Tonight’s draw for the JD Welsh Cup quarter-final will be almost entirely made up of Welsh Premier League clubs after the top-flight clubs all avoided scalps against lower league opposition in the competition’s fourth round.
South Wales Alliance League (level 5) minnows Penydarren BGC are the only lower level side remaining – they reached the last eight after recording another upset, this time against Level 3 outfit Pontypridd Town.
Last year’s runners up The New Saints will be favourites to lift the trophy this season. New signing Dean Ebbe marked his full debut with a brace as the Saints claimed a 3-1 win at The Oval over Caernarfon Town in front of 1,500.
Cardiff Met were the only WPL side not to advance after losing by a single goal to league rivals Aberystwyth Town.
Bangor City will also be targeting cup silverware. A 3-2 win over Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant keeps the Citizens in contention.
Andy Morrison’s Connah’s Quay might also feel that they can go all the way this season. The Nomads rallied from a goal down at home to Porthmadog to advance 3-1.
Carmarthen progressed with a 4-1 victory against former WPL side Airbus UK, but the win was not without cost with news emerging after the game that goalkeeper Lee Idzi now faces a month on the sidelines through injury.
Both Newtown and Llandudno left it late to secure their passage through to the last eight.
Newtown required penalities to overcome Flint Town United after drawing 2-2 in extra-time.
Matty Williams equalised three minutes before time to take Llandudno into extra-time against Ruthin Town. The Cymru Alliance side had been leading 2-1 but Llandudno then took a two-goal lead in extra-time before the visitors pegged a goal back as the Welsh Premier League side claimed an exhausting 4-3 aet win.
The JD Welsh Cup quarter-final draw will be made live tonight on Heno, S4C.
