JD Welsh Cup north previews – Friday, September 24

JD WELSH CUP THIRD ROUND TIES – WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 24/25

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Caernarfon Town v Prestatyn Town
Colwyn Bay v Ruthin Town
Conwy Borough v The New Saints

PREVIEWS

Colwyn Bay v Ruthin Town (7.45 pm)

Home sweet home for the Bay as seven of the club’s last eight cup games were played away.

Bay manager Craig Hogg is hoping for another big crowd at the 4 Crosses Arena, with the recent league win over Prestatyn Town attracting over 700 fans.

“The fans can play their part yet again this Friday night and in turn we want to give them a performance and result they can be proud of,” Hogg said.

Ruthin were 1-0 winners at the Bay in the league at the end of July and have kept clean sheets in their last two fixtures, against Holyhead and Llanrhaeadr, in a three-match winning run.

Admission prices, which will also apply for Registered Supporters and Season Ticket holders under Welsh Cup rule, are Adults; £8 (Concessions: £4); Students (With proof of ID): £4; Under-16s: £3; Under-12s: £2.

The club have also confirmed extra food and drink provisions on Friday night with an extra Moretti bar set up, Nino’s Ice Cream van as well as Virgilio’s doing a barbecue supplied by Poynton’s the butchers.
More information on: http://www.colwynbayfc.co.uk

Caernarfon Town v Prestatyn Town (7.45 pm)

These North Wales foes used to meet on a regular basis in the Welsh Premier and Cymru Alliance, but have not clashed in the league since Prestatyn were crowned champions of the second tier in 2016-17 and did the double over the Cofis.

The pair did lock horns in the Welsh Cup as recently as 2018-19, when Cymru Premier Caernarfon triumphed 3-0 at Cymru North Prestatyn.

The Seasiders gained revenge the season after, celebrating a 4-1 victory at The Oval in the Nathaniel MG Cup.

Caernarfon appear to be in much the better shape of the two teams ahead of tonight’s Welsh Cup tussle, lying fifth in the Cymru Premier, although they did crash out of the Nathaniel MG Cup by a 5-0 margin at Newtown in midweek.

Huw Griffiths will want a positive response this evening from his Canaries.

Prestatyn’s form is on the downturn. They are 10th in the 16-team Cymru North, but do have master front man Jamie Reed in the ranks – a true match-winner on his day.

MOST RECENT MEETINGS
2016/17 Cymru Alliance: Prestatyn Town 3 Caernarfon Town 2; Caernarfon Town 1 Prestatyn Town 4.
Dec 7, 2018 – Welsh Cup: Prestatyn Town 0 Caernarfon Town 3 (Noah Edwards, Cai Jones 2)
Sep 24, 2019 – Nathaniel MG Cup: Caernarfon Town 1 (Sion Bradley) Prestatyn Town 4 (Jack Kenny 2, Jordan Davies 2)

Conwy Borough v The New Saints (7.45 pm)

Conwy manager Matty Jones is in a positive mood ahead of his team’s ultra-tough Welsh Cup tie against Cymru Premier leaders The New Saints.

Boro are currently eighth in tier 2 Cymru North, but are without a win in five league outings.
TNS reached the third round with a 6-0 win against Llanrwst United at Park Hall, whereas the Tangerines progressed following a 3-2 home victory against Cefn Albion of tier 3..

Conwy chief Jones said: “We’re all really excited about the game against TNS. The thing we all want is to have the opportunity to test ourselves against the best and at this point in time TNS are the best in the country. The players have worked hard to prepare for this game and we feel in good shape and up for the challenge.”

The last time these two met in the Welsh Cup was 2013-14 when Borough gave TNS a real battle before the full-timers and eventual competition winners triumphed 2-1 in extra time.

The previous season, Boro took their Welsh Premier opponents to an added half-hour again, this time Saints winning 3-1.