How does Llandudno Amateurs beating of Boded rank among Welsh Cup upsets of recent years?

Over the past three years, since Grassroots North Wales was founded, we have reported on some eyebrow-raising Welsh Cup upsets of Roger Moore proportions.

We’ve witnessed a tremendous amount of shocks in the period 2019-22, despite the fact we lost one whole season to Covid and a fair chunk of another (we reached the semi-final stages of the 2019-20 competition before it was cancelled due to the pandemic).

So, how does Saturday’s 2-0 win for Llandudno Amateurs versus Bodedern Athletic rate among the list of shocks?

Pretty high in our opinion, here’s our top 10 stunners….

1 Llandudno Amateurs 2 Bodedern Athletic 0 (Aug 20, 2022 – qualifying round 2)

Tier 5 Amateurs were not expected by most to trouble strong tier 3 side Bodedern at Maesdu Park.

Athletic had set an all-time Welsh Cup record in the last round, their 17-0 caning of Gaerwen the biggest win ever achieved by a North Wales team in the 145-year history of the national knockout.

But they were unable to score once against the Amateurs, who took the lead in the 79th minute through an Azz Rogers missile before Gaz Sharp added an injury time penalty.

2 Trearddur Bay 3 Nantlle Vale 1 (July 30, 2022 – qualifying round 1)

This was an amazing result for tier 5 Trearddur Bay, perhaps not enough was made of it at the time.

Since losing at Lon Isallt, Nantlle Vale have gone top of the tier 3 Ardal North West League!

Yet they were soundly beaten by Trearddur, currently operating two levels below in North Wales Coast West Division One.

Asa Thomas marked his competitive return to the Anglesey club with a double, while Marcus Bell scored a single. Alwyn Roberts provided Nantlle’s late consolation.

3 Nefyn United 7 Mynydd Llandegai 4 (Sep 28, 2019 – QR2)

Magnificent Nefyn eliminated opponents playing two levels above as they emerged 7-4 victors against Mynydd Llandegai.

Carl Jones (3), Steve Jones (2), Dylan Sion Jones and Iolo Jones shared the Penwaig’s tally. Keeping up with the Jones’s was impossible that day for Mynydd.

United were in the Gwynedd League at the time, while Llandegai were a comfortable mid-table team in Welsh Alliance Division One.

4 Bangor 1876 6 Penrhyndeudraeth 2 (Sep 28, 2019 – QR2)

A phenomenal result really considering 1876 were a newly-formed team playing in the tier 5 Gwynedd League, while Penrhyndeudraeth were an established tier 3 Welsh Alliance Division One outfit.

The only reason this doesn’t rank higher is the fact the Bangor team had signed a number of high quality players, most belonging at a higher level. 1876 went on to lift the Gwynedd League title with a 100% record.

The fact Les Davies scored four and Dylan Summers-Jones two against Penrhyn perhaps puts things a little more into perspective.

5 Denbigh Town 2 Mynydd Isa Spartans 3 (Sep 28, 2019 – QR2)

Mynydd Isa produced one of the performances of the 2019-20 season when they triumphed 3-2 at Welsh Alliance Division One leaders Denbigh Town.

Kallum Pierce was chief hero for the Welsh National League Division One underdogs with a hat-trick, but it was a tremendous all-round performance from James Hollyoak’s side. Jacob Walker and Shon Jones replied for Denbigh.

6 Connah’s Quay Nomads 0 Colwyn Bay 2 (Feb 19, 2022 – Quarter-Final)

Bay have the class to beat anyone on their day, but to win 2-0 at the Cymru Premier champions and look clinical and efficient in doing it made this one particularly special.

Andy Coughlin saved a penalty from Nomads’ usually ultra-dependable Callum Morris early in the second half before two goals in three minutes clinched the Seagulls’ success.

Ryan Edwards rounded off a great run and turn with a cracking shot in over the keeper to put the Cymru North underdogs ahead, then James Kirby burst forward before his deflected effort made it two.

