It is a MASSIVE cup day in North Wales football – here we preview quarter and semi finals

It is a MASSIVE cup day in North Wales football.

Today, we have coming up….

FAW Welsh Cup quarter-finals
FAW Amateur Trophy quarter-finals
North Wales Coast East Cookson Cup semi-finals
NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup semi-finals

WELSH CUP QUARTER-FINALS

Bala Town v Flint Mountain (12.45 pm – live on S4C)
Buckley Town v Connah’s Quay Nomads (2 pm)
Cardiff Met University v Colwyn Bay (2 pm)
Last night: Briton Ferry Llansawel 1 The New Saints 5

What chance are there of two North Wales giant-killings today?

Flint Mountain of Tier 3 and Tier 2 Buckley Town face ultra-tough ties against experienced campaigners and Welsh Cup winners of recent years, Bala Town and Connah’s Quay Nomads respectively.

Both Mountain of Ardal North West and Cymru North outfit Bucks have done really well to get this far in the national knockout, but will their adventures end today?

Each will need to produce an all-time-best performance to upset the odds big style.

Buckley, with the inspirational Asa Hamilton at the helm, will be massively up for the fight in a local derby.

While they have struggled for much of the season, Bucks have really picked up of late, their best result undoubtedly a 2-1 league success at high-flying Mold.

Unfortunately for them, the Stags lost last weekend to Denbigh Town, but today they are back at their home – The Globe – after a stint playing at Deeside Stadium.

Nomads are very strong under manager Neil Gibson and will take no prisoners. After The New Saints they are the best team in the top flight and with the league title heading only one way, will see the Welsh Cup as a major success target.

Mountain are a thriving Tier 3 side with ambitions to go higher. Having an experienced manager like Aden Shannon will help them. Aden will be extra determined to spring a surprise as Bala is one of his former clubs.

Another notable ex-Bala man in the Mountain squad is top-scorer Michael Hayes, who is relishing the opportunity to face his old club.

Like Nomads, though, the Lakesiders have good form in this competition and are so hard to beat.

Colwyn Bay’s chances of a win at fellow Cymru Premier side Cardiff Met were boosted by last weekend’s excellent 1-0 victory at Aberystwyth Town.

Steve Evans is an old hand in Welsh Cup combat and he’ll have a game plan capable of pushing the students to the full.

Whereas a win for Buckley or Flint Mountain would be viewed as a shock, that certainly would not be the case for the Bay, who are fighting hard to preserve their top-flight status.

FAW AMATEUR TROPHY QUARTER-FINALS (2 pm unless stated)

Llanuwchllyn v Cefn Cribwr (4.15 pm at Maes Tegid, Bala)
Newport City v CPD Llannefydd
Trethomas Bluebirds v Holyhead Hotspur
Seven Sisters Onllwyn P Penrhyncoch P

Let’s ask a similar question as regards the Trophy as we posed with the Welsh Cup – what chance of three North Wales sides making the semis?

Toughest task probably awaits Ardal North West outfit Holyhead Hotspur, who visit current holders and undefeated Ardal South East leaders Trethomas.

If anyone can do it, it’s Hotspur, a great cup side who will fear no-one.

Hopefully, the likes of Cory Williams, Aron Hughes-Jones and Dylan Summers-Jones will be bang on form.

Llanuwchllyn are home to Cefn Cribwr, third in Ardal South West.

No reason why Sion Tudor’s side cannot do the necessary in front of what will probably be a decent crowd at Maes Tegid.

While Llan lost their unbeaten Ardal North East record to Llandrindod Wells a fortnight ago, the villagers had won five in a row before that and they have one of the finest T3 strikers around in Meilir Williams.

Llannefydd travel to Newport City, conquerors of CPD Y Rhyl 1879 last time out – with a little help from the officials.

One thing which is certain is City will go to the end. They conceded a 90th minute equaliser at Rhyl, but far from demoralised, they went straight up the other end and notched the winner.

Llannefydd’s recent league form has not been great, but they have saved their best for the Trophy, the elimination of Risca United a real standout.

NORTH WALES COAST EAST COOKSON CUP SEMI-FINALS (1.30 pm)

CPD Cerrigydrudion v Llandudno Junction
Kinmel Bay v NFA

Wow, Cerrig v Junction, two of the best sides in the Tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier this season – what a hard one to call!

In the league back in October, the Railwaymen won 5-2 at Cerrig.

Since then, Cerrig have not lost in the Premier in nine matches and currently sit in second spot with Junction third just two points behind.

Expect a classic struggle for supremacy.

Kinmel Bay can take on NFA with confidence having beaten them 4-3 in the league three weeks ago. Bay left it very late though, and today’s tie could be just as close and dramatic.

NFA have gone off the boil a bit after a long unbeaten start, but a 2-2 draw at Cerrig in their last outing was a pleasing outcome.

Early in the season, the Rhyl-based side defeated Kinmel 3-0, but it could end up tighter than that this afternoon.

NWCFA JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS (1.30 pm)

Y Glannau v Bow (St Asaph Leisure Centre)
Llandudno Amateurs v Llanfairpwll )OPS Wind Arena)

Today’s Junior Cup semis make-up ensure at least one North Wales Coast East Division One side will feature in the final.

That’s because the tie between Y Glannau and Bow is an all-Division One affair.

And what a game it promises to be.

Bow’s highly talented squad up against an in-form Glannau, who score goals for fun with star striker Harrison Bellis having hit 43 already this season.

The teams have met three times this term – Bow winning all three.

In August, it was 5-0 away in the league, the FAW Amateur Trophy clash between the pair the following month produced an astonishing 8-6 scoreline in Bow’s favour and it was 3-2 in October in a close-fought REM Jones Cup tussle.

Glannau will be hungry and out for some revenge – let battle commence.

Llandudno Amateurs welcome Anglesey side Llanfairpwll to the OPS Wind Arena.

The islanders have lost four on the bounce, but have saved their best for the knockout competitions, having enjoyed a great run in the FAW Trophy and beating CPD Boded on pens in the Junior Cup.

Many of their ties have gone to penalties and free-scoring Amateurs will want to avoid that this afternoon.

Aside from two losses to Y Glannau, the Llandudno team have won 13 of their last 15 games in all competitions and are top of NWCE Division One.