PREVIEW: FAW Youth Cup Final – Caernarfon Town v Haverfordwest County (Sunday 1 pm – Park Avenue, Aberystwyth)

Sunday lunchtime brings a huge occasion for North Wales football when Caernarfon’s youngsters go for national glory.

Caernarfon Town Development will take on Haverfordwest County Development in the 2024-25 FAW Youth Cup Final at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth.

The Canaries will aim to make history by becoming just the second North Wales team to lift the trophy, Wrexham AFC having previously done so four times.

Hari Lambe has been the star man for Caernarfon Town in the competition this season as the 16-year old has scored in every round on their way to the final.

His performances have also seen him earn opportunities in the senior team and he made his JD Cymru Premier debut against Cardiff Met last month.

The road to the final started for Caernarfon at home to Cardiff Met back in October as goals from Lambe and captain Osian Evans sealed a 2-0 victory.

The Cofis then came from behind with second half goals from Owain Williams and Lambe to defeat 10-man Penybont 2-1 away from home in the next round.

A quarter-final match against Connah’s Quay Nomads finished 3-3 after goals from Owen Roberts and a double from Lambe sent the tie to penalties, and Caernarfon would seal their place in the last four as Osian Ellis, Lambe, Ioan Williams, Osian Thomas, Gwion Parry and substitute Guto Parry all scored in the shoot-out to claim a 6-5 win.

Park Avenue would host both semi-finals as the Cofis booked their place in the final with a 3-1 win over Newport County. There was no surprise to see Lambe open the scoring midway through the opening half, but Cameron Egan equalised for County.

However, Caernarfon restored their advantage through Harri Wyn just a few minutes after the restart, and Roberts completed the 3-1 scoreline late in the match.

CAERNARFON TOWN SQUAD FOR SUNDAY’S FINAL

Hari Thomas
Ioan Williams
Tomos Crew
Caron Williams
Owen Roberts
William Xie
Owain Williams
Joseff Humphreys
Osian Ellis
Hari Lambe
Osian Evans
Charlie Griffith
Guto Parry
Gwion Parry
Osian Thomas
Harri Wyn
Byron Davis
Jac Bee
Coached by Darren Mawson and Ifan Thomas, Caernarfon compete in the FAW National Academi North Development League.

• The 34th FAW Youth Cup Final kicks off at 1pm on Sunday, April 6, at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth.

CAERNARFON’S PATH TO THE FINAL

Cardiff Metropolitan University Development 2-0 (Hari Lambe, Osian Evans)
Penybont Under-10s 2-1 (Owain Williams, Hari Lambe)
Connah’s Quay Nomads Under-18s 3-3 (Hari Lambe 2, Owen Roberts) – won 6-5 on penalties)
Newport County Youth 3-1.(Hari lambe, Harri Wyn, Owen Roberts)

FAW YOUTH CUP – LIST OF FINALS

1990 Cardiff City 5–0 Swansea City
1991 Wrexham 1–0 Swansea City
1992 Wrexham 2–1 Cardiff City
1993 Hereford United 4–2 Wrexham
1994 Wrexham 4–1 Swansea City
1995 Cardiff City 1–0 Wrexham
1996 Wrexham 3–2 Swansea City AET
1997 Pontardawe Athletic 1–0 Wrexham
1998 Cardiff City 5–0 Llanelli
1999 Swansea City 3–0 Caernarfon Youth Club
2000 Cardiff City 2–0 Llanelli
2001 Cardiff City 3–1 Taff’s Well AET
2002 Cardiff City 3–2 Llanelli
2003 Swansea City 4–1 Llanelli
2004 Cardiff City 4–1 Swansea City
2005 Newport County 2–2 Cardiff City Newport win 3–2 on pens
2006 Cardiff City 5–2 Aberystwyth Town
2007 Merthyr Tydfil 2–1 Cardiff College Celts
2008 Swansea City 1–0 Cardiff City
2009 Llanelli 2–1 Swansea City
2010 Swansea City 2–1 Wrexham
2011 Swansea City 5–0 West End
2012 Swansea City 2–1 The New Saints
2013 Swansea City 7–4 West End
2014 Swansea City 6–1 The New Saints
2015 Swansea City 3–1 Cardiff City
2016 Swansea City 5–0 Connah’s Quay Nomads
2017 Swansea City 2–0 Cambrian & Clydach AET
2018 Swansea City 1–1 Cardiff City Swansea win 3–2 on penS
2019 Swansea City 2–1 The New Saints
2022 The New Saints 1-0 Flint Town United
2023 The New Saints 5-2 Penybont
2024 Barry Town United 2-6 Briton Ferry Llansawel

MOST WINS

13 – Swansea City
8 – Cardiff City
4 – Wrexham
2 – The New Saints
1 – Llanelli, Hereford United, Pontardawe Athletic, Newport County, Merthyr Tydfil, Briton Ferry Llansawel