Wrexham land decent draw in Bute Energy Welsh Cup semi-finals – might this be their year?

North Wales have not celebrated a Women’s Welsh Cup winner since Bangor City Girls landed the trophy for a third time in 2002.

Could 2024 be the year all that is about to change?

Wrexham have avoided joint favourites Swansea City and Cardiff City in the 2023-24 Bute Energy Welsh Cup semi-finals and will instead take on fellow Adran Premier side The New Saints in the penultimate stage of the competition.

Tonight’s draw paired the Swans and Bluebirds against each other, with North Wales’ sole remaining representatives Wrexham meeting the Salopian hoops.

The semis will be played on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at neutral grounds to be decided.

Saints scraped through on penalties against Aberystwyth at the weekend, while Wrexham saw off Briton Ferry Llansawel 2-0 at The Rock.

The teams have clashed once this season in the top-flight Adran Premier, Wrexham beating TNS 3-1 at home on October 29.

Wrexham, then a Tier 2 side, shocked TNS with a 2-1 Welsh Cup victory at Park Hall last season, Rebecca Pritchard and Rosie Hughes (penalty) with the goals.

In 2021-22, TNS won 3-0 at Wrexham in the Welsh Cup, so this will be the third successive season the teams have met in the premier national knockout.

BUTE ENERGY WELSH CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW

Swansea City v Cardiff City
The New Saints v Wrexham

REPORT: Sunday, December 10

Wrexham 2 (Hughes 48, Mackenzie 72)
Briton Ferry Llansawel 0
Bute Energy Welsh Cup quarter-final

Rosie Hughes celebrated her 28th birthday in style by scoring her 12th goal of the season in Wrexham’s Welsh Cup success over Tier 2 Briton Ferry last Sunday.

The visitors were out for revenge, having lost 1-0 to the Red Dragons in the Adran Premier promotion play-off final last term, but it was not to be.

Ferry will have another chance to put one over on Steve Dale’s side when they meet them yet again at The Rock in the Genero Adran Trophy this Sunday.

A goalless first half of few clear cut chances left the tie in the balance at the interval.

However, the hosts came out full of inspiration in the second half and took an early lead..

Hughes, who looked dangerous all game, latched onto Mari Gibbard’s pass and scored on 48 minutes.

With time running out, Wrexham doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute, Libby Mackenzie netting after a number of blocks from the visitors.