The FAW Welsh Cup has sprinkled its magic over the lower levels of the domestic game this season with six clubs from the fourth and fifth tiers dreaming of making it through to the last 16 this weekend, having started their cup campaigns in July.
The first club looking to turn those dreams into reality are Mochdre Sports from the North Wales Coast East Premier Division (Tier 4) as they face the challenge of traveling to two-time FAW Welsh Cup winners Connah’s Quay Nomads of the Novira Cymru Premier on Friday night (19:45).
Although the side have claimed only one league win this season from their opening four games, the club based near Colwyn Bay have seen off NFA, Machynlleth, CPD Pwllheli and Llysfaen to reach Round 3. The Nomads meanwhile cruised to a 4-0 home win over Porthmadog to set up this Friday night tie.
The long journey to Holyhead Hotspur has been the talk in one corner of Swansea since the draw was made. Blaen-y-Maes have already made history by reaching this stage of the competition and head into Saturday’s match (14:00) as the only team from the fifth tier left in the competition.
“It’s been incredible,” explained joint-manager Kyle Barrett to the Welsh Cup Preview Show. “The boys have been performing really well. The support that we’ve had off the community has been incredible, and to be honest, it still hasn’t really hit home, but we’re just taking it game by game.”
The side from the Premier Division of the Swansea Senior League have scored an impressive 20 goals in their four Welsh Cup ties this season, with a 5-2 win over Ely Rangers in the last round attracting a bumper crowd to the home of the ambitious outfit.
“With Ely Rangers coming down (to Swansea) from Cardiff added that bit of spice to the game,” added joint-manager Adam Gray. “We wanted the boys to take it seriously as they are a tier above us. We knew it was going to be a hard game, but we were confident we could cause an upset and carry on our journey in the Welsh Cup.”
Holyhead Hotspur currently sit in the bottom half of the Novira Cymru North but made it through to Round Three of the FAW Welsh Cup with a 4-3 win away to Bala Town after an earlier victory over Caersws.
“Regardless of the outcome, and obviously we want to go out and win the game, we’re so proud as to get this far in the Welsh Cup and we’ve made history for the club as it is,” explained Barrett. “But we’re going there fully-focused and prepared to do the job, so we’re looking forward to it.”
At least one club from the lower tiers of the domestic game are guaranteed to progress as the Round Three draw paired Rockspur with league rivals Pontarddulais Town. Both teams compete in the West Wales Premier League (Tier 4), and they will meet at Goytre United’s Glenhafod Park on Saturday afternoon (14:15).
FAW Welsh Cup
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Rockspur are currently top of the table having won 10 of their opening 12 games, while Pontarddulais Town sit in seventh. The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the league back in September. Both reached Round Three with impressive victories over higher-ranked opposition. Rockspur defeating Evans & Williams while Pontarddulais Town claimed a 3-1 win over Goytre United.
Llangennech are Rockspur’s closest league rivals as they currently occupy second place in the table, and on Saturday they host Newport City of the Novira Cymru South (14:00).
Their victories over Llanrumney United, Cwmamman United, Cwmbran Town and second tier Pontardawe Town ensuring the West Wales Premier League has three representatives in the last 32 of the FAW Welsh Cup.
“The last game was a massive occasion and also the game before that against Cwmbran,” explained Llangennech manager Nathan McAuley to the Welsh Cup Preview Show. “They’re massive clubs with a lot of history.
“They were both massive occasions for us, and we couldn’t have asked for a better draw than to be home again against Newport City.
“I backed the boys against Pontardawe, because after the Cwmbran game there was a lot of belief in the dressing room. We’ve had good support from the locals and we’re expecting good support again, and that will be a real help obviously.”
The North East Wales Football League Division One (Tier 4) are also represented in Round 3 by Coedpoeth United. The side are currently fifth in the table, but their FAW Welsh Cup form has seen them eliminate Penyffordd Lions, Welshpool Town, St Asaph City and second tier Guilsfield, the latter tie through a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
However, they now face Novira Cymru Premier opposition with a long journey south to face Trefelin on Saturday (5:30pm).
“The club is in a really, really healthy position at the moment,” explained Coedpoeth United manager Jack Pawley.
“Guilsfield are a tier two team, but we did our homework on them and the only disappointment was that it did go to penalties. But we have to give credit to the lads really, it’s nothing to do with me or the coaches when the lads step up to take a penalty. It’s them, the keeper and the ball.”
“There was a real buzz about who we were going to get,” added coach Adam Taylor. “It’s an away trip against a team we can really test ourselves against. All the lads want to be included so the availability is through the roof! It will be a great occasion for the football club.”
