Bangor City take on The New Saints, and Barry Town square
off against Prestatyn knowing they are just 90, or possibly 120, minutes away
from a spot in the final, and that one of sport’s great clichés – “anything can
happen” - will be on the minds of supporters.
Barry Town v
Prestatyn
Barry Town may have fallen on hard times recently, but in
their 101-year history they have tasted much success.
In the 1990s and early ‘noughties’ alone, they lifted the
Welsh Premier League seven times, the Welsh Cup five times, including three on
the bounce from 2001-03, the Welsh League Cup four times, the Welsh Football
League Cup, the South Wales Senior Cup, the FAW Premier Trophy and the FAW
Trophy, among others.
Currently vying for promotion back to the WPL from the Welsh
League Division One, for one weekend only Barry find themselves ‘back among the
big boys’ as they fly the Welsh League flag in the latter stages of the Cup in
a bid to make their first final since 2003.
They have overcome Caerleon, Penrhyncoch, Ely Rangers,
Pontardawe and Flint Town United to get this far, and now face their first WPL
test.
Prestatyn have never got their hands on the coveted trophy,
but have seen a steady rise in their fortunes over recent years, which has
resulted in them establishing themselves in the WPL.
They are currently fighting in the Championship section
following the mid-season split, and challenging for a place in Europe next
season as a result. While their league form has dipped somewhat over recent
matches their Cup form has remained solid to bring them this far.
They have contested some high-scoring matches to get the
neutral excited about this upcoming game at Newtown. Afan Lido were seen off
4-3, West End 2-0 and Carmarthen Town 3-2 after extra time.
While they start as deserved favourites, Barry’s travelling
hordes will hope to be able to sing their team to victory and a place in the
final.
Bangor City v The New
Saints
The second semi-final pitches one of the competition’s most
successful clubs against the current powerhouse in Welsh football and Cup
holders.
Bangor have won the prestigious trophy eight times, with
only the ‘big three’ of Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham lifting it on
more occasions. They have also finished runners-up nine times, making it 17
Welsh Cup finals in total.
Like Prestatyn, Bangor’s league form has tailed off since a
strong start and they look likely to miss out on second place in the league to
Airbus UK if current form continues. But it is by no means over yet, and a
runners-up spot coupled with a ninth Welsh Cup win would be a glorious end to
their campaign.
Bangor have come past Aberdare Town, Connah’s Quay and
Airbus UK to get this far, and won’t have too many qualms about facing TNS, a
side they have been fighting for supremacy in Welsh football over recent years.
However, the last meeting between these sides in the league
finished 6-0 in TNS’ favour on March 16, and the Bangor fans will be looking
for revenge.
That result put the Oswestry club well on course for their
seventh WPL title, which they wrapped up with a 3-0 win over Carmarthen at Park
Hall last Saturday. Now, it’s full steam ahead for a league and Cup double.
Their 2-0 victory over Cefn Druids last year was their third
Cup win, and they will be confident of making it four on current form. They
will have to guard against complacency following the victorious scenes last
weekend, and know bangor will probably put up a sterner test than the last time
they met.
Their Cup run has seen them dispatch of Conwy Borough in
extra time, Rhyl and Haverfordwest so far, and they will be hoping to take their
place in their seventh final with a win at Rhyl tomorrow.
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