JD Welsh Cup holders The New Saints were dumped out of this season’s competition in dramatic fashion as they conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 away at Cardiff Met on Friday night.
TNS, 10-time winners of the cup, took the lead just before the half hour mark as Jack Bodenham turned in Dom Corness’ delivery from close range.
However, Met levelled on 86 minutes when Jasper Payne played a neat one-two with Ryan Reynolds and finished coolly past Nathan Shepperd, before Matt Chubb completed a sensational turnaround in stoppage time as he met Barney Soady’s delivery with a header that nestled into the bottom corner and sparked wild scenes of celebration.
It is the earliest that the Saints have been knocked out of the JD Welsh Cup since a Round Two defeat to Connah’s Quay Nomads in 2007-08.
Last season’s runners-up Connah’s Quay Nomads, winners of the cup in 2024, also suffered an upset on Friday night as they lost 2-1 away at JD Cymru North leaders Llandudno.
The Seasiders are enjoying an impressive campaign and were two goals up inside the opening 32 minutes as former Nomad Ben Maher picked out the bottom corner from the edge of the box before Ross Weaver headed home Anthony Stephens’ cross.
The Nomads did get a goal back in the 81st minute as Dan Roberts unleashed a superb strike into the top corner from distance, but John Disney’s side could not find a late equaliser.
It means that this season’s JD Welsh Cup final will be the first not to feature either TNS or Connah’s Quay Nomads since 2013.
There are also only two former winners left in this season’s competition, one of which is Barry Town United who were the biggest winners in Round Three as they triumphed 6-0 away at fellow top-flight side Llanelli Town on Friday night.
Ollie Hulbert scored inside the opening minute at Stebonheath, while Eliot Richards and Keston Davies also found the net in the first half. There was no let up after the break from Barry, as Ieuan Owen netted in the 46thminute before Hulbert grabbed his second of the night from the penalty spot and substitute Dan Barton completed the rout.
JD Welsh Cup
Round Four draw
Flint Town United are the only other previous winners left in the competition, following their 1-0 home win over JD Cymru North high-flyers Airbus UK Broughton on Saturday.
The only goal of the game came in the 56th minute when Ben Wynne provided a clinical finish from Ben Hughes’ cut back, while Airbus forward Mason Blackwell-Jones was sent off late on after grabbing Flint captain Harry Owen by the throat.
Third tier Bangor 1876 caused an upset on Saturday as they came from behind to win 2-1 at home against JD Cymru North title contenders Holywell Town.
It was a manic opening 12 minutes of the tie as Fabrizio Murtas opened the scoring for Holywell, before Wellmen midfielder Guto Williams was sent off and Jamie Breese saw his penalty saved by Carl Jones.
Bangor eventually made their man advantage count in the second half, as Corrig McGonigle equalised on 63 minutes before Josh Carey netted what proved to be the winner eight minutes later.
Fifth tier Glynneath Town’s historic cup run came to an end with a 5-2 home defeat against Ardal North West side Trearddur Bay on Saturday.
Glynneath took the lead in the 21st minute through Harri Young, but Trearddur Bay turned the tie around to lead at half-time as Sebastian Samuel equalised before Christoph Aziamale scored from the penalty spot.
An overhead kick from 41-year-old Craig Evans sensationally brought Glynneath level again early in the second half, but Bay frontman Tom Hilditch scored a 14-minute hat-trick to break the hearts of the hosts. The visitors ended the game with 10 men as Ryan Pryce received a second yellow card.
Porthmadog are the third and final tier three side left in the competition after they scored a stoppage time winner to triumph 3-2 at home against Port Talbot Town on Saturday.
Port Talbot twice took the lead at Y Traeth, with Jordan Edwards’ opener cancelled out by Cai Jones before Michael Morris restored the visitors’ advantage. However, Liam Morris, who had come off the bench for his Porthmadog debut, scored two late goals – including a 96th-minute winner – to send his side into Round Four.
Caernarfon Town reached Round Four for the first time in four years as Josh Lock’s hat-trick inspired a 4-0 win over Penrhyncoch at the Go Goodwins Stadium on Saturday.
Dominic Smith headed home Matty Jones’ corner to open the scoring on 15 minutes, before Lock fired home from the edge of the box soon after. The TNS loanee completed his first career treble after the break as he played a neat one-two with Iwan Lewis and fired home, before finishing from close range in the 90th minute.
James Crole scored a hat-trick as Penybont triumphed 3-1 away at JD Cymru South leaders Cambrian United on Friday night.
Crole netted twice in the opening half hour, converting from the penalty spot and finishing clinically in the box, before Liam Eason pulled a goal back before half-time. However, the Bont frontman scored again from 12 yards on 72 minutes to complete his treble and seal victory.
Colwyn Bay eased in to the next round with a 3-1 win away at Carmarthen Town on Saturday evening.
Jordan Davies whipped home a free-kick to give the Seagulls the lead after just seven minutes, before Lewis Sirrell poked home from close range. Louis Robles made it 3-0 midway through the second half amid a scramble in the box, while Liam Thomas netted a late consolation for Carmarthen with a looping header.
Newport City are in to Round Four for the first time in their history thanks to a penalty shootout win over Blaenavon Blues on Sunday, following a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.
The Steelmen were 2-0 up in the tie as Rhys Kavanagh and Cole Mace found the net either side of half-time, but the visitors fought back as Matt Burns scored on 75 minutes before substitute Bailey Perry netted a stoppage time equaliser.
Blaenavon’s Jacob Bull was the only player to miss in the shootout, as Newport captain Luke Cooper fired in the winning spot-kick.
Pontypridd United were also victorious on penalties as they overcame Treowen Stars following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes at Bush Park on Saturday.
The tie went to spot-kicks after Lewis Green had cancelled out Josh Stephens’ opener. Ponty goalkeeper Cameron Clarke denied Jak Lewis and Christian Davies, and while Stephens saw his effort kept out by Cael Jones, Sam Johnson fired in the winning penalty for the Dragons – who won their third shootout in all competitions this season.
Rhyl 1879 secured their place in the hat with a 3-2 home win over Cwmbran Town on Saturday afternoon.
The Lilywhites were 2-0 up inside 22 minutes as Ben Lightfoot scored from the penalty spot before Jack Parry doubled the lead, but Jack Pewtner halved the deficit for Cwmbran just before the hour mark. Archie Jones restored Rhyl’s two-goal advantage on 69 minutes, and while Pewtner netted his and Cwmbran’s second goal late on, the hosts held on for victory.
Gresford Athletic put their recent off-pitch struggles to one side as they eased to a 3-0 win away at Penrhiwceiber Rangers on Saturday.
All three goals came in the first half at Glasbrook Field, as Adam Hesp and Haci Ozlu scored within three minutes of each other before Ozlu scored from the penalty spot just before the break.
Last season’s quarter-finalists Caerau Ely also triumphed away at third tier opposition as they earned a 2-0 victory against Dolgellau on Saturday.
Hywel Davies opened the scoring on 29 minutes, while Dan Griffiths doubled the advantage eight minutes later which proved enough to secure progress for the Young Guns.
The JD Welsh Cup Round Two draw will be broadcast on RedWall+ at 8pm on Thursday 27 November.