7 Llanrhaeadr 3 Saltney Town 5 (Sep 4, 2021 – Round Two)

Tier 3 Ardal North West visitors Saltney led 3-1 at Cymru North favourites Llan, were pegged back to 3-3, but the underdogs kicked on to win a thrilling tie.

Tom Gale’s goal gave the hosts a half-time lead, but Town turned the game on its head after the break, Tommy Booth, Ryan McCleary (pen) and Jordan O’Brien putting them two ahead after 78 minutes.

The drama was only just about to start. Two own goals in a minute from Steve Chiocchi and Jack Roberts made it 3-3.

The end for Saltney? Not a bit of it, added time net-finders from McCleary and Chiocchi taking them through.

8 Bangor 1876 3 Penycae 3 (1876 won 3-2 pens. Oct 19, 2019, R1)

Again this one rates a little lower than it might as 1876 had such a classy squad.

All the same, the hosts played in tier 5 and the visitors third-tier.

Anthony Dunleavy fired Penycae into a third-minute lead, but 1876 soon levelled via a Jamie Petrie penalty.

No further goals until the 77th minute when a Dunleavy cracker edged the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier side back in front.

From the final kick of the match, deep into injury time, Matthew Lock sparked wild celebrations among the home contingent with an equaliser.

Substitute Evan Woodall handed Pen the lead for a third time with a goal in the first period of extra time, but a second Petrie penalty made it 3-3 and spot kicks were needed.

1876 edged a nervy shoot-out 3-2, Dunleavy rattling the bar with Penycae’s final kick.

9 Flint Town 2 Bala Town 0 (Dec 6, 2019 – R3)

Niall McGuinness’ best result in his tenure as Flint manager.

The Cymru North underdogs saw off Cymru Premier favourites Bala thanks to goals from Callum Bratley (31 minutes) and Andrew Brown (88).

The Lakesiders, who had Lassana Mendes sent off just before half time, had a glut of chances after the break, but it wasn’t their day.

10 Saltney Town 1 Penrhyncoch 1 (Saltney won 4-2 pens. Sep 25, 2021 – R3)

Saltney became the sole remaining flag-bearers for tier 3 in the 2021-22 Welsh Cup after seeing off Cymru North Penrhyncoch on penalties at Sandy Lane.

Steffan Gittins gave the visitors a 21st minute lead which looked to have been enough until Ryan McCleary equalised in added time at the end of the 90 to force a shoot-out.

Jake Gibbons, Addie Callaghan, Steve Chiocchi and McCleary put away the kicks which sealed a famous win for the Bordermen,

10 MORE WELSH CUP UPSETS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

1 Trearddur Bay United 3 Mold Alexandra 0 (August 28, 2010 – second qualifying round)

Asa Thomas notched a brilliant hat-trick to put Anglesey League underdogs Trearddur Bay into the Welsh Cup first round proper at the expense of mighty Mold.
In a huge upset, United comfortably eliminated a team which played three levels above them in the Welsh National League Premier Division – and had been in the second-tier Cymru Alliance the previous season.
Thomas was to score a mind-blowing 112 goals in all competitions that 2010-11 campaign.

2 UWIC 4 Bala Town 1 (January 29, 2011 – round four)

Beaten semi-finalists the previous season, Bala finished with nine men as they suffered a shock Welsh Cup exit at the hands of the Cardiff students from three levels below in Welsh League Division Three..
Town had winger Mike Thompson sent off on the half-hour and debutant Mark Connolly dismissed for his second booking right at the end.
Chris Mason had given Bala the lead, but UWIC then took over, Lewis Murray (2), Sam Carrington and Ed Jones seeing them to a prestigious victory.

