By Matthew Burgess
The Welsh Cup returns this weekend with 16 remaining clubs looking to advance into the quarter-final stage.
Current holders The New Saints are looking to lift the famous trophy for the fourth year in a row and will be clear favourites to progress in their home tie against Llanelli – the lowest ranked side left in the competition.
It was only six years ago when Llanelli – then a major force in Welsh domestic football – last won the competition before being forced into liquidation.
Now in Welsh League Division Two, Llanelli are climbing their way back through the divisions with a certain Lee Trundle spearheading their ambitions.
Trundle has played a pivotal role in the club’s unbeaten run this season since joining last summer, and with an impressive 30 goals in just 15 appearances, the 40-year-old appears to be enjoying his football as much as ever.
“I love playing football and the only time I’ll stop is when my legs can’t move anymore or I stop scoring goals so for now I’ll just keep enjoying it,” he told FAW.TV this week.
“It’s a massive game for us to go and play TNS which, for me, are the best team by a mile in the Premier League. For them to come up against us, we know that we’re massive underdogs and it’s going to be a tough test for us but it’s a cup game and we’ve just got to go out and enjoy it.
“We’re going in full of confidence, we haven’t been beat this season. If you were a betting man you’d go with TNS but in cup games you never know what can happen on the day and we’ll go there and give a good account of ourselves and see what happens at the end.
“I believe if I get chance in a game I can score a goal I love playing football, I spent an early part of my career in the league with Rhyl and that’s what gave the platform to go on and sign for Wrexham, so if it wasn’t at Rhyl, I probably would not have got that move so I owe the league a lot for my career.”
With the fourth-round draw producing just one all-Welsh Premier League tie there is plenty of scope for upsets this weekend and you suspect Prestatyn Town and Caernarfon Town will be quietly confident of their chances against top-flight opposition.
The pair currently sit first and second in the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance and will be looking carry over their convincing league form into the Welsh Cup.
Prestatyn are hot favourites to return to the Welsh Premier League this season on the back of their unbeaten league campaign, and they will get the opportunity to test their WPL credentials against out-of-form Aberystwyth Town are Park Avenue.
Caernarfon Town, who are enjoying their best Welsh Cup run in nine years, feature in the afternoon’s televised fixture as Rhyl visit the Oval.
Elsewhere, South-Wales clubs Penybont and Cardiff Met travel to Bala Town and Guilsfield respectively and Bangor City face Llandudno in a North Wales coast derby.
Welsh Cup R4 (2.30 unless stated): Aberystwyth Town v Prestatyn Town (1.30); Llanfair United v Cefn Druids (1.30); Bangor City v Llandudno (1.30); Bala Town v Penybont; Guilsfield v Cardiff Met; Haverfordwest County v Connah’s Quay; TNS v Llanelli; Caernarfon Town v Rhyl (5.15).