It’s Semi-finals weekend in the JD Welsh Cup as the final four sides battle it out for a place at Rodney Parade.
With reigning champions The New Saints, and last season’s finalists Connah’s Quay Nomads, already eliminated, the door is wide open for a new club to etch its name into the history books of one of the world’s oldest domestic cup competitions.
Follow all the action on the FAW website and the Cymru Football app.
Flint Town United v Bangor City 1876 (Saturday, 12.45pm)
JD Cymru Premier side Flint Town United host Bangor City 1876 at Go Goodwins Stadium in Llandudno in what promises to be an entertaining affair on Saturday afternoon.
Lee Fowler’s side will be looking to recreate the magic of the 1953–54 season, when the Silkmen lifted the Welsh Cup for the first and only time in their 140-year history. Flint reached the quarter-finals for the third time in 15 years last round but have not made it this far since that historic triumph 72 years ago. Could history repeat itself?
Flint head into the semi-final on the back of an impressive run of form, boasting an unbeaten record in Phase Two of the Cymru Premier. Key victories over Llanelli and Bala Town have helped them steer clear of the relegation zone, while draws against Briton Ferry Llansawel and Cardiff Met were followed by a sensational 3-1 win over Haverfordwest County last weekend.
They will be hoping to rely on forward Elliott Reeves, the club’s top scorer this season with 14 goals in all competitions, two of which came in the Silkmen’s 3-0 win over Bow Street in Round Two.
Bangor, meanwhile, have enjoyed a remarkable cup campaign. Since July, Michael Johnston’s side have displayed devastating form, overcoming Mochdre Sports, Conwy Borough Swifts, St Asaph City, Guilsfield and Holywell Town in the early rounds before impressive victories over Trefelin BGC and Cymru South hopefuls Caerau Ely in the quarter-finals. They have scored 28 goals in this season’s competition, second only to The New Saints’ record 35-goal haul in 2024–25, and have reached their furthest stage since reforming.
Until their 7 February defeat to CPD Llannefydd, Bangor had remained unbeaten across all competitions in Wales this season, winning 30 of 32 matches. The January arrival of former TNS striker and two-time JD Welsh Cup winner Declan McManus has further strengthened their ambitions. The 31-year-old made his cup debut for Bangor as a 70th-minute substitute in the last round, adding valuable experience and quality for the run-in.
Historically, Flint hold the edge in recent meetings, winning both of their last two encounters with Bangor and averaging four goals per game across those fixtures. It’s set to be an entertaining clash in front of the Sgorio cameras.
Y Rhyl 1879 v Caernarfon Town (Sunday, 1.30pm)
JD Cymru North side Rhyl 1879 host top-flight Caernarfon Town on Sunday afternoon at Colwyn Bay’s Blue Turtle Arena in another intriguing North Wales clash.
Rhyl are chasing history in their first JD Welsh Cup semi-final since reforming in 2020. The Lilywhites produced one of the results of the quarter-finals by defeating six-time winners Barry Town United 2–1. Earlier victories over Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Brickfield Rangers and Cwmbran Town paved their route to the last four.
Midfielder Ben Lightfoot has proved to be Rhyl’s talisman in this season’s competition, emerging as their leading scorer and finding the net in every round until the quarter-final stage. Confidence will be high for Paul Moore’s side, who sit fifth in the JD Cymru North and arrive on the back of consecutive wins against Mold Alexandra and Ruthin Town.
Standing in their way are a Caernarfon Town side enjoying a strong JD Cymru Premier campaign. The Cofis have shown consistency throughout the season and remain firmly in the mix for a European play-off place, having built momentum during Phase Two with important results against fellow top-half opposition.
This will be Caernarfon’s sixth Welsh Cup semi-final appearance, but the famous trophy has remained elusive for the Oval-based side. Their closest opportunity in recent years came in 2016–17, when they were edged out 3-1 by eventual winners Bala Town. This weekend offers another chance to move one step closer to a first-ever Welsh Cup triumph.
This semi-final weekend is historic for the JD Welsh Cup, with all four remaining sides hailing from North Wales. The only previous occasion this occurred was in 1892–93, when Wrexham, Llandudno Swifts, Chirk and Druids reached the last four. More than a century later, history is on the line once again.
