TNS must overcome in-form Bangor City if they are successfully defend their JD Welsh Cup crown in the pick of this weekend’s quarter-final ties.
The Saints have lifted the Welsh Cup for three years in succession but eight-time winners Bangor will be looking to bring an end to that run.
Having already won the League Cup earlier this season, TNS are plotting another treble-winning campaign with the Welsh Premier League title well within touching distance, leaving just the Welsh Cup remaining.
And the grand Welsh Cup trophy will prove to be the most difficult of the three for TNS to obtain with the 130 year-old competition showing no signs of losing its credibility and magic after a number of upsets so far.
Only four top-flight sides remain in the competition with teams from the North-Mid Wales feeder division the Huws Gray Alliance taking up the remaining places.
Following last week’s defeat to St. Mirren, TNS find themselves in the unfamiliar position of having lost their last two games and Craig Harrison will be demanding his record-breaking squad return to form as they bid for another cleansweep of domestic silverware.
City meanwhile have rejuvenated themselves following an active January transfer window and have since looked one of the most dangerous sides in the Welsh Premier League.
The immediate impact of recent acquisitions Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Dean Rittenberg along with the return to form of Daniel Nardiello and Henry Jones’ increasingly impressive displays in midfield, have transformed Ian Dawes’ Bangor into genuine Cup contenders.
At least one Cymru Alliance side is guaranteed to advance to the semi-finals with Llanfair United facing Caernarfon Town.
2013 winners Prestatyn Town thrashed Welsh Premier League outfit Aberystwyth in the previous round and the Seasiders will be looking to for another scalp when they host Welsh Premier heavyweights Gap Connah’s Quay in the round’s televised game.
Prestatyn have dominated in the Cymru Alliance where they remain unbeaten but can expect a stern test against a formidable Connah’s Quay side who are desperate to make their own mark this season.
Despite once again being serious Cup contenders, Bala Town are yet to appear in a Welsh Cup final. An away draw to Cymru Alliance mid-tablers Guilsfield sees The Lakesiders strong favourites to advance, but as we’ve already seen in the JD Welsh Cup this season, nothing can be taken for granted.
JD Welsh Cup Quarter Finals (all Saturday)
Llanfair v Caernarfon Town (1.30), Guilsfield v Bala Town (2.30), TNS v Bangor City (2.30), Prestatyn Town v Gap Connah’s Quay (5.15, live S4C).
NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS
Newtown manager Chris Hughes and Bala Town defender Anthony Stephens have been named WPL Manager and Player of the Month for January-February respectively.
Carmarthen Town centre-forward Mark Jones has made a surprise move to Aberystwyth Town. Jones is no stranger at Park Avenue having spent three seasons at Aberystwyth prior to joining Carmarthen for the start of the 2015/16 season. The 27-year-old made 20 (3) WPL appearances for the Old Gold this season, scoring seven goals. Jones has already featured since returning to Aber, playing in last weekend’s 4-3 defeat to Llandudno.
The Wales Under-18 academy squad, featuring a number of WPL-developed players, played an international double header against the Republic of Ireland this week, losing 4-0 and 1-0 in games played at Bala Town and Newtown.