3 Greenfield 2 Llandudno Amateurs 5 (September 29, 2018 – qualifying round two)

Vale of Clwyd and Conwy Premier Division huge underdogs Llandudno Amateurs pulled off a sensational giant-killing as they thrashed strong favourites Greenfield 5-2 in the Welsh Cup.
Martin Hughes (2), Aidan Bell, Steve Kirk and Joe Jones shared the goals for the visitors, who stunned opponents operating two levels above in the Welsh Alliance Division One.

4 Holywell Town 3 Newtown 2 (February 22, 2014 – round four)

Welsh Alliance Holywell celebrated a stunning upset over Welsh Premier League outfit Newtown at Halkyn Road.
Paul Williams, Sam Jones and Steve Thomas scored the goals which put the Wellmen three-up at half time.
Tom Goodwin and Matthew Hearsey replied for the Robins in the second period, but Town held on for a famous win.
John Haseldin’s side went on to create history by becoming the first tier-three club ever to reach the Welsh Cup semi-finals, the Wellmen’s fairytale run ending with a 3-1 loss to Aberystwyth Town.

5 Bangor City 0 Glantraeth 0 (Glantraeth won 7-6 on pens) (October 4, 2003 – round two)

Remember the day when Les Davies knocked Bangor City out of the Welsh Cup?
A then 18-year-old Davies played at the time for Cymru Alliance side Glantraeth, the vast majority of whose players lived within a mile or two of Farrar Road.
Davies terrorised the City defence throughout before eventually being sent off for kicking out at Alan Goodall.
No goals in 120 minutes so it went to spot-kicks, and after Rae Ingram missed for the Citizens, the underdogs put away the decisive 13th penalty of the shoot-out.

6 Ton Pentre 1 Rhyl 0 (November 4, 2006 – round three)

An 88th minute goal from Alun Jones gave Welsh League minnows Ton Pentre a memorable and deserved victory over cup holders Rhyl at Ynys Park.
The Lilywhites were frustrated by an excellent performance from experienced home keeper Marty Ellacott.

7 Port Talbot 0 Halkyn United 1 (November 6, 2004 – round three)

Cup games can produce unlikely scorelines – and unlikely heroes – so step forward Halkyn United’s defence for shutting out their Welsh Premier opponents.
The Cymru Alliance mid-table side were not given much chance at Victoria Road, but produced one of the best results in the club’s history.
The Halkyn back four, with captain Julian Jones in charge in the centre, proved to be rock solid, in contrast to their league form.
Halkyn had the three best chances, starting with the winner on the half-hour from Nathan Jones.

8 Llanrhaeadr YM 3 Cefn Druids 2 (December 6, 2017 – round three)

Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant of the third-tier Spar Mid Wales League dumped out shell-shocked Welsh Premier opponents in Cefn Druids, who had made such an impressive start to the campaign.
Goals from Iwan Matthews (2) and Khyam Wyton meant Llanrhaeadr secured one of the finest – if not THE greatest – result in their history as they downed the Ancients 3-2.

9 Llangefni Town 1 Llanelli Town 0 (December 8, 2018 – third round)

Llangefni of the Welsh Alliance League caused the biggest shock of the Welsh Cup third round that season as they beat Welsh Premier League side Llanelli 1-0 at Lon Talwrn.
The tier-three side were full value for the win, causing their visitors problems throughout. The only goal of the game was scored in the 20th minute by Alan Mark Owen.

10 Holyhead Hotspur 2 Bangor City 1 (December 8, 2015 – third round)

What a night it was at a weather-beaten New Stadium as underdogs Hotspur struck late to dump eight-time competition winners Bangor out of the Welsh Cup.
City were still in the Welsh Premier, although not as strong as in previous seasons, while Holyhead, mid-table in the Huws Gray Alliance, had Campbell Harrison at the helm.
After a goal-less first half, the visitors grabbed the lead through Matty Woodward, but the hosts kept battling and equalised when Rhys Roberts scrambled the ball home from close range.
Extra time was looming before Dean Garmey bagged the winner to send the home fans delirious.