Two great teams, one Cup final – The History
Barry Town United face TNS in the Nathaniel MG Cup final on Saturday but what side has been a more successful Welsh League Cup winning team?
Both teams have been massively successful but it’s TNS who come out on top. The New Saints have won seven league cups, with Barry winning one fewer.
The New Saints have won the last two League Cup finals, beating Denbigh Town last season, and defeating Bala Town in the previous season.
Town’s last success in the Welsh League Cup came way back in the 1993/1994 season where it saw them defeat Treowen Stars by a scoreline of 4-1. In the same season it saw Barry dominate the Cup competitions, winning the FAW trophy with a victory over Aberaman Athletic 2-1 as well as defeating Cardiff City in the Welsh cup by the same scoreline.
Barry first won the Welsh League Cup back in the 1934/1935 season where they defeated Gelli colliery 2-0. After that Barry went on an 11 year spell without winning the Welsh League Cup before defeating Milford United in 1946.
Barry then went over 30 years without a League Welsh Cup before defeating Pontllanfraith on penalties in the 1978/1979 season before beating one of their rivals in Merthyr Tydfil 2-1 in 1983.
Before winning their last Welsh League Cup in 1994 with a victory over Treowen Stars, Barry defeated AFC Cardiff by a scoreline of 2-0 in 1987.
Baring in mind Town had six Welsh League Cup trophies in 1994, and TNS hadn’t won the trophy a single time it shows how far TNS have come, first winning the Cup in the following season and have gone onto be the most successful Welsh League Cup side winning it a remarkable seven times in a 21 year period, during that time they also came runners-up in the 2012/2013 season with a defeat to Carmarthen Town on penalties with the scores tied 3-3 at the end of the 90 minutes it was Carmarthen who held their nerve, winning the penalty-shootout 3-1.
Can TNS win their eight League Cup trophy in 22 years, or can Barry make it seven a piece with a victory over the elite of 2016/2017?
