With three former Welsh Premier League (WPL) sides re-living
their glory days throughout this Cup run, they will be hoping to give the Welsh
League and Huws Gray Alliance a presence in the final four.
Five of the current top six in the Welsh Premier League stand
in their way of lifting the age-old trophy, and with the furore surrounding the
“first major trophy” comments made about Swansea City’s Capital One Cup victory
last weekend, it’s a chance for Wales’ major Cup competition to fight its own
corner.
Haverfordwest County
v TNS
Friday night’s encounter sees the defending champions and WPL
leaders TNS head to west Wales for a potentially tricky encounter with Welsh
League Division One high flyers Haverfordwest County.
The Bluebirds are looking to make their first semi-final
since the memorable 2004/05 season, and will be hoping to pull off a real shock
at Bridge Meadow Stadium.
They have lost only three of their last 15 games in all
competitions stretching back to September, scoring 41 and conceding 21 in that
period.
TNS have also been in pretty solid form as of late. They are
unbeaten in four since losing the Word Cup final to Carmarthen Town on
penalties in January, but were also unbeaten in six before that since a league
defeat, again to Carmarthen, in November.
They have kept 14 clean sheets this season in all
competitions, and will be looking for a 15th tonight. They may not
get it, but it should be fairly comfortable for the Premier League side and
they shouldn’t have too many scares.
Prediction:
Haverfordwest 1-4 TNS
Flint Town United v
Barry Town
Saturday sees six-time winners Barry Town make the long trip
north to face Flint Town United of the Huws Gray Alliance, meaning there will
be at least one non-WPL side in the last four.
Flint despatched Cardiff side Caerau Ely in the last round
in a match surrounded by controversy after two postponements, a switch to south
Wales, appeal, and switch back up north.
In their six matches since in all competitions, they have
won three, drawn one and lost two, so will be hoping to avoid making those
stats symmetrical tomorrow.
Barry are expecting a large following for this tie, and will
be hoping to continue a run of form that has seen them lose only once in five
matches.
Their last three matches have each seen at least five goals,
so this could contain more, but then how many times is that predicted and the
opposite follows?
Prediction: Flint
Town United 1-2 Barry Town
Bangor City v Airbus
UK
This all-WPL tie (third v second) sees one of the tournament’s
most illustrious sides face one with almost no tournament history.
Bangor have won the cup eight times, and finished runner-up
on nine occasions – more than any club excluding the “big three” (Cardiff,
Swansea and Wrexham). They won three on the bounce from 2008-10, and will be
hoping for a trophy shot after their league challenge fell away.
Their win over Carmarthan Town in their last match was their
first league victory in 10, and they will be hoping for another resurgent
display.
Airbus UK would love to add a trophy to their continual
improvements in the WPL, and will be in touching distance of a maiden Cup win
should they triumph at The Book People Stadium.
Their form has been a little disjointed of late, with no real
run of form being established. This gives them the unpredictable nature that
Cup football thrives on, and could see them progress.
Prediction: Bangor
City 1-2 Airbus UK
Carmarthen Town v
Prestatyn Town
The final quarter final is another all-WPL affair, with
Carmarthen looking to make it two Cup wins in one season after their Word Cup
triumph over TNS on penalties back in January.
The Old Gold lost Jonathan Hood to Caerau this week, and
find themselves seven points worse off than their opponents in the WPL Championship
table with eight wins, six draws and nine defeats.
They needed extra time to knock Bala Town out in the last
round, and added to that penalty win over TNS, this looks like it may also go
the distance.
Prestatyn have been, like Bangor, sliding down the WPL table
with only two wins in 10 in all competitions (one of those against West End in
the previous round).
They have registered 19 goals in that time, but also
conceded 30, and there is little to suggest this game won’t also end in pain
for the visitors.
Prediction: Carmarthen
3-2 (after extra time)
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