We are down to the final four in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup, with a place at Rodney Parade the prize for Sunday’s semi-final winners.
Wrexham v Pontypridd United (Sunday, 2pm)
Wrexham will aim to reach the Bute Energy Welsh Cup final for the second consecutive season when they meet Pontypridd United in the last four at Latham Park.
Steve Dale’s side earned emphatic 11-0 and 10-0 victories against Llanystumdwy and Felinheli respectively in the early rounds, before a remarkable 5-0 victory against Swansea City at The Rock in the quarter-finals.
After a tricky start to the campaign, the Reds have firmly found form in recent months. They won their final three games of Phase One in the Genero Adran Premier to dramatically squeeze into the top half and have started Phase Two with two more consecutive victories – impressively winning 2-1 away at league leaders Cardiff City last weekend.
Pontypridd United are the only second tier side left in the competition after stunning top-flight Aberystwyth Town with a 2-0 win at Park Avenue in the quarter-finals. Victories against Ammanford, Penybont and Johnstown had got them to that stage.
After being relegated from the Genero Adran Premier last season, a young Dragons side is hoping to bounce back at the first attempt. They are currently three points clear at the top of the Genero Adran South with just two games remaining, having earned a 2-0 win away at title rivals Swansea University last weekend.
Wrexham triumphed in both league meetings between the two sides last season, with Rosie Hughes scoring an 89th-minute goal to snatch a 3-2 win in their most recent encounter in February 2024.
The New Saints v Cardiff City (Sunday, 4:30pm)
After both clubs suffered defeats in the Genero Adran Premier last weekend, The New Saints and Cardiff City will be hoping to bounce back by booking a place in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup final when they meet at Park Avenue.
The Saints led at home against Briton Ferry Llansawel but ultimately lost 2-1, slipping to fourth in the table in the process. While the league title may now be out of their reach, Shauna Duffy’s side will be aiming to add another cup to their cabinet after lifting the Genero Adran Trophy last month.
6-0 wins against Pwllheli and Llandudno kicked off TNS’ Bute Energy Welsh Cup campaign before goalkeeper Becca Elliott emerged as the hero in a penalty shootout win over Briton Ferry in the quarter-finals. Now the target will be reaching the final of this competition for the first time.
Cardiff City hold a remarkable record in this cup – they have lifted it in the each of the last three years and have not lost a game in the competition since March 2019 against Abergavenny. This season, the Bluebirds progressed past Penclawdd and Cascade, despite trailing in both ties, before an emphatic 4-0 quarter-final win against Barry Town United.
Iain Darbyshire’s side had won six games in a row in all competitions before last weekend, but a 2-1 home defeat against Wrexham halted that streak and cut their lead at the top of the Genero Adran Premier table to five points.
The two sides have already three times this season, with Cardiff winning both encounters in Phase One of the Genero Adran Premier – including a 4-3 thriller at Park Hall in January – but TNS knocked the Bluebirds out of the Genero Adran Trophy in the quarter-finals.
Watch live coverage of The New Saints v Cardiff City on Sgorio’s online platforms from on Sunday 16 March.
