Previews of every FAW Amateur Trophy northern tie this weekend – yes, all of them
There will be 28 northern ties played in the third round of the FAW Amateur Trophy this weekend.
A total 128 clubs will participate in round three, made up of the 86 winners from round two, as well as the 42 Tier 3 clubs who were given byes.
The South pot is made up of 72 clubs (36 ties), while the North pot contains 56.
Here, Grassroots North Wales previews all 28 northern matches.
FAW AMATEUR TROPHY ROUND THREE NORTHERN (all Saturday 2 pm except Machynlleth v Bow Street)
TIER OF CLUB IN BRACKETS
Connah’s Quay Town (T4) v Hawarden Rangers (T3)
With Town joint top of the North East Wales League Premier Division and Hawarden bottom of Ardal North West, there must be a chance of an upset.
Conwy Borough (3) v Llandrindod Wells (3)
Conwy are 12th in Ardal North West and Llandrindod ninth in Ardal North East.
Llandrindod picked up a great draw at unbeaten Bow Street last weekend, but a home win on Saturday looks a decent bet.
Glantraeth (4) v Penmaenmawr Phoenix (4)
Phoenix are second in the North Wales Coast East Premier, but recently lost 6-0 at Tier 4 Trearddur Bay in the NWCFA Intermediate Cup.
Will it be another nightmare trip to Anglesey for Pen? Glantraeth have not started the season as well as perhaps expected, currently sitting fourth bottom in the North Wales Coast West Premier.
Holyhead Hotspur (3) v Corwen (4)
Cracker on the cards between a Holyhead side lying 10th in Ardal North West and a Corwen outfit with a 100% record in the North East Wales League Premier.
Corwen lost back-to-back cup ties to Bow Street and Penyffordd Lions this season before battering Tier 3 high-flyers Llansantffraid Village 6-0 in round two of the Trophy on September 30.
Hotspur will be on their guard, but at home are more than capable of a win.
Kinmel Bay (4) v Bow FC (5)
What a derby this could be between North Wales Coast East Premier Division mid-table Kinmel Bay and Division One East leaders Bow, who possess a perfect 7-0 record.
Bay are unbeaten in four, but face a big test against a Bow outfit on an 11-match winning streak in which they have amassed 68 goals. And they have Richard Hillier-Evans in goal – the Pink Panther.
Llanfair United (3) v Tywyn-Bryncrug (4)
Decent chance for unbeaten Central Wales League North visitors Tywyn-Bryncrug to claim a scalp from a level above.
Llanfairpwll (5) v Llanberis (4)
Two magnificent wins for Llanfairpwll already in this season’s Trophy – 4-1 at Bontnewydd and on penalties at home to higher-tier Talysarn Celts – can La Llanfair do it again?
Llanberis are a very tough proposition, being one of the strongest sides in the North Wales Coast West Premier.
Llangefni Town (3) v Tregaron Turfs (4)
The only Anglesey club ever to win the FAW Trophy take on Central Wales South hopefuls Tregaron.
Although much of their form is handy this season, Turfs did lose 10-2 at home to Tier 3 Llanuwchllyn in the Welsh Cup.
They will need a vast improvement on that showing if they are to lay a glove on Llangefni.
Llangollen Town (3) v NFA FC (4)
No major surprise if there is an upset here.
Tier 4 undefeated side NFA are flying this season, whereas Llangollen are third from bottom in Ardal North East.
Llannefydd (3) v Penrhyndeudraeth (4)
Ever-improving Ardal North West hosts Llannefydd should have the tools to see off Penrhyn, fifth from bottom of the North Wales Coast West Premier.
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant (3) v Dolgellau AA (3)
Dolgellau have already won 3-0 at Llanrhaeadr in the Ardal North East this season and if red-hot marksman Gerwyn Williams maintains his stunning form, an away win looks favourite.
Llanrwst United (3) v Bethesda Athletic (3)
The form book learns strongly towards a Llanrwst win in this all-Ardal North West tie at Gwydir Park.
Already this season, the Rwsters have won 4-1 at Pesda in the Welsh Cup and 5-1 at Parc Meurig in the league only last month.
Machynlleth v Bow Street (Friday)
As I write, Bow Street are 4-0 up with 84 minutes gone.
I predict a Bow Street win!
Meliden (4) v Llanrug United (4)
One of the ties of the round on paper.
North Wales Coast East Premier leaders Meliden welcome free-scoring North Wales Coast West Premier sixth-place club Llanrug to The Mine.
