Remembering Penydarren’s magical JD Welsh Cup run in 2017/18

Three years ago to the day, plucky minnows Penydarren were gearing up for an historic Welsh Cup quarter-final against Cymru Premier giants Bangor City…

It was the experience of a lifetime for the grassroots club at Nantporth, playing in front of the live Sgorio cameras for the first time and playing against a side who were eight-times winners of the competition. Despite ultimately being beaten 7-0 in the end, their contribution to the tournament that season will live long in the memory by all within the welsh footballing community. 

Kerry Mullins’ side were simply unstoppable, overcoming six games, before making the trip to North Wales – and becoming the first side from fifth tier to ever reach that stage of the competition in its 144-year history. 

One man who knows just how much it took was striker, Christopher Colvin-Owens, who made the headlines in Round Three by being crowned player of the round, following his fine hat-trick over Llandudno Junction. 

“It was a season like no other”, the current forward said. “What we achieved that season was absolutely incredible and was thoroughly deserved for our hard work, but we never expected to get that far in the competition. 

“The reason we entered the competition was to test ourselves against Welsh League opposition because getting into the Welsh Football League had always been the club’s ambition. 

“The run was exceptional, the togetherness we had also was just unreal and it made the players, and the staff think that something special was going on and having the fans with us every step of the way, you just couldn’t ask for much more. We didn’t just play for the club, we played for the whole town too.  

“The support we had from everyone throughout journey was amazing – seeing young players at the club travelling around the country to watch us play and hopeful of following us in our footsteps was an incredible feeling.” 

Preparing for Bangor 

“We had to try and prepare for the match the same as we always did,” continued Colvin-Owens. “Obviously the build-up was a bit different because we had the media coming down to do interviews and talk to the players, but we also had to make sure that we were ready for the game.

“We had the likes of Sgorio, FAW TV, BBC Sport Wales, ITV Wales and other local media outlets covering our historic journey weeks prior to our trip to Bangor. 

“Usually, we would always focus on ourselves going into to every game but for this one especially we had to be mindful of our opponents’ strengths and weakness if we had any chance of coming out on top.  

“Bangor were a top side – sitting second at time in the Cymru Premier and were one of the sides in good form, so we knew we were in for an extremely tough game no matter what. 

“The whole week leading up to the game was full of excitement, especially knowing that we were going to be playing live on TV and that our families and friends would all be watching. “

Stunning the crowd 

The current Ardal League south side had to overcome two tier two scalps – Llandudno Junction of the Cymru Alliance and Pontypridd Town of Welsh League Division One, before reaching the big stage at Bangor City. 

“I remember calling my hat-trick at breakfast in the team hotel before the Llandudno game. I don’t know what it was, but I just had a special feeling about that game,” recalled the former Merthyr Town forward.

“That day I think was the best of the lot. The support we had that day and in the manner that we won that game was just unbelievable. Everyone, I think after that game believed that there was something special going on.  

“To be named player of round three was an incredible feeling but it was all down to my teammates and staff, and everyone associated with the club. It was a proud moment and something that I will cherish forever. 

“We never gave up in any game that we played in, and everyone was just enjoying their football. We just kept winning and winning, and the momentum just kept growing and growing. 

“We dominated every game near enough that we played in the lead-up to Bangor, we had so much confidence and so much quality in the side, therefore,  we believed anything was possible.  

The aftermath 

Colvin-Owens added: “The feeling afterwards was just crazy. At first, straight after the game, we were utterly disappointed by the score line. Still to this day, I think that it weren’t a 7-0 game but in fairness Bangor showed their quality and punished our mistakes. 

“To think that we were three wins away from Europe was just a surreal feeling, it was just disappointing that we weren’t able to create even more history in what was the biggest game in the football club’s history.

“For a player like myself and many others who have played for the club for a number of the years, it was great to the see the club doing well and being recognised for its progress, especially for the people behind the scenes who had dedicated so much for the club over years.

“To win the league after 25 years of asking that year certainly topped of a special season too.”

Now the Bont Playing Fields side currently find themselves in the newly formed FAW Ardal Southern League, after their back-to-back promotions from the South Wales Alliance League and Welsh Football League Division Three – since their fine run in the Welsh Cup that season.

During that season they also broke the South Wales Alliance League points total and reached the semi-finals of the FAW Trophy but were knocked out by the hands of Conwy Borough at Aberystwyth Town’s Park Avenue.

Penydarren’s 2017/18 Welsh Cup journey

Qualifying Round One: Penrhiwceiber Rangers (H) 5-3

Qualifying Round Two: Brecon Corries (A) 3-1

Round One: Cardiff Corinthians (A) 4-0

Round Two: STM Sports (H) 2-1

Round Three: Llandudno Junction (A) 4-0

Round Four: Pontypridd Town (A) 2-1

Quarter Finals: Bangor City (A) 0-7

(Featured Image: Mackenzie Thomas)