The Road to Nowhere (Welsh Cup)

It was Welsh Cup weekend again so how did the teams this blog is following get on. Local Cardiff team Splott Albion progressed to the next round beating AFC Llwydcoed 1-0 at home. For there troubles they face a trip to Bridgend in the next round.

In the northern section after beating Brickfield Rangers, 1-4 Builth Wells will be travelling to the outskirts of Cardiff to play Dinas Powys v Builth Wells.

The draw was drawn this morning for the Round 1 games which are to be played over the weekend of 1/2 October 2011 with the draw competition no longer regionalised.

Round One Dinas Powys v Builth Wells 

Round One Bridgend v Splott Albion

The route so far

Southern Section 

2nd Qualifying Round Sat, 3 Aug 2011 Splott Albion 1-0 AFC Llwydcoed Att 

1st Qualifying Round Sat, 26 Aug 2011 Trethomas Bluebirds 0-1 Splott Albion (AET) Att 

Northern Section 

2nd Qualifying Round Sat, 3 Sept 2011 Brickfield Rangers 1-4 Builth Wells Att 

1st Qualifying Round Sat, 26 Aug 2011 Builth Wells 3-2 Llanberis Att

Something the FAW should look into is attendances or the lack of information surrounding them or are they a state secret our something. They must have been some fans at the above games even their individual websites are of little use. The only hope you have is if a ground hopper makes the game and does a quick estimate.

NO Welsh Cup for Cardiff

Only this morning I was writing about the whole Welsh Cup and would the Bluebirds enter this year, but with the announcement in the last hour of the first fixture and the teams that have byes until later rounds Cardiff City was not among them.

Therefore, no Welsh Cup for Cardiff City they have decided not to enter along with Swansea City and Colwyn Bay, but Merthyr Town have and they have a bye until the qualifying second round. Wrexham and Newport County have also accepted places and will enter the competition in Round 3.

Every season for my own amusement I pick a team and follow a route to the final but for this season, I am going to follow one from the North section and the south. From the north it will be Llanberis and the southern section it is Splott Albion the ties to be played Saturday, 13th August and Sunday, 14th August.

FULL LIST HERE

The Road to Nowhere - The Welsh Cup 2010/11

It could be all change for the Wales Cup with the reported return of the outcasts Cardiff City among them after a 16-year absence. Football Association of Wales agreed to the dramatic U-turn at a meeting a number of weeks ago and they are also hoping the return will give a boost to the profile of the Welsh Cup.

The FAW are to hold talks with the UEFA and the English FA but they are expected to give the plans the green light. European night to come back to Cardiff which would be great and Cardiff boss Dave Jones said he would welcome it and admitted he would play his strongest possible team. The winners have a chance to play in the Europa League.

Has for this season in the opening qualifying round I plumed to start the trail with Fleur de Lys FC a name I remembered from the old Football Echo it was the name of a rugby club. The trail ended with Bangor City who surprisingly lost to Llanelli in the final. I call this ‘The Road to Nowhere’ because basically it barely registers with football fans anywhere.

Final – Saturday 8 May 2011 Bangor City 1-4 Llanelli Att 1,719

Semi-Final -Saturday 9 April 2011 Bangor City 1-0 Gap Connah's Quay Att 877

Quarter-final - Saturday 26 February 2011 Gap Connah's Quay 3-0 UWIC Att 227

Fourth Round - Saturday 29th January 2011 Carmarthen Town 2-2 (AET 2-3) GAP Connah’s Quay Att N/A

Third Round - Saturday 6th November 2010 Goytre United 2-3 Carmarthen Town Att N/A

Second Round - Oct 2nd 2010 Goytre United FC 3-1 Fleur de Lys FC Att N/A

First Round - 11th September 2010 - Fleur de Lys FC 1-0 Ely Rangers FC - Att 200

Qualifying Round Two - 28th August 2010 - RTB Ebbw Vale FC 1-4 Fleur de Lys FC Att N/A

Qualifying Round One - 14th August 2010 - Talgarth Town FC 0-5 Fleur de Lys FC Att N/A

Welsh Cup Quarter/finals

No giant killing both Cardiff clubs going out but the game of the day must have been at the New Saints ground.

Welsh League Division Three club Grange Harlequins took Welsh Premier team New Saints to extra time after the game ending 0-0 at full time. But the Welsh Premier team proved to strong in extra time finishing 2-0 winners.

The blog enters the Semi-finals still following Gap Connah's Quay after they beat off Cardiff club UWIC 4-0. Bangor are through to the semis’ and on case for there fourth consecutive appearance in the final have won the last three. The losers of this round received £6,000 in prize money 

Gap Connah's Quay 4-0 UWIC Att 227

Llanelli P-P Prestatyn Town (5/3/2011)

Port Talbot Town 0-3 Bangor City Att 328

The New Saints 2-0 Cardiff Grange Harlequins Att 161