With quarter-final places on the line, everything is to play for in Round Four of the JD Welsh Cup this weekend.
Follow all of the action on the Cymru Football app.
Haverfordwest County v Llanelli Town (Friday, 7:45pm)
Two high-flying west Wales clubs kick off Round Four on Friday night as Haverfordwest County host Llanelli Town at the LHP Stadium.
The Bluebirds are currently third in the JD Cymru Premier and have already knocked out two second tier clubs this season – but only just – as they have squeezed past Trethomas Bluebirds and Ammanford on penalties. Now they are one game away from a first quarter-final appearance since 2012/13.
It was 2011/12 when Llanelli last reached the quarter-finals, having been beaten finalists the year before that. Lee John’s side currently sit third in the JD Cymru South and have knocked out Clwb Cymric and Pill so far this season.
This will be the first meeting between the sides since the 2019/20 campaign when Haverfordwest did the double over Llanelli in the JD Cymru South.
Caerau Ely v Bala Town (Saturday, 2pm)
JD Cymru South side Caerau Ely host top-flight Bala Town in a repeat of last year’s Round Four tie, when the Lakesiders won 4-1 and goalkeeper Kelland Absalom found the net on a windy afternoon at Cwrt yr Ala Road.
However, Caerau Ely will be hoping for a different result this time around as they have won their last five matches in all competitions, including an 8-1 victory over Rogerstone in the previous round of this cup. Dean Wheeler’s side have already knocked out top-flight opposition this season, defeating Barry Town United on penalties in Round Two.
Bala come into this year’s tie after victory over The New Saints last week, although that was only their second league win in their last 11 league matches – with their other triumph also remarkably coming against TNS.
The Lakesiders, JD Welsh Cup winners in 2017, needed penalties to knock out Flint Town United in the last round after a 3-1 win over Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant in Round Two.
Denbigh Town v Llanuwchllyn (Saturday, 2pm)
Llanuwchllyn are one of just two sides from the third tier left in this season’s competition – alongside Holyhead Hotspur – and will be targeting a spot in the quarter-finals when they travel to Denbigh Town on Saturday.
Sion Tudor’s team, who currently sit 11th in the Ardal North East, caused a shock in Round Two by defeating top-flight Newtown on penalties before they triumphed 3-0 over Swansea University in the last round.
Denbigh may be favourites in the tie by virtue of sitting 11th in the JD Cymru North, but they are aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history. Dewi Llion’s men have knocked out Llangefni Town and Llanrwst United so far, but have lost their last three league matches.
The two sides last met in the JD Welsh Cup first round in 2021/22 when Denbigh won 4-2, but the stakes are much higher this time around.
Connah’s Quay Nomads v Mold Alexandra (Saturday, 5:20pm)
Derby day awaits in Flintshire as JD Welsh Cup holders Connah’s Quay Nomads host Mold Alexandra at the Essity Stadium.
It will be the first time that the two clubs will meet in competitive action since they were both in the Welsh top-flight in the 1994/95 season. The Nomads are currently eighth in the JD Cymru Premier, while Mold sit seventh in the JD Cymru North.
The Nomads, who beat The New Saints in last season’s final, have progressed past Guilsfield and Trefelin in the competition so far this term as they target a place at Rodney Parade once again.
This is Mold Alex’s first ever appearance in Round Four, after they caused the biggest upset of the last round by winning 2-1 against top-flight Briton Ferry Llansawel – their only victory in their last five matches in all competitions.
Watch live coverage of Connah’s Quay Nomads v Mold Alexandra on S4C from 5pm on Saturday 14 December.
The New Saints v Colwyn Bay (Sunday, 5:30pm)
Round Four concludes on Sunday evening with nine-time JD Welsh Cup winners hosting in-form JD Cymru North side Colwyn Bay.
The Saints, beaten finalists last year, have progressed past Llangollen Town and Cardiff Met so far this season and play Panathinaikos in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday night before the weekend’s tie.
Colwyn Bay are currently second in the JD Cymru North, having won their last 15 consecutive games in all competition – including penalty shootout victories over Flint Mountain and Buckley Town in the JD Welsh Cup. Manager Michael Wilde lifted the trophy six times as a player, including four with TNS and last season with Connah’s Quay Nomads.
TNS won both JD Cymru Premier meetings between the two sides last season, including a 6-1 victory at Park Hall. Their only previous JD Welsh Cup encounter came in the 2021/22 semi-finals when Danny Davies’ early goal proved decisive as the Saints triumphed 1-0.
