WBS League Cup – quarter-final draws news, plus first round reports including defeat for holders Mold

The draw for the second round of the 2024/25 Welsh Blood Service League Cup has been made.

Ties will be played across the weekend of 31 January-2 February 2025.

Northern section

Gresford Athletic v Colwyn Bay
Bangor 1876 v Ruthin Town
Penrhyncoch v Holywell Town
Llay Welfare v Airbus UK Broughton

First round reports – August 30-31

Welsh Blood Service League Cup (North)

Caersws 1-1 Bangor 1876 (Bangor 1876 won 5-3 on pens)

Bangor 1876 faced a penalty shoot-out for just the third time in their short history on Saturday – and on this latest occasion ran out winners.

Back in October 2019, a then tier 5 1876 had beaten Penycae from tier 3 3-2 on spot-kicks following a 3-3 scoreline after extra time in the Welsh Cup.

Then last season, Michael Johnston’s men had pushed fellow Cymru North outfit Flint Town United all the way in a 1-1 Welsh Cup draw before losing 8-7 on penalties.

So Saturday saw Bangor make it two shoot-out successes out of three when they edged past Caersws in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup (North).

The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes as 1876 talisman Corrig McGonigle cancelled out Josh Astley’s opener for the Bluebirds in the first half.

Bangor led 3-2 in the penalties contest, McGonigle, Joe Culshaw and Tom Mahoney converting before Caersws’ Dillon Browne missed his side’s third kick, Carl Jones making a vital save.
Harry Galeotti then gave Bangor 4-2 advantage, Astley reduced the deficit, but Tom Clarke fired in the winning penalty to give the North Wales fan-owned club a place in the next round.

Airbus UK Broughton 3-1 Llandudno

Last season’s Northern section finalists Llandudno were knocked out at the first hurdle as current JD Cymru North leaders Airbus secured a 3-1 home win.
Llandudno missed the chance to go ahead when Mark Cadwallader’s 34th-minute penalty was saved by Keighan Jones, before the Wingmakers found the breakthrough seven minutes later courtesy of George Peers.
Harvey Bennett quickly found an equaliser for the Seasiders, but Sam Baker restored the hosts’ lead on the stroke of half-time.
Airbus wrapped up the tie midway through the second half as teenager Dan Collins scored his first goal of the season to give Mark Allen’s side their ninth consecutive win in all competitions.

Flint Mountain 1-1 Colwyn Bay (Colwyn Bay won 4-3 on pens)

Bay needed spot-kicks to get past the tough challenge of tier 2 newcomers Mountain.
Mountain took the lead in the 22nd minute thanks to Rowan Whelan’s header, but Bay levelled not long before half-time as Lloyd Marsh-Hughes found the net with a clinical finish via the post. A goalless second half then meant the tie went to spot kicks.
Mountain led after John Danby saved Bay’s first penalty from Ryan Kehoe, but consecutive misses for the hosts from Ben Lawrence and Mike Hayes turned the shootout around and allowed Jamie Cumming to convert the winning spot kick for the Seagulls.

Gresford Athletic 3-0 Denbigh Town

Dave Forbes starred on his Gresford Athletic debut as the Colliers defeated Denbigh at The Rock.
Former Holywell Town ace Forbes setup Charlie Mann in the 17th minute to give the home side an early advantage before Haci Ozlu doubled the lead on 20.
Forbes then found the net himself for Gresford’s third goal in first half stoppage time as the 36-year-old rounded Josh Wilmot and slotted home.

Mold Alexandra 0-1 Holywell Town

Cup holders Mold suffered a first round exit as Holywell Town ran out narrow 1-0 victors at Alyn Park.
The only goal of the match arrived with just 11 minutes on the clock as Danny Andrews’ corner was fumbled in by Mold goalkeeper Mike Crossley.
The Alex had their fair share of chances to keep their defence of the trophy alive, but a tremendous defensive display from the Wellmen was enough to see Johnny Haseldin’s men progress.

Penrhyncoch 1-0 Prestatyn Town

Despite an heroic second half effort to turn around a one-goal deficit Prestatyn’s bid ended in failure and they exited the cup at the first hurdle.
The decisive moment at Cae Baker came after just 16 minutes as Cameron Allen neatly finished into the back of the net from Dan Owen’s cross.
Prestatyn had a host of chances in the second half, but were unable to find a way back into the match as they suffered their fourth consecutive loss.

Buckley Town 1-2 Llay Welfare

Llay stunned Buckley with a 2-1 comeback victory at The Globe on Friday night.
Competition debutants Welfare fell behind when Dan Holland put the Bucks ahead in the 34th minute, but Phil Hudson’s side drew level just four minutes later through Chris Hibbert.
Hibbert’s goal sparked the visitors into life and in first half stoppage time they scored what proved to be the winner as Ruben Lima came back to haunt his former club with a composed finish.

Ruthin Town 3-0 Guilsfield

Sunday’s only WBS League Cup fixture saw Ruthin return to winning ways with a 3-0 win against Guilsfield.
An emphatic first half display saw Llyr Morris set up Josh Evans for the opening goal before Morris bagged a brace to round off a convincing performance from Dave Evans’ men.

Many thanks to faw.cymru for their assistance