The third round of the JD Welsh Cup gets underway this weekend with all 12 Welsh Premier League teams entering the competition.
With only one all-WPL tie there is plenty of scope for lower level teams to make the headlines over the next few days, so here are three ties in particular you might want to keep an eye on.
Newtown (9th in the Welsh Premier) vs Guilsfield (4th in the Cymru Alliance)
Sorry Robins fans but despite being given a favourable home draw against lower league opposition, the visit of Guilsfield definitely has the makings of an upset.
Newtown have struggled to win on a consistent basis so far this season and last weekend’s 3-0 derby defat to Aberystwyth will have done little to boost the side’s confidence ahead of this tie against a team who will be full of self-belief. Guilsfield are unbeaten in their last eight games and with no expectation on them, it’s possible they could catch Newtown cold.
Ammanford (10th in Welsh League Div Two) v Carmarthen Town (12th in the Welsh Premier)
This is another tie with all the ingredients of a giant-killing – a local derby on a difficult pitch with a struggling team burdened by the expectation to come away with an away win.
Carmarthen have won just once all season but an improved performance against The New Saints last week will give them hope of avoiding a humiliating defeat. Ammanford aren’t ripping up any tress in Welsh League Division Two but they will be fired up for this and the longer Carmarthen go without scoring, they will start to smell blood.
Caernarfon Town (1st in Cymru Alliance) v Barry Town (8th in Welsh Premier)
The televised tie of the round (2.45, Sunday), Caernarfon Town don’t exactly carry the underdog tag coming into this one but a win against top-flight Barry will be another boost in what is shaping up to be a promising season.
Caernarfon are pushing hard for promotion back into the Welsh Premier and after reaching the semi-final of the Welsh Cup last season, the Canaries will be looking to plot another cup run. Barry Town are striving to be competitive in their new surroundings of the Welsh Premier League – could the Welsh Cup prove be an unwelcome distraction to Gavin Chesterfield and co from an important league season.
