Previews: How many North Wales teams can progress in the FAW Amateur Trophy this Saturday?

FAW AMATEUR TROPHY ROUND FOUR PREVIEWS (last 32 – 2 pm ko’s)

TIES TO BE PLAYED SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 19

CPD Aberffraw v Nantlle Vale

There is always added interest whenever Aberffraw are involved in a cup tie, especially in national competitions.

That is because the Anglesey side have been one of North Wales’ greatest giant-killers of recent years, regularly knocking out higher tier teams in both the FAW Amateur Trophy and Welsh Cup.

Tier 4 Berffro have the chance of another upset on Saturday at home to Nantlle Vale of the third-tier Ardal North West.

Nantlle have already been victims of a major shock this season when they went down 3-1 at tier 5 side Trearddur Bay in the Welsh Cup.

And Aberffraw have recorded one previous surprise result in the 2022-23 Trophy, beating tier-three visitors Rhayader Town in round three.

Bangor 1876 v Llay Welfare

Bangor need only think back to their home league meeting with Llay in August to realise Saturday’s tie at Treborth will be anything but easy.

1876 were two-down to the Wrexham side before a Corrig McGonigle second-half double earned them a 2-2 draw from a hard-fought Ardal North West battle.

Llay are also third in the ANW, so with Bangor currently top, this last 32 Trophy meeting between the close rivals has the makings of a good contest.

Bethesda Athletic v Penydarren Seniors BGC

This has to be one of the ties of the round.

Tier 4 Bethesda Athletic, the club with an illustrious past now very much on the comeback trail to glory against Wales’ most famous underdog cup kings of recent years, Merthyr Tydfil based Penydarren.

Pesda are currently top of the North Wales Coast West Premier having won promotion as Division One runners-up last term. They also lifted the Division One Cup, their first trophy in many years.

Bethesda used to compete in the FA Cup and FA Trophy, reached the Welsh Cup quarter-finals in 1968-69, won the Welsh Alliance League title three times and competed in the Cymru Alliance.

Under Mark N Hughes, they are rising again with an exciting young squad at their disposal.

Penydarren are best known for making it to the Welsh Cup quarter-finals in 2017-18 as a tier 5 club before Bangor City proved one bridge too far.

They made the FAW Trophy final in 2019-20, but the game against Llandudno Albion was never played due to the pandemic.

Penydarren also lifted the Welsh Football League Challenge Cup in 2018-19 and now compete in the tier 3 Ardal South West. They are also into the last 16 of the 2022-23 Welsh Cup.

Watch out for the larger than life figure of Christopher Colvin-Owens – the face of Penydarren BGC.

Denbigh Town v Rockspur Fords

Current Swansea Senior League Division One champions and unbeaten leaders this season, Rockspur Fords should provide tough opposition for Denbigh Town.

The Rockies won a domestic quadruple at their tier 5 level last season and made the FAW Trophy semis, knocking out Cefn Albion 3-0 before losing to competition winners Mold Alexandra by the same score in the last four.

Denbigh, of tier 3 Ardal North West, are on a run of five games without defeat and lie sixth in their league.

Hakin United v Trearddur Bay

Trearddur Bay may have been in touch with Holywell Town this week!

The Wellmen thrashed Trearddur’s Trophy opponents Hakin 5-1 last Saturday in the Welsh Cup to reach the last 16.

In fairness, Holywell are tier 2 and Hakin tier 5, so the Flintshire visitors will have been favourites for that one, but Saturday’s clash could be much closer with both combatants playing at level 5 on the pyramid.

Hakin are Pembrokeshire League Division One champions, while Bay are flying high in Division One of the North Wales Coast West League.

Trearddur have been fantastic in the Trophy this season, beating three teams from higher standard to make the last 32 – Glan Conwy (2-1), Penmaenmawr Phoenix (4-1) and Llannefydd (2-0), the last victory really was something special.

Hakin will no doubt be wary of the striking talents of Bay’s Asa Thomas, who passed the 600 career goals milestone recently and is on 23 for the current season.

Nick Dumbarton’s squad has many other fine players, though, and this tie could end up pretty close.

Mochdre Sports v Llanberis

With the last 32 unexpectedly being announced an open draw this season, it has meant some long journeys needing to be planned by clubs across Wales.

Fortunately for Mochdre Sports and Llanberis, they will contest one of the more manageable distance ties.

Both sides are doing well in their respective tier 4 divisions – Mochdre eighth (but having played fewer games than the rest) in North Wales Coast East Premier and Llanberis fourth in the West Premier, having lost just once in the league.

The Darans are tricky opponents, always capable of causing a shock having already seen off Kinmel Bay, Abergele and tier 3 stars Caersws in the Trophy.

Mochdre celebrated a tremendous win over tier 3 Ardal North West title hopefuls Llanfair United in the last round.
Great tie in the offing.

Nefyn United v South Gower

Tier 4 West Wales Premier League leaders South Gower should be more than capable of providing Nefyn with a big test.

The Swansea-area, from Scurlage to be precise, visitors have won their last eight matches in a row so should make the trip to Cae’r Delyn full of confidence.

Llŷn Peninsula versus Gower Peninsula has a nice ring to it – beautiful Wales.

Nefyn caused a shock by eliminating CPD Y Rhyl 1879 in the last round of the Trophy.

They are mid-table in the North Wales Coast West Premier and will be majorly fired-up to make it into the final 16.

RTB Ebbw Vale v Rhos Aelwyd

Although RTB Ebbw Vale are in tier 3, they are currently struggling in the Ardal South East League, lying next to bottom with just one win in 10.

But the Hilltop Stadium side, promoted from the Gwent League Premier Division last season, have performed better in the Trophy, knocking out Abertillery Bluebirds, second in the Ardal South East, in the last round.

Rhos Aelwyd are doing well in tier 3 Ardal North East, sitting fourth at present, but their form of late has been inconsistent.

However, the Wrexham side have a good record in the Trophy, having reached the final as recently as 2018 as well as winning it in 2008.