PREVIEW – JD Welsh Cup final: Caernarfon Town v Flint Town United (Sunday, April 12, 3.15 pm)

The 137th JD Welsh Cup Final takes place between Caernarfon Town and Flint Town United at Rodney Parade in Newport on Sunday 12 April (KO 15:15).

Both sides compete in the top flight JD Cymru Premier League with the Canaries unbeaten in their last six meetings against the Silkmen.

With The Oval undergoing redevelopment, the Cofis have played their ‘home’ matches in Llandudno this season, but nonetheless enjoyed another strong campaign.

Caernarfon have secured a top six finish in the JD Cymru Premier for the third consecutive season, offering them a potential route into Europe if Sunday’s final does not go their way.

It has been an inconsistent campaign for Flint, who have only recorded back-to-back league wins on two separate occasions. The Silkmen have scored the most goals out of any side in the bottom half of the JD Cymru Premier but only rock bottom Llanelli Town have conceded more.

Flint would have hoped to have already secured survival after picking up 11 points from a possible 15 at the start of Phase Two, but they have since earned just two points from four games.

The relegation battle will go down to the final day of the season where the Silkmen must match or better Bala Town’s result in order to survive.

PATHS TO THE FINAL

Caernarfon Town

Round Two – Newtown (away) 3-0
Round htree – Penrhyncoch (home) 4-0
Round Four – Cardiff Met (away) 4-2
Quarter-Final – Colwyn Bay (home) 4-1
Semi-Final – CPD Y Rhyl 1879 (neutral) 2-1

Flint Town United

Round Two – Bow Street (away) 3-0
Round Three – Airbus UK Broughton (home) 1-0
Round Four – Penybont (away) 0-0 (won on pens)
Quarter-Final – Trearddur Bay (home) 3-0
Semi-Final – CPD Dinas bangor City 1876 (neutral) 5-1

Flint have only conceded one goal en route to the final, but Caernarfon have faced the hardest path.
As well as negotiating a tricky trip to Cymru North Newtown, freshly relegated from the Cymru Premier after a 33-year stay, Town also won away at a Cardiff Met side which did the cup a huge favour by eliminating The New Saints, before seeing off a fired-up Colwyn Bay in the quarters.
Flint’s toughest task was an away penalties victory at Cymru Premier top six Penybont, but otherwise the Silkmen have taken on lower league opponents all the way.

WELSH CUP HISTORY

This is Caernarfon Town’s first ever appearance in the JD Welsh Cup Final, having lost in the semi-finals on six previous occasions before finally breaking that curse by defeating Rhyl 1879 in this season’s last four.
If the Cofis win on Sunday, they will become the 36th different club to lift the historic trophy and the first ‘new’ winner since Connah’s Quay Nomads won the competition for the first time in 2018.
Flint Town United’s only previous JD Welsh Cup triumph came in 1954, when they triumphed 2-0 over Chester at The Racecourse to lift the trophy. They have never reached the Final again in the 72 years since.

TICKET INFORMATION

Supporters of Caernarfon Town can purchase tickets in Block G of the Bisley Stand or in the South Stand.
Supporters of Flint Town United can initially purchase tickets in Block B of the Bisley Stand. Block A will open dependent on demand.
Blocks D and E of the Bisley Stand will be used as a neutral section.
Tickets can be bought online for the following prices (plus booking fee):
Adults – £8.00
Juniors (16 & Under) – £5.00
All tickets bought online will be digitally issued through the Cymru Tickets app, no later than 24 hours before kick-off. Tickets purchased fewer than 48 hours before the match will be delivered no later than five hours before kick-off.
Tickets will then be available to buy on the gate on matchday for increased prices:
Adults – £15.00
Juniors (16 & Under) – £10.00

TV COVERAGE

The JD Welsh Cup Final will be live on S4C, alongside BBC iPlayer, S4C Clic and Sgorio’s YouTube channel. Coverage will be begin at 15:00, with Welsh language commentary and English language commentary both available.

* Check out the respective clubs social media pages for latest cup final information