Matches involving ‘Rug this season tend to involve a lot of goals – not all of them in the opposition’s net. Expect a treat and a half.
Mochdre Sports (4) v Rhos Aelwyd (3)
North Wales Coast East Premier side Mochdre have every chance of overcoming a Rhos Aelwyd team not pulling up any trees in Ardal North East.
Rhos do have a special liking for the FAW Trophy though. Another top-notch tie in store.
Montgomery Town (4) v Llay Welfare (3)
Coming off the back of a 14-0 pummeling of Barmouth and Dyffryn last weekend, Montgomery sit second and undefeated in Central Wales League North.
However, the last time Monty met higher-league opposition it was a painful experience – a 13-1 caning at Mold Alexandra in the Welsh Cup.
Llay Welfare are fourth in Ardal North West and have to be fancied for the win at Clostanymur.
Penrhyncoch (3) v Nantlle Vale (3)
Another humdinger in prospect.
Ardal North East leaders Penrhyncoch welcome unbeaten second-place Ardal North West team Nantlle Vale to Cae Baker.
The odds probably just favour Penrhyn, but never dismiss the chances of Nantlle, who can beat the very best on any given day.
Pentraeth (4) v St Asaph City (3)
St Asaph have started life well in their new adventure in Ardal North West and should have too much for a home side sitting third-bottom of the North Wales Coast West Premier.
Penycae (3) v Llanuwchllyn (3)
Unbeaten in Ardal North East, Llanuwchllyn travel to Penycae, who are yet to win a game in the same division. Away win likely.
FC Plas Madoc (5) v Brickfield Rangers (3)
This might be Tier 5 versus Tier 3, but you cannot write off a team with as much goals potential as Plas Madoc.
Ryan Roberts’ side sit fourth in the North Wales East League Championship with five wins from six, while Brickfield are 11th in Ardal North West.
Pwllheli (3) v CPD Gronant (5)
Another David versus Goliath clash where a shock result cannot be counted out.
Gronant have won seven out of seven in the North East Wales Championship and already boast a couple of victories over higher-standard opponents in cups this term.
Pwllheli are progressing well in Ardal North West, however, and have a number of goal-getting sources.
Radnor Valley (3) v Menai Bridge Tigers (4)
Having already knocked CPD Y Rhyl 1879 out of the Welsh Cup this season, can Tigers cause another big surprise in the Trophy?
The islanders take on Radnor Valley, currently a very impressive fifth in their debut season in Ardal North East.
Menai can definitely wreck the odds if they are at their dynamic best – 56 goals in 13 matches so far in 2023-24.
Rhos United (5) v CPD Y Felinheli (3)
Rhos put up a good fight at Blaenau Ffestiniog last weekend before going out of the NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup on penalties – but they will find Ardal North West visitors Felinheli much harder opposition.
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 (3) v Greenfield (4)
Tricky one for Rhyl, who have already lost to lower league opposition this season in Menai Bridge Tigers in the Welsh Cup.
Presently top of Ardal North West, the Lilywhites should outscore North Wales East Premier visitors Greenfield, but it will be far from easy against the Flintshire scalp-hunters.
Rhyl All Stars (5) v Flint Mountain (3)
Perhaps the most stark case of a David v Goliath tie this weekend.
North Wales Coast East Division One strugglers All Stars are likely to find it very difficult against Ardal North West dynamos Mountain, who recently knocked Tier 2 leaders Holywell Town out of the Welsh Cup.
Ruabon Rovers (4) v Coedpoeth United (4)
Things are not going well so far for Ruabon in their debut campaign at North East Wales Premier level.
However, on Saturday, the bottom team meet a Coedpoeth side just a place above them in the table.
If ever there was a good time and opportunity to start a winning run it is now for Rovers.
Trearddur Bay (4) v Cefn Albion (3)
Albion will remember only too well last season’s trip to Anglesey in the FAW Trophy where they were stunned 3-0 by Tier 5 rank outsiders Caergybi.
This time, the Wrexham side will face opponents from Tier 4 in Trearddur Bay, who are unbeaten in the North Wales Coast West Premier.
With 17-goal top scorer Asa Thomas in their ranks, and a number of other noted net-finders in the squad, Trearddur will be a big threat.
Welshpool Town (3) v Saltney Town (3)
And finally….Ardal North East basement boys Welshpool – played 7 won 0 – versus Saltney, third-bottom in Ardal North West.
Has to be anyone’s game this one.