As Bute Energy Welsh Cup debuts go, Ystradgynlais may have been handed one of the toughest.
The fourth-tier side, who were only formed in the summer, travel to three-time cup winners Cardiff Met in the second qualifying round on Sunday (KO 13:00).
Defender Leah Morgan, one of the team’s first recruits, says it became apparent to her very quickly how uniquely special the team was.
“We’ve got a real mix of a squad here at Ystradgynlais. Some of us do have some prior footballing experience, others are playing football for the first time, but it’s that kind of dynamic which makes us so special as a team and a club.
“Everyone has come together and gelled so quickly. The atmosphere in the changing room is always great, and we’ve always got each other’s backs. We all encourage each other to be our very best on the pitch, and that is going to be a big advantage come Sunday.”
The team have only played three competitive games together, but their fourth is a true David versus Goliath matchup against one of Wales’ most successful clubs in Cardiff Met.
When the draw for the second qualifying round was made, manager Matthew Strangward and his staff knew instantly what a chance they had in front of them, as did the players.
“Going into this game, we see it as a huge opportunity for us,” Morgan says. “It’s not every day that a team like ours faces off against a side as big as Cardiff Met.
“Met are such a prestigious team in Welsh football who have accomplished so much domestically and in the Champions League, and we’re looking forward to the challenge of testing ourselves against them.”
Understandably, Ystradgynlais go into this game as huge underdogs. Playing against six-time Adran Premier champions, who have rubbed shoulders with some of Europe’s most notable clubs, can be a daunting prospect.
But for Morgan, she and her team see Sunday as an opportunity to play without pressure. It’s an opportunity to focus on themselves, and an opportunity to, perhaps, pull off the mother of all upsets.
“There is no hiding the fact that we are huge underdogs heading into this weekend. Cardiff Met are a few leagues above us and have won this competition a number of times. That being said, we know we have nothing to lose.
Bute Energy Welsh Cup
“Everyone is expecting Met to win quite comfortably and go through to the next round, but that takes pressure off of us. We can go out and play our own game.
“A team like ours rarely has the chance to face off against a club like Met, so it’s going to be an incredible experience for us.”
It’s ties like these that remind us why the Welsh Cup is so special. It provides a chance for teams to challenge themselves against some of the very best in the country.
Morgan knows just how big the moment will be on Sunday when Ystradgynlais step out for their first ever Bute Energy Welsh Cup game at Cyncoed, and it’s something she will remember for years to come.
“For us as a new team, especially for the girls who are new to football, Sunday is going to be an amazing experience.
“The Welsh Cup is so historic, and to be part of it and play in it is something very special, especially when you face someone like Cardiff Met. It’s going to be a great experience for us, and it’s one we will remember for a very long time.”
