.
Lido triumphed 1-0 away at Ynyshir Albions in the last round, but have triumphed just three times in all competitions since then. They have picked up just one point from their last six JD Cymru South matches and sit 14th in the table as a result.
Carmarthen Town and Newport City meet at the LHP Stadium on Saturday, with the two sides currently level on points in the JD Cymru South.
Newport are higher on goal difference and have drawn five of their last seven league games, winning one and drawing one. Early goals from Charlie Davies and Mckenzie Thompson helped to secure a 2-1 win away at Cardiff Draconians in their Round One tie.
Carmarthen are winless in their last eight matches in all competitions, letting a two goal lead slip in a 2-2 draw with bottom of the table Cwmbran Celtic last weekend. It was Celtic who they defeated in Round One, but they needed penalties to progress at Avondale Park following a goalless draw in 90 minutes.
Liam Thomas scored the only goal as Carmarthen triumphed 1-0 over the Steelmen in their league meeting back in September.
Matthew Driscoll will continue to go in search of his first win as Pontypridd United boss when the Dragons travel to Llantwit Major on Saturday.
Ponty have lost all three games under Driscoll’s stewardship so far – without scoring – and currently sit 12th in the JD Cymru South table. They caused one of the biggest upsets in Round One of this competition as they knocked out JD Cymru South leaders Cambrian United on penalties.
Llantwit Major have drawn four of their last six league games – winning one and losing one – and are four points ahead of Pontypridd in the league table. Connor Goldsworthy’s goal proved decisive as they triumphed 1-0 away at Trethomas Bluebirds in Round One.
Early goals from Tom Stokes and Jack Bevan secured a 2-0 victory for Llantwit when the two teams met in the league in October.
Welsh Blood Service League Cup Round Two Fixtures
Friday 16 January
Southern Section
Ammanford v Treowen Stars (19:30)
Baglan Dragons v Afan Lido (19:30)
Saturday 17 January
Northern Section
Airbus UK Broughton v Holywell Town (14:00)
Rhyl 1879 v Guilsfield (14:00)
Ruthin Town v Buckley Town (14:00)
Newtown v Caersws (14:30)
Southern Section
Carmarthen Town v Newport City (14:00)
Llantwit Major v Pontypridd United (14:00)
