Only one Welsh Premier League side is guaranteed a place in next week’s draw for Welsh Cup quarter-final with six top-flight sides facing lower league opposition.
Saturday’s clash in south Wales between Cardiff Met and Aberystwyth is the only all-WPL tie with last season’s beaten finalists The New Saints arguably facing the toughest test of the lot with a visit to Caernarfon.
A 1000-plus crowd is expected at the Oval as Caernarfon kick-off the fourth round on Friday night. The New Saints, coming off last weekend’s League Cup success, could again be without top-scorer Greg Draper and can expect a stern test from the Cymru Alliance leaders under the floodlights.
Cardiff Met were beaten in last weekend’s League Cup final and Christian Edwards will be hoping his injury-ravaged side show no signs of hangover. Winger Jordan Lam became the latest injury worry last weekend after limping off against The New Saints. Aberystwyth could hand a debut to midfielder Damien Allen following his move from Bangor City but Aber boss Nev Powell will be forced into playing a makeshift central defensive pairing following the sudden departures of John McKenna and Jonny Spittle.
Mid-Wales League side Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant (level 3) have their sights set on another upset after eliminating Cefn Druids in the last round. Welsh Cup heavyweights Bangor City are the visitors this time around and the Citizens will be under heavy pressure to progress.
Despite their Welsh League Division Two status, Pontypridd Town are at risk of an upset when they come up against the lowest ranked side remaining in the competition, level 5 Penydarren BGC. The Merthyr-based outfit eliminated Llandudno Junction in round three and will believe another scalp is within reach.
Connah’s Quay will have Neil Gibson in the dug-out for their tie with Porthmadog at the Deeside Stadium. Gibson joined Andy Morrison’s backroom team as assistant manager this week and the Nomads will be hoping to advance in the last eight against Cymru Alliance mid-tabler’s Porthmadog.
Former Rhyl manager Niall McGuiness will be plotting an upset as his Flint Town United side entertain Newtown. Carmarthen Town visit Airbus looking to boost their disappointing season with an extended cup run. In the televised game, Llandudno will be looking to come through a tricky home tie with Ruthin Town, who comfortably dispatched Prestatyn Town 3-0 in the previous round.
