Cambrian United reached the semi-finals of the JD Welsh Cup for the first time in their history as they triumphed 3-1 over Carmarthen Town at the M&P Group 3G on Saturday afternoon.
The two sides are currently level on points and goal difference in the JD Cymru South and it remained goalless in the Rhondda until midway through the second half, when Cambrian struck three times in the space of nine minutes.
Tim Parker broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when he headed home Calum Bateman’s cross from the right, before doubling the lead seven minutes later as he tapped in from close range after Josh Allen’s shot was parried by Lee Idzi.
A stunning spell for Cam was complete two minutes later when this time it was Parker’s shot parried by Idzi, leaving Bateman with a simple header from close range.
Carmarthen got on the scoresheet in the 86th minute as Sam Parsons drove into the box and lashed past Morgan Davies at his near post, but the damage had already been done as the 2007 cup winners bowed out.
Llanelli Town booked their spot in the semi-finals in dramatic fashion as substitute Alex Giardelli struck a stoppage time winner to beat Denbigh Town 1-0 at Central Park on Saturday.
Denbigh could not have come much closer to finding the net in the first half, as Owen Davies and Dan Flanders both hit the post and Nathan Brown’s effort from range struck the crossbar.
Llanelli grew into the game after the break, with Denbigh goalkeeper Aaron Jones needing to be on hand to twice deny Danny Williams, but a penalty shootout looked to be on the cards as the full-time whistle approached.
However, in the 94th minute, Theo Wharton’s long throw into the box was flicked on to space where Giardelli – who had only been on the pitch for six minutes – was waiting to smash home and spark wild scenes of celebration for the away side. The Reds are semi-finalists for the first time since lifting the cup in 2011.
JD Welsh Cup holders Connah’s Quay Nomads reached the last four courtesy of a 2-0 win away at Caerau Ely on Sunday.
The hosts, who had already knocked out top-flight duo Barry Town United and Bala Town, started brightly as Jack Ashford’s shot hit the side netting and Liam Bishop put wide from close range.
Yet the Nomads found their feet on a difficult pitch and it was a moment of magic that opened the scoring in the 31st minute as Rhys Hughes skipped in between two Caerau Ely defenders and curled a superb strike from the edge of the box that hit the post and went in, leaving goalkeeper Exauce Dimonekene with no chance. Hughes could have doubled the lead moments later but this time his shot struck the woodwork and stayed out.
The Nomads’ second goal did arrive 11 minutes into the second half when Noah Edwards took control of a loose ball in the box and released a shot on the turn that evaded everyone and went in off the post.
That put to bed Caerau Ely’s hopes of another upset, much to the disappointment of a bumper crowd at Cwrt yr Ala Road which included Cymru manager Craig Bellamy. Nomads goalkeeper George Ratcliffe kept his clean sheet intact with a superb save to deny Hywel Davies from close range late on.
The New Saints were the biggest winners in the quarter-finals as they triumphed 5-0 over Airbus UK Broughton at Park Hall on Saturday.
After plenty of early chances, the hosts’ pressure finally paid off in the 27th minute when Ben Clark arrived in the box to slam home Jordan Marshall’s cross. Leo Smith doubled the advantage two minutes before half-time when he was played in by Zack Clarke and rounded Keighan Jones before finishing from a tight angle.
Airbus’ woes increased when Kieran Evans turned the ball into his own net just four minutes into the second half, as he completely misjudged Marshall’s long ball and headed past the helpless Jones.
Sion Bradley, making his first start in two months, added his name to the scoresheet nine minutes later when he superbly twisted and turned his way past the Airbus defence and fired low into the net.
Victory for TNS was wrapped up in the 74th minute as January signing Clarke grabbed his first goal for the club by getting the vital touch on Bradley’s whipped free-kick.
JD Welsh Cup Quarter-Final results:
Cambrian United 3-1 Carmarthen Town
Denbigh Town 0-1 Llanelli Town
The New Saints 5-0 Airbus UK Broughton
Caerau Ely 0-2 Connah’s Quay Nomads
The JD Welsh Cup Semi-Final draw will be broadcast on RedWall+ at 8pm on Wednesday 19 February.
