Barry Town Matchday Magazine

v.Rhayader Town, League of Wales, 03.10.1998

FROM ELY TO EUROPE - part one

the Welsh Cup

The Yellow Dragon looks back at the First Round of the Welsh Cup, and forward to the Second Round in a few weeks time.

Llansantffraid did it. Cwmbran Town did it. This year, Bangor City did it. Whatever the mystery and intrigue of the Welsh Cup is, it's still going on. Maybe it's the opportunity to play in Europe. Perhaps it's the chance of bringing down one of the League of Wales 'big guns'. It might just be a chance to relax after playing all of those league matches, or the chance to get your hands on the oldest piece of silverware in the football world but the Welsh Cup began again a fortnight ago.

Up and down Wales, clubs from the 'feeder leagues' played each other in the First round of the Welsh Cup, with an opportunity of playing a League of Wales club in the following round, and the knowledge that they may be only six matches from playing in Europe.

HOW IT WORKS

Unusually, there was no preliminary round this year, but, as usual, the draw was regionalised into North and South. This provided for some black humour, as Llandrindod Wells, who weren't allowed to move into the CC Sports Welsh League because of their geographical placing in the Central Wales FA, were drawn in the Southern half of the draw.

Barry, of course, don't enter the Welsh Cup until the Third round, alongside holders Bangor City, finalists Connah's Quay Nomads, fellow semi-finalists Newtown and Inter Cable-tel, who have been awarded a bye because of their good league position last season.

The remaining twelve League of Wales sides, which includes our opponents today, Rhayader, enter in the Second Round, which is due to be played in a fortnight's time on Saturday, 17th October. Also receiving byes were those sides relegated from the LoW last year, and several other senior 'feeder league' clubs.

Therefore, the biggest sides in the First Round of the Cup were the remaining clubs in the top divisions of the feeder leagues, those in the CC Sports Welsh League first division, and those in the Cymru Alliance. Seven of the thirty-two matches pitted those sides together, with some of the others providing interesting reading.

KNIGHTON AND LEX CRASH OUT AT FIRST HURDLE

For Barry Town supporters, perhaps the most intriguing thing to report is that we shall not be returning to Knighton Town this season as the mid-Wales club were knocked out 2-1 by fellow mid-Walians Penrhyncoch. Like Llandrindod, Penrhyncoch have also struggled with the long distances in the Cymru Alliance, and were another club who voluntarily moved into the mid-Wales league.

Neither shall we be going back to Wrexham to face Lex XI. In what was surely a pulsating match, they lost 4-3 to last year's Cymru Alliance champions, Rhydymwyn.

TOP DIVISION MATCHES

Meanwhile, Aberystwyth have been saved the possibility of a third consecutive visit to Porthcawl Town, as the South Walian side were beaten 2-1 at Aberaman in an all-CC Sport 1st division encounter.

Also between sides in that division were BP Llandarcy and Cardiff Corries. BP, who reached the quarter-finals in 1996-97, won through by a 4-2 margin.

The well-known football columnist, Alun Evans, began his journey to Europe at Bridgend Town's Coychurch Road. They met Cardiff Civil Service, and, despite the visitors having the majority of possession, the home side won 3-1, Phil Lyons scoring a brace.

The final all-1st division match took place at Maesteg Park, where the home side lost out 2-1 to Cardiff side, Grange Harlequins.

The biggest shock, though, belongs to the game at Caerleon, where the home side thrashed Briton Ferry Athletic 4-1. The former League of Wales club has falled on hard times, although, in defeat, they at least avoid the embarassment of repeating last year's 7-1 hammering at the hands of Inter Cabletel.

FROM ELY TO WHERE?!

Away from the top clubs in South Wales, our local entrants at this level were the Wenvoe based Ely Rangers. The Rangers, after whom the article was named, did themselves proud last season, going from the Preliminary Round through to the Third Round, where they met League of Wales opposition in the shape of Carmarthen Town. Despite Rangers playing in the 3rd division of the CC Sport league, they gave Carmarthen a good run for their money, losing out 2-0.

