JD Cymru North side Mold Alexandra caused the biggest upset of the JD Welsh Cup third round as they triumphed 2-1 over top-flight Briton Ferry Llansawel.
First half goals from Owen Cordiner and Emmanuel Lawal put Mold firmly in control of the tie, while Ferry did not pull one back until the 80th minute through captain Alex Gammond.
It was not enough to save the Reds, who became the fifth JD Cymru Premier side to lose to a lower division opponent in the JD Welsh Cup this season.
Haverfordwest County narrowly avoided a shock as they needed penalties to progress past Ammanford at the Recreation Ground. Euros Griffiths cancelled out Ricky Watts’ opener in the 90 minutes before an epic shootout ensued.
With the score standing at 9-9 after 10 players had taken for each side, Ammanford goalkeeper Luke Martin blazed his effort over the bar before his opposite number Ifan Knott calmly scored his spot-kick to send Haverfordwest through.
JD Welsh Cup holders Connah’s Quay Nomads edged into Round Four with a 2-1 win away at Trefelin. Ben Nash’s header and Ben Maher’s deflected strike put the Nomads in control of the tie, before both sides were reduced to 10 men as Nash and Connor Goldsworthy were shown red cards in an off-the-ball incident.
Joe Clarke got Trefelin on the scoreboard from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Lee Trundle had been fouled in the box, but it came too late to save the JD Cymru South side.
Nine-time JD Welsh Cup winners The New Saints had to come from behind to win 3-1 away at Cardiff Met in an all-JD Cymru Premier clash. Tom Vincent put the Archers ahead but Ryan Brobbel equalised almost immediately before a brace from Jordan Williams completed the turnaround. Met full-back Joel Edwards received a late red card.
The only other all-top-flight encounter saw Bala Town progress on penalties against Flint Town United after a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes. The Lakesiders were 2-0 up in the tie before quickfire goals from George Maire and Florian Yonsian got Flint back on level terms, but Silkmen duo Jake Phillips and Luke Mariette missed in the shootout to allow Kieran Lloyd to score Bala’s winning penalty.
Only four JD Cymru Premier clubs are in to Round Four – the fewest number of top-flight sides left at this stage of the competition since the formation of the League of Wales in 1992.
After upsetting Caernarfon Town on penalties in the last round, Holyhead Hotspur again progressed from the spot against neighbours Trearddur Bay at the New Stadium. The game finished goalless in 90 minutes, with the first nine penalties of the shootout all scored before Bay forward Les Davies missed his side’s fifth attempt.
Hotspur are one of only two sides from the third tier heading into Round Four, alongside Ardal North East outfit Llanuwchllyn. Sion Tudor’s team knocked out top-flight Newtown on penalties in Round Two, but enjoyed a much more comfortable afternoon this time around as they won 3-0 against Swansea University.
Caerau Ely were the biggest winners of Round Three as they triumphed 8-1 at home against fourth tier Rogerstone. There were seven different goalscorers for the Young Guns, with Dan Ingram netting twice.
JD Cymru North leaders Airbus UK Broughton were also on fine goalscoring form as they won 7-1 at home against Goytre, with George Peers scoring twice and Oli Lanceley scoring a hat-trick.
The only other hat-trick in Round Three came at Stebonheath, where Bradley Gibbings’ treble helped Llanelli Town ease past fourth tier Pill with a 4-0 victory.
Fellow fourth tier side Penydarren came much closer to causing an upset as they took Carmarthen Town to penalties following a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes at the Bont Playing Fields.
Penydarren, who knocked out Pontypridd United in the last round, took the lead through captain Alex Lloyd but Carmarthen turned the game around before Lloyd scored again late on to send the tie to spot-kicks. Tyler Aylward missed the visitors’ first effort, but two saves from Lee Idzi – who played for Penydarren as a teenager – sent Carmarthen through.
JD Cymru South strugglers Afan Lido also survived a scare as they progressed on penalties against Morriston Town on Friday night. The third tier side had taken an early lead through Mark Jones, but Jonathan Hood equalised for Lido to see it end 1-1 in normal time.
Morriston goalkeeper Steven Cann was the shootout hero for his side in the last round, but he missed his side’s fifth penalty which would have sent them through, before Nathan Beniamous also missed to see Lido progress.
There was late drama in the Rhondda, where Cambrian United twice trailed against Llandudno and had Lee Price sent off but Danny Birch’s 87th-minute goal earned the JD Cymru South a 3-2 win.
Denbigh Town are into Round Four for the first time in 52 years as they won 3-0 away at third tier side Llanrwst United. Nathan Brown, Owen Davies and Keelan Williams all found the net, while Chris Nicolson was sent off for the hosts.
Finally, Colwyn Bay and Caersws booked their spots in Round Four courtesy of 2-1 home wins over fellow JD Cymru North sides Ruthin Town and Bangor 1876 respectively – with the Bluebirds finding a 93rd minute winning goal.
The JD Welsh Cup Round Four draw will be broadcast on RedWall+ at 8pm on Wednesday 20 November.
