Final four set for Welsh Cup semis

Former Welsh Premier League (WPL) giants Barry Town were among those taking their place in the Welsh Cup semi-finals on Saturday (March 2) with a comfortable win at Flint Town United.

Following TNS' victory at Haverfordwest on Friday (March 1) evening, Barry joined Prestatyn Town and Bangor City in securing their semis place in a thrilling day of Cup football.

Barry, the six-time winners, four-time Welsh League Cup champions, and seven-time WPL victors, have somewhat fallen from grace in recent times, but are re-living their glory days through a mammoth Cup run.

Having despatched of Caerleon, Penrhyncoch, Ely Rangers and Pontardawe Town to get to the quarters, they travelled north to the 1954 winners Flint Town United in a game that would guarantee one non-WPL side in the semis after Haverfordwest’s loss to TNS.

The match was a triumph for Barry boss Gavin Chesterfield, who had prepared his players meticulously for the club’s biggest game in a decade, and his homework paid handsome dividends as the Cymru Alliance hosts were second best by some margin.

They took the lead on 27 minutes with their first serious attempt on goal - a sumptuous free-kick from the edge of the box by Ryan Evans finding the bottom corner.

The possession battle went the way of the visitors who continued to control matters with Flint reduced to long ball tactics, which Barry goalie Dan Bradley found un-troubling.

Barry’s second goal on 57 minutes stemmed from a Flint defensive blunder. The usually dependable Nathan Peat fluffed a clearance when there seemed no threat, which allowed the advancing Ryan Jenkins to run at goal and slot low past the advancing Flint keeper Mike Jones.

Flint enjoyed a decent spell late on but there was no denying Chesterfield’s men, who thoroughly deserved their place in the last four.

Elsewhere, Bangor City, the most successful club in the competition’s history (other than Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham) with eight wins and 18 final appearances in total, are just 90 minutes away from a 19^th final courtesy of a narrow victory over Airbus UK.

Andy Preece’s visitors have now failed to beat Bangor in their last 13 meetings, with Bangor running out winners on both occasions in the league this season.

The hosts scored the decisive goal on 23 minutes, Liam Brownhill combining neatly with Ryan Edwards, whose pin-point cross was met superbly by top scorer Chris Simm with a clinically headed finish at the far post.

Simm and Les Davies continued to threaten for Bangor, while Airbus had their moments too, Tom Field coming closest with a long-range shot that beat Lee Idzi but struck a post.

But Bangor were denied a second when Sam Hart came to the visitors’ rescue, clearing off the line from Simm to prevent a more comfortable finish for the hosts.

In the final fixture, Carmarthen Town saw their hopes of a Cup double this season ended in extra time by a battling Prestatyn Town side.

Geoff Kellaway gave Carmarthen the lead following a rather tame first half, picking up a through ball before swivelling and firing home.

Mike Parker levelled for Prestatyn following a melee from a corner, only for Craig Hughes to restore the home lead with a header on 77 minutes.

Prestatyn’s Andy Parkinson proved a constant threat to the Carmarthen defence, and he produced a terrific strike from the edge of the box eight minutes from the end of normal time to level once more.

Dave Hayes was the Prestatyn hero, a close range header four minutes before the tie was due to go to a penalty shoot-out saving the travelling fans from the gut-wrenching lottery of a penalty shoot-out and putting the north Walian club in to the semis.

Carmarthen will be disappointed to bow out as they had the possession and chances to have progressed, but full credit is due to the visitors who never gave up over 120 minutes.

The semi-finals will see Barry face Prestatyn and Bangor do battle with TNS, with both fixtures on April 6.

The ties will be played at neutral venues, with Barry to face Prestatyn at Newtown's Latham Park with a 2.30pm kick-off, and Bangor-TNS taking place at Belle Vue, Rhyl, live on S4C with a 3pm kick-off.