Grassroots North Wales’ top 10 Welsh Cup upsets of 2022

NORTH WALES’ TOP 10 WELSH CUP UPSETS IN 2022

1 – Llandudno Amateurs 2-0 Bodedern Athletic – Aug 20 QR2

Tier 5 Amateurs stunned third-tier Bodedern with a tremendous performance at the OPS Wind Arena.

Goals from Azz Rogers and Gaz Sharp (penalty) sealed the win for the North Wales Coast East Division One underdogs at the expense of opponents who had stormed to the tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division title the season before.

Chris Jones missed a penalty for Bodedern, for whom this result sparked the beginning of the end as the loss of key players and a tier 3 transfer window preventing them from signing new ones led to their folding in December.

2 – Trearddur Bay 3-1 Nantlle Vale – July 30 QR1

This was an amazing result for tier 5 Trearddur Bay over Nantlle, who went on to temporarily top the tier 3 Ardal North West League.

Vale were soundly beaten by Trearddur, 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 – Rhos Aelwyd 0-2 FC Queen’s Park – Aug 20 QR2

Tremendous show from tier 4 Queen’s Park, who went to Rhos Aelwyd, sitting near the top of tier three Ardal North East, and claimed a magnificent victory.

A Liam Davies double ensured strong favourites Aelwyd were dumped out of the Welsh Cup.

Every single Queen’s Park player did his job and it was Davies who took centre stage with goals on 52 and 86 minutes.

4 – Brickfield Rangers 1-3 Llansannan – Aug 20 QR2

No-one could deny this was a fantastic result for tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division mid-table side Llansannan against a team riding high in tier 3 Ardal North West.

Lewys Jones (2) and Leon Gierke earned the underdogs a tremendous success over a strong home outfit which took a 55th minute lead through Andy Vale only for the Cae Chwarae Maes Gogor to turn the tables and record one of their finest achievements in many years.

5 – Connah’s Quay Nomads 0–2 Colwyn Bay – Feb 19

Surely Bay’s finest moment since they returned to the Welsh football pyramid in 2019-20.

The Seagulls from tier 2 Cymru North reached the Welsh Cup semi-finals for the fourth time in their history with a marvellous away success at the then top-tier Cymru Premier champions Nomads.

Cheered on by a magical travelling support, Ryan Edwards edged the visitors ahead with a tremendous 63rd minute goal before James Kirby added a second on 66.

6 – CPD Cefni 3-2 Menai Bridge Tigers – July 30 QR1

Tier 5 outsiders Cefni twice came from behind to win this thriller at Isgraig.

Luke Miles (2) and winning goal-scorer Gruffudd Huws clinched it for the North Wales Coast West Division One hosts, James Burgess and Callum Thomas with the replies for North Wales Coast West Premier Division Tigers.

7 – Barry Town 0-2 Gresford Athletic – Nov 12 R3

What a fantastic performance from Gresford Athletic.

Very much second favourites as they made the long trip to South Wales to take on Tier 2 JD Cymru South leaders Barry, Eddie Maurice-Jones’ side, one off the bottom of the JD Cymru North, returned home as heroic winners at Jenner Park.

More than holding their own for the first hour, it was in the 63rd minute when the Wrexham-area visitors finally found the opener, Charlie Mann tapping in a rebound.

Jacob Barratt secured the win for Athletic, doubling their lead in the third minute of added time, meaning they progressed into the fourth round/last 16 with an incredible win.

8 – Llandyrnog United 0-2 Llandudno Amateurs – July 30 QR1

Tier 5 win away at tier 4 high-flyers. The Amateurs have upset the apple cart more than once this season.

Goals from Kyle Johnson and Harry Montgomery secured the Amateurs victory in a tie they could have won more emphatically.
Chris Smyth missed a penalty for the visitors, who had Ben Hayward red-carded in the 90th minute. Dyrny’s Jacob Jones was sent off for a second yellow after 64.

9 – Trearddur Bay 1-1 Llanfairfechan Town (Trearddur 5-3 pens) – Aug 20 QR2

Another notable win for Trearddur Bay over a team from a higher level, but the Anglesey side had to go all the way to penalties before eventually taking their place in round one.

Nick Dumbarton’s side, who eliminated tier 3 Nantlle Vale in the previous round, went a goal down at Lon Isallt when Ellis Jones gave Llanfair a 16th minute lead.

Adam Morris made it one-apiece in the 63rd minute before being shown a red card after 70.

The 10 men held on for spot-kicks, coming out on top 5-3.

Asa Thomas, Mel McGinness, Sol Williams, Josh Evans and Mike Edwards all converted for the Beach Boys.

Konner Druce pulled off a superb penalty stop for the hosts.

10 – Rhostyllen 3-3 New Brighton Villa (3-4 pens) – July 30 QR1

Tier 4 Villa were overjoyed at this giant-killing as they eliminated T3 Rhostyllen on penalties.

Scott Davies (2) and Matthew Robinson struck for the visitors in normal time, Lee McBurney, Will Roberts and an own goal making up the Ardal North West side’s responses.