Football

NWCFA Intermediate Challenge Cup semi-finals – check out who plays who

Meliden (orange) and Kinmel Bay in action in a recent nine-goal thriller. Meliden edged it 5-4. Can either side reach this season’s NWCFA Intermediate Challenge Cup Final? Can both? Picture: BARRY GRIFFITHS

Menai Bridge Tigers face a tough assignment to reach this season’s NWCFA Intermediate Challenge Cup final.

Sole flag-bearers for the North Wales Coast West League in the last four, the Anglesey side have drawn renowned cup battlers Meliden in the semis.

Already in this season’s Intermediate Cup, Deej Hobson’s Meliden have knocked out long-time jinx team Prestatyn Sports, won a penalties thriller against Mynydd Llandegai and triumphed away at noted cup fighters Llanrug United.

The Bridge have seen off Aberffraw, Pentraeth and, in their best performance to date, prevailed 3-0 at Pwllheli in the quarter-finals.

The other semi-final is an all North Wales Coast East Premier Division tussle between Kinmel Bay and St Asaph City.

Saints top their table and are still unbeaten in 12 matches. In all competitions, they have lost just twice in 16 starts, to Llandudno Albion in the Welsh Cup and Flint Mountain in the FAW Amateur Trophy.

They have already defeated Kinmel Bay three times this season, home and away in the league as well as in the Cookson Cup.

So, Bay look to be up against it on current form, but this semi-final is not scheduled until March and a lot can happen between now and then.

To reach the semis, Kinmel have recorded fantastic wins over Nefyn United, Gwalchmai and Llandudno Junction.

NWCFA INTERMEDIATE CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW

Kinmel Bay v St Asaph City

Menai Bridge Tigers v Meliden

(Ties to be played Saturday, March 4, 1.30 pm)

NWCFA INTERMEDIATE CHALLENGE CUP 2022-23 RESULTS

Round One

St Asaph City 4-0 CPD Llannerchymedd
Meliden 3-2 Prestatyn Sports
Llandyrnog United 0-3 CPD Mynydd Llandegai
CPD Pwllheli 2-1 CPD Llanberis
CPD Llansannan 6-4 Amlwch Town
CPD Cerrigydrudion 2-3 Gwalchmai
Kinmel Bay 2-1 Llandudno Junction
Menai Bridge Tigers 5-4 CPD Aberffraw
Glantraeth 5-1 CPD Bro Cernyw
CPD Nefyn United 5-1 CPD Penrhyndeudraeth
CPD Llannefydd 8-0 Llanfairfechan Town
Byes: Penmaenmawr Phoenix, Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs, CPD Pentraeth, Llanrug United, Mochdre Sports

Round Two

CPD Llansannan 0-4 CPD Pwllheli
CPD Pentraeth 1-5 Menai Bridge Tigers
Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs 0-2 CPD Nefyn United
CPD Llannefydd 2-3 Llanrug United
CPD Mynydd Llandegai 4-4 (AET) Meliden (Meliden 4-3 on pens)
Kinmel Bay 5-0 Gwalchmai
Glantraeth 0-3 St Asaph City
Penmaenmawr Phoenix 1-3 Mochdre Sports