Will there be any Welsh Cup second round upsets this weekend? Check out these previews…
JD WELSH CUP ROUND TWO NORTH PREVIEWS (Saturday 2.30 pm unless stated)
Flint Mountain (T3) v Caernarfon Town (T1)
(Friday, 7.45 pm)
Since rising to tier 3 of the pyramid Flint Mountain have been involved in some pretty illustrious fixtures, but Friday’s home test against Caernarfon Town will be by far their biggest yet.
The Cymru Premier visitors will be playing on fairly familiar territory as Mountain ground share with top flight club Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium.
Mountain have had an average start to their Ardal North West campaign – two wins and three losses – but have recorded some decent cup wins against the likes of Llannefydd, St Asaph City and Llay Welfare.
Caernarfon are a whole different level, however, and have to be regarded as clear favourites for the win on Friday night.
Bow Street (T3) v Colwyn Bay (T2)
Tier 3 Bow Street had a great 6-5 win over Bangor 1876 in the previous round and are obviously a team capable of scoring plenty of goals based on this season’s displays.
However, they will not have faced a team of Colwyn Bay’s class this campaign.
Unbeaten and top of tier 2 Cymru North, Steve Evans’ side reached the Welsh Cup semis last season and will have their eye on another big run.
Caersws (T3) v Flint Town United (T1)
This is the game S4C have chosen as their live special.
Former Cymru Premier club Caersws now operate in tier three, whereas Flint’s status has risen in the other direction in recent times.
This could be a tricky one for the Silkmen. Caersws may not be the force they once were, but they always field strong teams and have players of great experience in the higher levels.
Chirk AAA (T2) v The New Saints (T1)
Two teams with impressive Welsh Cup records will meet at Holyhead Road.
Saints are the current holders and have lifted the cup eight times since 1996.
Chirk have won Wales’ premier national knockout on five occasions, but not since….1894.
Nonetheless, the Colliers are experiencing a fine period in their history, having reached the tier 2 Cymru North league this season.
Unfortunately for the hosts, they will not be able to field the on-fire Rhys Edwards as part of his loan deal from TNS, but Chirk still have some class players on offer.
And as we have witnessed in recent seasons, the Saints don’t always have it easy against lower league opponents in this competition.
Denbigh Town (T3) v Connah’s Quay Nomads (T1)
This tie will revive memories of the 2015-16 Word (Welsh League) Cup when a then tier 2 Denbigh made it all the way to the final, only to lose 2-0 to TNS.
In the semi-finals that season, Town caused a big upset by beating Cymru Premier side Connah’s Quay 1-0.
Since then, Denbigh have dropped into tier 3, while Nomads have won the Cymru Premier title twice, as well as lifting the Welsh Cup once, Nathaniel MG (formerly the Word) Cup twice in a row, won big games in Europe and reached the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup.
Nonetheless, Dewi Llion Jones’ hosts should give Neil Gibson’s top-flight outfit a good test at Central Park.
FC Queen’s Park (T4) v Airbus UK Broughton (T1)
The Park manager Dave Evans has labelled Saturday’s tie at The Dunks the biggest game in his team’s history.
Tier 4 Queen’s Park, of the North East Wales Premier Division, take on Cymru Premier side Airbus, who are bottom of the table, but nonetheless top-level opposition.
Evans said: “It is without doubt the biggest game in our 30 year history. We have had lots of special occasions but the chance to play a Welsh Prem side on our home pitch is unbelievable.”
The Park won their first nine games of 2022-23 and their run only came to an end last Saturday in the FAW Amateur Trophy against tier 3 Llanfair United. The Wrexham side led 2-0 but ended up gallant 3-2 losers.
CPD Y Felinheli (T3) v Conwy Borough (T2)
Tier 3 underdogs Felinheli cannot be discounted in this one.
Euron Davies’ team are quite a dangerous opponent at home and in Conwy they face a side struggling near the Cymru North basement, although they have won their last two games and will be fired-up to impress new manager Anthony Weaver.
