JD Welsh Cup: Can Colwyn Bay reach second semi-final in three seasons?
FAW WELSH CUP LAST 16
Colwyn Bay 2 (Downes 20, Jones 40)
Barry Town United 0
Into the 2023-24 Welsh Cup quarter-finals and hopefully destined to go all the way – well done Colwyn Bay!
The Seagulls advanced to the last eight of the national knockout on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over fellow Cymru Premier club Barry Town United.
Steve Evans’ side now face another top-flight foe in the quarters – Cardiff Met University.
In league meetings this season, Bay lost 1-0 at Cyncoed and drew 2-2 with the students at the 4 Crosses Construction Arena.
Met are currently fourth in the CPL table with Colwyn in 10th, but the cup tie is not until the weekend of February 16-17 and in straight knockout competitions it is so often about what happens on the day and form books can count for nothing.
Bay produced a very efficient performance to see off Barry at Llanelian Road.
Michael George threatened for the visitors with a powerful long range shot before Jamie Cumming’s effort at the other end was deflected behind for a corner.
The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes when Tom McCready and Tommy Creamer combined on the left, the ball was looped across the six-yard area and Alex Downes applied a crisp right-foot finish inside the left-hand post.
It should have been two when McCready released Creamer, who looked set for a shot but instead held the ball up to find Udoyen Akpan, who lashed over when well-placed.
Bay’s second goal on 40 minutes was a beauty. Downes fed the ball in from the right before Sam Downey found Dan Jones, who played a neat one-two with Akpan then applied a decisive finish.
The second half saw Barry largely ineffective in attack, although Joe Smith did need to get down sharply to block from Kayne McLaggon.
At the other end, Akpan’s fierce drive was well saved by Luc Rees.
Can Bay now reach a second Welsh Cup semi-final in three seasons? We will find our in February.
WELSH CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Bala Town v Flint Mountain
Briton Ferry Llansawel v The New Saints
Buckley Town v Connah’s Quay Nomads
Cardiff Metropolitan University v Colwyn Bay