|
Post by welshfootballforum on Feb 7, 2012 11:43:59 GMT
WELSH CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW Aberystwyth Town v Cefn Druids Airbus UK Broughton v Carmarthen Town Bala Town v Llanelli The New Saints v Neath
|
|
cymru
New Member
Posts: 6
|
Post by cymru on Feb 22, 2012 9:21:25 GMT
Taken from MARK LLOYD WILLIAMS bbc sport column:-
It is quarter-final stage for this season's Welsh Cup this weekend, with four intriguing ties to look forward to.
Cefn Druids of the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance League are the only team left in the competition outside of the Welsh Premier League (WPL). Druids, under the management of ex-Bangor City player Huw Griffiths, caused the shock of the previous round with a comfortable away win over WPL outfit Prestatyn Town.
The Druids are on the road again on Saturday with another trip to the seaside, this time travelling west to face WPL strugglers Aberystwyth.
Griffiths' team currently lie in second place, five points behind last season's Huws Gray champions Connah' Quay Nomads with two games in hand and are well placed to achieve promotion back to the WPL, whereas Alan Morgan's side, Aberystwyth, are battling to avoid relegation from the WPL.
In the previous round, they needed a goal from 16-year-old substitute Alex Samuels to rescue them and take the game into extra time before defeating Llandudno on penalties to secure their place in the last eight. These two teams could well be swapping places in their respective leagues come the end of season. My prediction - Cefn Druids to win.
Last season's Welsh Cup winners Llanelli have yet again been drawn away from home for the third time in this year's competition, this time a visit to Bala Town awaits the Andy Legg and his team. The draw has not been kind to the Reds this season this after facing tough away trips to Bangor and Rhyl in previous rounds.
In their last five games against WPL opposition, Legg's side have not won a game and not scored a single goal in 513 minutes of football.
The only time they have managed to score in the past two-and-a-half months was in the previous round of the Welsh Cup against 10-man Rhyl. On that day, they needed a penalty shoot-out to scrape through. With four defeats on the trot for the Reds in the league it means their WPL title aspirations are over for another season, and they will be more than determined to keep a hold the of the trophy they won back in May 2011, but it won't be easy, as Colin Caton's Bala are capable of beating anyone on their day.
The Lakesiders put in a battling performance against WPL leaders Bangor City at the weekend, they were unlucky not to get anything out of the match. With their Maes Tegid pitch in a dreadful state, this could give them a psychological advantage over Andy Legg's side who are on a dreadful run of form lately. My prediction - Bala to go through
The tie of the round sees The New Saints, who currently lie second in the WPL entertain third-place Neath, these two clubs met in the first game of the Championship Conference with Neath coming out victorious 2-1 on TNS's artificial surface. Neath are on a fantastic run since Kristian O'Leary took over in November and will provide a very stern test for Craig Harrison's side. I cannot see lightning striking twice here in a season with TNS determined to make amends for that defeat last month which has put a dent in their title hopes. My prediction - TNS to win in extra time
The final tie of the round sees a repeat of last weekend's play-off Conference match between Airbus and Carmarthen. Both of these teams have had new managers since the turn of the year and Mark Aizelwood's Carmarthen are starting to put a run together in the league in their aim to avoid relegation.
The home win against Airbus last weekend will no doubt give them much-needed confidence going into this week's cup match at the Airfield, however Airbus are a different proposition at home and will be too strong for the Old Gold this time round. My prediction - Airbus to win their quarter-final stage for this season's Welsh Cup this weekend.
|
|