Women’s football previews: It’s Welsh Cup weekend!

North Wales women’s football previews – Sunday, February 9

FAW Women’s Welsh Cup quarter-finals (2 pm)

Cardiff City FC Women v Cardiff Met Uni, Connah’s Quay Nomads v Port Talbot, Llandudno v Abergavenny, Swansea City v Bethel.

Llandudno v Abergavenny

Despite having resigned from the Welsh Premier League in December, Llandudno are continuing their commitment to the Welsh Cup.
Tudno, who have not played a competitive game since November 24 last year, take on former WPWL foes Abergavenny at Maesdu Park on Sunday.
Even though the team stepped down from the national league two months ago, the vast majority of the Llandudno squad have not joined other clubs.
Therefore, most who started this season are available this Sunday, with manager Sarah Colville also drafting in some ex-players to boost numbers.
“This is going to be a very hard and competitive game for both teams,” said Colville. “Let’s just hope the weather doesn’t spoil anything.”
To reach the quarter-finals Llandudno, who were beaten finalists in 2016, have knocked out Corwen and Llanfair United.
Squad (18): Claire Colville, Sofie Owen, Keren Allen, Kelsey Davies, Jordanne Greenough, Cara Hughes, Ella-Mae Hughes, Jessica Hughes, Anna Jones , Fflur Williams, Catherine Jones, Sonia Jones, Natasha Mathews, Georgia Smith, Aimee Todd, Stacey Tradewell, Mari Walker, Jessica Wall.

Connah’s Quay Nomads v Port Talbot

An exciting occasion is in prospect for Nomads, who have reached the Welsh Cup quarter-finals in their very first season as a team.
Sara Hilton’s side will host Welsh Premier League outfit Port Talbot, having eliminated Denbigh Town, Pwllheli and Llanberis so far.
Head coach Hilton said: “We as a club are looking forward to welcoming Port Talbot to Connah’s Quay on Sunday. We know what Port Talbot are capable of, they’re a well-established side in the top tier of women’s football in Wales.
“To get to this stage of the FAW Women’s Welsh Trophy in our first year is huge and I’m extremely proud of the players. We want to showcase what we’re about and maintain our ethos of playing and we hope to continue to build on the success in this cup.”

Swansea City v Bethel

The toughest task of the three North Wales clubs left in the Welsh Cup undoubtedly awaits Bethel, who travel to Welsh Premier Women’s League leaders Swansea.
Now only do the Swans top the WPWL, they have a perfect record of nine straight wins.
Bethel have had a taste of the big occasion in the Welsh Cup before, having lost gallantly 4-2 to Cardiff City FC Women in the 2016-17 quarter-finals.
Coaches Ben Bolton and Aaron Jones-Evans will take a confident, determined young squad down to South Wales. Bethel have started the season well in North Wales League Division One, having finished joint champions last term.
The Caernarfon area side are expected to take a close to full strength squad down south with only the versatile Jenna Tugwell unavailable.

Other previews……

North Wales Women’s Football League (1 pm)

Division One

Llanfair United v Corwen

Llanfair returned to action after a long absence last weekend with an 8-0 away drubbing of Caernarfon in the NEWFA Cup.
The Powys side will look to carry on that form in the league as they aim to make it six straight wins at the expense of visitors Corwen. A win would put Llanfair eight points clear, but they should get a good test from an improving young away side.

Northop Hall v Airbus

This is a return between two teams which met on the opening day of the season and shared a 2-2 draw.
Hall are one off the bottom of the table while the Wingmakers, who are in the better form of the two, lie in fourth spot.
The home side will still be without long-term injury victim Rebecca Hughes, a big blow to their hopes. Airbus will be hoping top-scorer Tegan Hewitt keeps firing. She has notched eight goals this season and four in her last two games.

Wrexham v Denbigh Town

Wrexham are really beginning to settle nicely.
Despite being bottom of the division with no points, the Dragons have been looking good in the cups, beating Pwllheli 1-0 last weekend in the NEWFA quarter-finals.
Denbigh’s hopes will depend on the strength of team they are able to field.

Division Two

Holywell v Pwllheli

Match off

Mountain Rangers v Caernarfon Town

The worst casualties of the winter weather and raft of postponements have been Mountain Rangers, without a game in 12 weeks.
They hope to finally return to action on Sunday when struggling Caernarfon are the expected visitors.

Penrhyn Bay v Llanberis

Llanberis may have lost at second-place NFA last weekend, but they performed really well.
If they can repeat that showing away to Penrhyn Bay, the Darans are definitely capable of getting a good result.
But Bay’s confidence will have been lifted by last Sunday’s 8-0 triumph over Holywell.

NEWFA Cup quarter-final
Rhyl v Amlwch Town

These two will try again after last weekend’s scheduled meeting at Ffordd Derwen was called off with the pitch reported unplayable.
Good contest on the cards with Rhyl showing up well in Division One and goal machines Amlwch in total command at the Division Two summit.