FAW Cup roundup: Third Round

League action took a pause this weekend as the third round of the FAW Cup took centre stage.

16 teams remained and there were some shocks and great goals across the country, as eight teams eyed a place in the quarter finals.

We start off with a matchup between two Adran Premier sides. When Swansea City and Cardiff Met face off, it’s normally a crucial league match or in the final of a competition. To see them compete in such an early round of the cup was a mouth-watering prospect, and it was the Archers who prevailed on penalties.

At the end of 90 minutes, it was goalless, perhaps an indication of how tense the game itself was, but also the quality both sides possessed. In the end, the match was decided from the penalty spot. After seven successful penalties, Swansea’s Jess Williams fired her penalty off the underside of the crossbar and out. This left Met captain Steph Turner to step up and send her side to the next round.

Next to an interesting clash in North Wales. TNS have been, to some, a bit of a surprise package in the Adran Prem. Their attacking brand of football is something that has been easy on the eye, and they have had close contests with some of the best sides in the league. Their opponents, Wrexham, were coming off an impressive victory in the Adran North against Llandudno and were in extremely good form when it came to goal scoring. The Red Dragons came out on top here, slaying the Saints 2-1.

Wrexham were two up inside 25 minutes, with goals Rebecca Pritchard and Rosie Hughes. TNS certainly pushed for a goal in the second half, but a combination of poor finishing and good Wrexham defending would be their undoing. They did eventually find a way through a minute from time through Lexie Harrison, but the damage had been done, and it’s the Adran North side who advance into the quarter finals.

The lowest ranked side left in the competition are Cardiff Wanderers, after they defeated Pencoed Athletic 4-1. It only took four minutes for the opener to come, and it came for Pencoed, Amber Thomas with the finish. All the goal seemed to do was fire up the Wanderers players, and they scored two goals in five minutes to take the lead, both coming through Jade Crofts.

The second half hung in the balance, with the Wanderers not being able to pull away from their visitors. That was until the 86^th minute, where Elin Jones turned the ball into her own net to make it 3-1. Rachel Beare rubbed salt into the wound as she scored Cardiff’s fourth, and they go into the quarter final not afraid of any opponent.

Connah’s Quay Nomads sat top of the Adran North going into their clash on Sunday, and with Kirstie Kural in their ranks, could cause numerous problems to their opponents. Aberystwyth Town were the team tasked trying to stop them. With the Seasiders sitting seventh in the Adran Prem and not winning a game since the opening day of the season, a shock could be on the cards. But Aber laid rest to those claims by winning this one 2-0.

The first half was a scrappy affair and a fiery one, epitomised by Aber assistant manager Matty Jones getting sent off before half time. As the second half progressed, Aber showed their prowess and made their move. Gwenllian Jones opened the scoring in the 64^th minute before Amy Jenkins netted in second half stoppage time to seal the win. Aber will be hoping they can continue this run when they return to league action next week.

Elsewhere in the third round, holders Cardiff City marched into the next round with a thumping 5-0 win over Pontypridd United. Rhianne Oakley got herself a hat trick, but Ponty were left furious by the officiating in this one, in particular when it came to player safety, as players from both sides suffered injuries. Abergavenny Town also progress to the quarters after a 3-1 win over Carmarthen Town. The Pennies’ Gracie Grosvenor got her first senior goal for the club.

Free scoring Briton Ferry continued their rich goal scoring form with an emphatic 9-1 win over Llanelli Town. Lowri Baker scored a hat trick, but her teammate Jess Denscombe went one better by scoring four. Llandudno went one better than the Ferry, as they beat Rhyl 10-0. Mari Gibbard became the competition’s top scorer this season, as she bagged six goals in this one.

FAW Cup Third Round results

Llandudno 10-0 Rhyl

TNS 1-2 Wrexham

Connah’s Quay Nomads 0-2 Aberystwyth Town

Cardiff City 5-0 Pontypridd United

Abergavenny Town 3-1 Carmarthen Town

Briton Ferry 9-1 Llanelli Town

Swansea City 0-0 Cardiff Met (Cardiff Met win 5-3 on pens)

Pencoed Athletic 1-4 Cardiff Wanderers