Ely got themselves off to a good start in this year's Welsh Cup, winning 2-1 away at second division Risca United.

The newly promoted Caerau Ely lost out to the more experienced Porth Tywyn Suburbs.

Crossing to the other side of Cardiff, the University of Wales Institute Cardiff convincingly hammered Llandrindod Wells, the students running away with a convincing 6-1 victory at Cyncoed.

Further North, there were good victories for Ruthin and Flexys Cefn Druids in all-Cymru Alliance matches against Buckley and Mostyn respectively.

Elsewhere, there were good victories for AFC Rhondda, Chepstow, Goytre, Holyhead Hotspurs, Llangefni and Pontardawe.

Moving on to the Second Round draw, the focus changes slightly, with the introduction of several of the more experienced 'feeder league' sides in addition to 12 of the 17 League of Wales clubs.

ALL LoW LOCAL DERBY

Only one of the ties is an all-LoW clash, and, under any circumstances, wins the 'Match of the Round' billing. The match, to be played at the Treflan features Total Network Solutions and Aberystwyth Town.

Of course, both sides have a good record in the competition in recent years. No-one at Jenner Park needs reminding of the Welsh Cup final in 1996, when we cruelly lost on penalties to Llansantffraid, now TNS. The following year, Aberystwyth found themselves in the semi-final of the Cup, losing out to Cwmbran Town.

This season, though, sees both clubs in top form. Aber are top of the League of Wales, and are currently unbeaten, while TNS are also riding high in the league, and scoring prolifically. In addition to that, this is a local derby, with local pride at stake. It looks set to be a stunner!

LEAGUE OF WALES V THE 'FEEDER LEAGUES'

Another interesting tie is that between our opponents today, Rhayader, and Welshpool Town, who were relegated from last season's LoW. Technically a local derby between two Powys sides, this will provide a look between the standards of the LoW and the Cymru Alliance. This is certainly a potential bananaskin

From the same viewpoint, Conwy's visit to Rhydymwyn takes on the same voyeurism, as will Holywell's visit to the Traeth to play Porthmadog. Port still feel aggrieved at their relegation last year, and will be looking to prove a point, as they entertain the side who replaced them in the National League. Colin Hawkins's side have started well this season, and believe that they can pull off an upset.

These make for some of the most interesting ties, especially as last year showed such a convincing difference between LoW sides and the feeder league clubs. Indeed, only two of the twenty LoW clubs were dumped out by sides from lower divisions - Cemaes Bay by Ruthin and Conwy by Knighton.

Caernarfon have the apparent luxury of entertaining Anglesey side, Llangefni, at the Oval, while Carmarthen meet Hoover Sports of Merthyr. Hoovers, who play at Penydarren Park in the 2nd division of the CC Sports League, reached the fourth round last year, and may give Carmarthen some difficulty.

Cwmbran Town, finalists in 1997, are up against Goytre United. Although at the Cwmbran Stadium, Tony Wilcox and Mark Aizlewood will have to be very careful. The Port Talbot village side went to Connah's Quay last year, and emerged with a very creditable 1-1 draw, before being beaten in a replay.

Haverfordwest are at home to Bridgend Town, while Afan Lido will be entertaining Caerleon at their Port Talbot home.

Meanwhile, Rhyl are another side facing a difficult local derby, as they play Denbigh Town at home.

Ely Rangers again have an excellent chance of progress, as they travel to Treowen Stars in Gwent. Treowen play in the CC Sports first division, and Rangers won't be scared of them. Should Ely get through this, then it would make a very interesting local derby if they were to play us in the Third Round!

The Second Round of the Welsh Cup takes place on Saturday, 17th October, with the Third Round draw (which features Barry) coming soon after. Third Round matches will take place on Saturday, 21st November.

Links to other sites on the Web

Barry Town Programme Index
Barry Town homepage
Welsh Cup results and draw

This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
All of the material on this page was first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine v Rhayader Town, League of Wales, 03.10.1998

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