Preview: Gwalchmai v Menai Bridge Tigers – tonight 6.30 pm

Match preview

Gwalchmai v Menai Bridge Tigers
Tier 4: North Wales Coast West Premier Division
Monday, July 5, 6.30 pm at Maes Meurig, Gwalchmai

Excitement aplenty is in store at Maes Meurig tonight as two of Anglesey’s finest teams clash for the first time in a new league.

Gwalchmai and Menai Bridge Tigers have actually won the NWCFA Junior Cup 13 times between them.

This evening, however, league points are at stake in the tier 4 North Wales Coast Premier Division.

Gwalchmai are under new management in former Llangefni Town goalkeeper Liam Ewing and Gwyndaf ‘Giamocs’ Davies.

The pair have recruited several signings, including defenders Joe Caven, Harry Jones and Callum Bulkeley, midfielders Guto ‘Beano’ Jones and James Hall plus attacking players Leo Owen, Connor Owen and Paul Jones.

Gwalch have produced mixed results in pre-season but manager Ewing is confident things are coming together nicely in time for the new campaign.

Menai Bridge Tigers (from club website)

It’s been a long wait for ‘proper’ football to return for the Tigers; 485 days since their last competitive match, a 2-1 win at Talysarn Celts in the NWCFA Junior Cup quarter-finals back in March 2020.

Tonight’s line-up is likely to look remarkably different from the side which booked a place in the semi-final that never was, with a few retirements being replaced by new faces.

Recent arrivals Callum Thomas, Robbie Jones and Liam Bibby could make their full Tigers debuts, while Sam Faulkner and Matty Hughes are available for their competitive return for Menai Bridge – the latter with a 15 year gap.

Last summer’s signings Craig Roberts and Paul Rowlands are in contention to make their long-awaited debuts for the Bridge, likewise Sion Hogan and goal machine Dean Redmond, who both returned to the Tigers last summer.

Manager Aaron Rowlands can only have been impressed by his team’s great form in friendlies thus far.

Up to 100 spectators are permitted tonight under FAW Covid regulations.

For anyone unable to attend there will be updates on the Menai Bridge website and Twitter as normal. You may also follow via the FAW’s new ‘Cymru Football’ app.