A veteran striker who killed off Cardiff City’s Premier League hopes eight years ago and a former Bluebirds first team coach are planning a Welsh trophy triumph.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Bangor City’s player/assistant manager, played and scored for Blackpool in their 3-2 Championship play-off final win against Cardiff at Wembley Stadium in 2010.
The Liverpool-born forward, who has scored 129 goals in almost 600 first team appearances, works alongside manager Kevin Nicholson, who was a senior coach at Cardiff before Neil Warnock took charge.
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Derby-born Nicholson and Taylor-Fletcher are preparing their Bangor City team for Sunday’s JD Sports Welsh Cup quarter-final against Penydarren BGC at Nantporth (2.45pm).
Bangor, who have won the Welsh Cup eight times in their history and lie second in the JD Welsh Premier League, while Merthyr Tydfil-based Penydarren head north boasting an unbeaten record in league and cups this season.
They have progressed through six rounds of the Welsh Cup and are undefeated in the South Wales Alliance.
Manager Kerry Mullins and his players have also qualified for the FAW Trophy semi-finals, where they play Conwy Borough, and the John Owen Cup last eight.
They are the only non-Welsh Premier League club left in the Welsh Cup last eight.
Around 300 fans are likely to follow Penydarren to Gwynedd, while the tie is being shown live on S4C programme Sgorio.
“We’re well aware of Penydarren’s quality, the run they’ve been on in the competition, and the incredible form they have been in throughout the season,” said Nicholson.
“They haven’t just done incredibly well in the Welsh Cup, but they’re unbeaten in their league, too, which is a tremendous achievement.
“I went to watch them play and we certainly won’t be taking this side. They will be given the respect they deserve for reaching this stage, but there’s a lot of history in this competition for Bangor.
“It’s been eight years now since we last won this trophy and five years since we featured in a final.
“We’re determined to go as far as possible and perhaps change some of those statistics.”
Bangor last lost only three times in their last 17 matches in all competitions and Nicholson said: “That shows the consistency we’ve developed as a team and that’s an element which is vitally important throughout a season.”
Welsh Cup ties scheduled for Saturday:
Connah’s Quay Nomads v The New Saints
Andy Morrison’s Nomads are fourth in the JD Welsh Premier League, 15 points behind leaders TNS.
Goalkeeper Paul Harrison is suspended and is ruled out of the Saints team.
Llandudno v Newtown
Llandudno have never reached the Welsh Cup final, and manager Iwan Williams would love to make cup history in his first season at the club.
Newtown edged a seven-goal thriller between the two teams at the beginning of February.
Carmarthen Town v Aberystwyth Town
The teams drew 3-3 last weekend and are back at Richmond Park on Saturday.
Aberystwyth manager Neville Powell brings plenty of Welsh Cup pedigree to the tie, having won the competition over three consecutive years with Bangor City.
Carmarthen lifted the Welsh Cup for the only time in their history during 2007.
JD Sports Welsh Cup quarter-finals (ties scheduled to be played this weekend:
Saturday, March 3: Connahs Quay Nomads v The New Saints, Llandudno v Newtown, Carmarthen Town v Aberystwyth Town (all 2.30pm).
Sunday, March 4: Bangor City v Penydarren BGC (2.45pm). Being shown live on Sgorio S4C.
Welsh Trophy semi-finals (to be played on Saturday, March 10): Greenfield FC v Rhos Aelwyd (tie to be played at Airbus Broughton, 2.30pm); Penydarren BGC v Conwy Borough (tie to be played at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, 2.30pm).
Welsh Youth Cup semi-finals (ties to be played on Sunday, March 18, both at same neutral venue): Connahs Quay Nomads v Swansea City (12.30pm); Airbus Broughton v Cardiff City(3.30pm).
Highadmit South Wales Alliance John Owen Cup quarter-finals (due to be played this Saturday): Blaenrhondda v Cwm Welfare, Caerphilly Athletic v Grange Albion, Pencoed Athletic v Clwb Cymric, Penydarren BGC v Merthyr Saints (to be rearranged because Penydarren are in Welsh Cup this weekend).
South Wales Senior Cup quarter-finals (ties to be played on Saturday, March 17, 2pm): Cornelly United v Navi Merthyr; Hirwaun Sports v Pentrebach Labour or Penrhwceiber Con; Tonyrefail v AFC Whitchurch.