Glantraeth (T4) v Cefn Druids (T2)
Another tie which will evoke memories of a past giant-killing.
Back in 2004-05, a Glantraeth team then in the Cymru Alliance caused a big upset when they knocked Welsh Premier visitors Druids out of the Welsh Cup with a 2-0 triumph.
Goalkeeper Paul Pritchard was a true hero for the Anglesey side that day.
Fast forward to 2022-23 and Glantraeth are operating in the tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier, while Druids are in the T2 Cymru North.
Glan have knocked out Bethesda Athletic, Barmouth and Dyffryn and Llansannan so far, but the Ancients are a different kettle of fish. Nonetheless, at home, you cannot dismiss the chance of an island shock.
Hawarden Rangers (T3) v Bala Town (T1)
In the sort of form they have been showing lately, including wins at Airbus and Newtown 6-0 and 2-0 respectively, it is hard to look past Bala in this one.
For Hawarden, of tier 3 Ardal North West, this could well be the biggest fixture in their history and for that reason alone they will be giving it absolutely everything.
Llandudno Albion (T3) v Buckley Town (T1)
Third bottom of tier 3 Ardal North West with home advantage against seventh-place in tier 2 Cymru North.
On paper, it would be easy to predict a straightforward win for Buckley at the OPS Wind Arena.
But Llandudno Albion are a team of battlers who can often produce something special in the cups. And they have a good record in penalty shoot-outs if it goes all the way.
Llanrug United (T4) v Gresford Athletic (T2)
Another interesting one as Llanrug United, next-to-bottom in tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier, host Gresford Athletic, who operate in tier 2 Cymru North but are at the basement.
Llanrug often show up well in the Welsh Cup, a 5-3 defeat to mighty Llanelli in 2007-08 a typical example, but can they throw the form book out of the window and see off a Gresford outfit not doing so well in the league, but who are performing well in the knockout competitions?
Llanuwchllyn (T3) v Holywell Town (T2)
With six league wins in a row and up to second in Cymru North, Holywell should have all the tools to win at Llanuwchllyn from a level below, but the village hosts will see a chance of a major upset if they can produce their best home form.
Mold Alexandra (T2) v Holyhead Hotspur (T2)
A repeat of last weekend’s Cymru North clash between these two sides.
That game at Holyhead ended 2-2 and the return at Alyn Park could be just as close, very possibly going to spot-kicks.
Penycae (T3) v Guilsfield (T2)
Guilsfield will have been boosted by last weekend’s 1-0 victory at Buckley which nudged them a little further away from the Cymru North danger zone.
Tier 3 Penycae have eliminated Saltney Town, Ruabon Rovers and Trearddur Bay so far, but Guils will be a much tougher proposition. One of the more likelier ties to deliver an upset though.
Prestatyn Town (T2) v Llandudno (T2)
Another all-Cymru North battle which could prove quite a contest.
Although Prestatyn have lost four out of their last five games they are developing into a decent side who pushed leaders Colwyn Bay hard in a 2-1 defeat last weekend.
Llandudno were a little deflated after a 1-0 home loss to Porthmadog which lost them vital ground in the early stages of the title race.
Could be a tie where one goal makes all the difference.
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 (T3) v Ruthin Town (T2)
Played nine, won nine so far for Rhyl 1879, but the visit of Ruthin to Belle Vue will present their hardest challenge so far this season.
After an erratic start to the campaign, Town have hit a good patch of form lately and are up to fifth in the Cymru North with wins over Mold Alexandra and Chirk AAA.
Potentially one of the ties of the round, with plenty of cases to make for an 1879 win, especially the confidence an unbeaten start will bring, but Ruthin are a cracking cup side and on current status alone have to be viewed as slight favourites.
The teams were involved in an entertaining pre-season friendly at Belle Vue which Ruthin won 3-1.