Dave Jones looks at some of the Welsh Cup first qualifying round’s most attractive ties

Early stages of major knockout competitions do not always deliver a host of mouth-watering ties, but there are some cracking contests in store in the first qualifying round of the 2023/24 Welsh Cup.

Two of the 36 matches covering North West/Central and North East involving clubs from tiers 3, 4 and 5 stood out to me immediately – Bethesda Athletic v Llanrwst United and Pwllheli v Llangefni Town.

Both games have a real aura, worthy of featuring at a much later stage of the tournament.

Pwllheli and Bethesda boast proud histories which include many past appearances in the FA Cup.

The Llŷn Peninsula club made the Welsh Cup quarter-finals several times across the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s – and that was when Wales’ biggest teams competed in it.

Pesda also reached the last eight of the Welsh Cup in 1968-69 before Cardiff City proved too strong for them.

Both these sleeping giants are on the up. They occupied the top two places in the tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division last season and are promoted to Ardal North West for 2023-24.

Llangefni Town are also past Welsh Cup quarter-finalists and have twice won the tier 2 Cymru Alliance title and spent a season in the Welsh Premier.

Seeing them this early in our national knockout does seem a little strange, but they are tier 3 at present and aiming to regain past glories.

As for Llanrwst, they have always held their own in tier 3 and enjoyed some great cup runs down the years.

Another tie which stirred my interest is ambitious tier 5 outfit Bow FC against Penmaenmawr Phoenix of T4.

New club Bow, based in Prestatyn, only formed last season but showed a lot of promise and narrowly missed out on the prizes.

This season they are determined to be challenging on many fronts having signed some tremendous talent including ex-Welsh Premier star Robbie Parry and a number of ex-Prestatyn Sports men including proven goal-getter Mike Jones (Smurf), the prolific Ian Griffiths, inspirational defender Shane Middleman, midfield maestro James Harper and rock-solid defender Dan Grindley.

Not only that, they have also recruited evergreen centre-back Shaheen “Twinny” Ahmed.

Bow could cause an upset in the cup, but their opponents Penmaenmawr are an experienced outfit on a high, having finished fourth in the North Wales Coast East Premier Division last season.

New management team Aaron Keating, Dion Jones and Ryan Neal look a great fit who have already brought in quality additions Lee Stokes, Dani McIlvogue, Logan Williams, Ben Jarvis and Elliot Jarvis.

Last season’s top-scorer, the outstanding Ricky Jones, was named North Wales Coast East Premier Player of the Year for 2023-24, and he will be a key man again.

There are derbies aplenty, with the all-Anglesey affair Glantraeth v Gwalchmai one of the most eye-catching.

Gwalch edged past Glan in the North Wales Coast West Premier Division Cup semi-final on penalties last term, so the Bodorgan boys will be out for revenge.

How will Glan deal with last season’s teenage goal machine Connor Owen? Well, in captain Dion Evans they have one of Ynys Môn’s best defenders.

Llangoed versus Llanfairpwll is another all-island battle worth keeping an eye on.

The ever-dangerous Marquis Holland will be a threat up front for ‘Pwll, but how will Llangoed’s exciting new defender Onix Bucknor settle in?

Menai Bridge Tigers will relish the chance to take on last season’s Central Wales League North Division runners-up Barmouth and Dyffryn, who have been promoted to tier 3.

This will be tier 4 Tigers’ first-ever home Welsh Cup tie and they have to be fancied to push Bermo hard.

Two ambitious, go-ahead tier 4 sides will lock horns when Meliden welcome Kinmel Bay to The Mine.

Both are building strong squads ahead of 2023-24 and the Miners know they might have their hands-full dealing with Bay’s 37-goal hero of last campaign Connor Morris.

A repeat of last season’s REM Jones Cup final sees CPD Y Glannau home to Abergele.

Gele won that final 5-3 and as North Wales Coast East Division One champions are now in the Premier.

Glannau are a level below, but could be a threat at home, especially with last season’s 62-goal leading marksman Harrison Bellis on the team-sheet.

CPD Y Felinheli will want to avoid a potential banana skin when tier 4 newcomers Trearddur Bay visit the third-tier Ardal North West club.

Cup upset specialists Bay could have last season’s highest goalscorer in North Wales, Asa Thomas, who struck 75 times, in their ranks.

Newcomers Boded will no doubt be looking forward to a few cup away days in their first season and they come no more attractive than a long journey to Blaenau Ffestiniog and their picturesque Cae Clyd ground.

Tier 5 Cefni are sure to enjoy their lengthy trip to the Llŷn to face Nefyn United, who are always a tough proposition at their Cae’r Delyn ground.

As for North East Wales, Penycae v Rhostyllen has all the makings of a great battle between two of the Wrexham area’s most distinguished clubs.

Rhostyllen have dropped into tier 4 this season, but could never be discounted against their Ardal North East hosts.

Rhydymwyn v CPD Gronant, who won their first trophy last term, looks like it could be an interesting one, as is the prospect of Caerwys v Corwen.

Caerwys are on the up, having earned promotion to the North East Wales Premier this season, while Corwen are at the same level but are dropping down from tier 3.

It is unlikely these two will have played each other very often, but it might end up a battle royale, with Caerwys making numerous new signings this summer and Corwen under new management.

FAW WELSH CUP QUALIFYING ROUND ONE DRAWS

(ties to be played weekend of July 29)

NORTH WEST/CENTRAL (26 TIES)

Aberffraw v Penrhyndeudraeth

Amlwch Town v Llanrug United

Bethesda Athletic v Llanrwst United

Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs v Boded

Bow FC v Penmaenmawr Phoenix

Caer Clwyd v Rhos United

Cemaes Bay v Talysarn Celts

Cerrigydrudion v Llandudno Amateurs

Glan Conwy v Rhuddlan Town

Glantraeth v Gwalchmai

Holyhead Town v Bethesda Rovers

Llanberis v Bontnewydd

Llandudno Junction v Llannefydd

Llandyrnog United v Bro Cernyw

Llangoed v Llanfairpwll

Llannerchymedd v Nantlle Vale

Llysfaen v Llansannan

Meliden v Kinmel Bay

Menai Bridge Tigers v Barmouth and Dyffryn

Mochdre Sports v Llanfairfechan Town

Nefyn United v Cefni

NFA v Penrhyn Bay

Pwllheli v Llangefni Town

Rhyl Dragons v St Asaph City

CPD Y Felinheli v Trearddur Bay

CPD Y Glannau v Abergele

NORTH EAST WALES (10 ties)

Brickfield Rangers v Saltney Town

Caerwys v Corwen

Coedpoeth United v Llangollen Town

Connah’s Quay Town v Mynydd Isa

Greenfield v Castell Alun Colts

Holywell United v Llay Welfare

Penycae v Rhostyllen

Rhos Aelwyd v Overton Recreational

Rhydymwyn v CPD Gronant

Yr Wyddgrug v Hawarden Rangers