PICTURE by Aled Wyn Jones shows current holders Nefyn United lifting the Cup last season.

TEAMS on Anglesey, in Gwynedd and beyond now know who they will be facing in the prestigious North Wales Coast Football Association (NWCFA) Junior Cup.

On Thursday, competing clubs from the Anglesey League, Gwynedd League and both Vale of Clwyd & Conwy Leagues (Premier and Division One) discovered who they will be playing when the competition kicks off on Saturday, October 13.

Here, I bring you the lowdown on who will be playing who and highlight some of the games that I think coudl be the ones to keep an eye on. Enjoy!

FIRST ROUND (Saturday, October 13)

Llandegfan (Anglesey League) v Llandudno Athletic (VCC Premier)

Athletic are flying high in their division at the moment with only Llansannan sitting above them. Llandeg on the other hand are pointless once again and sit bottom of the Anglesey League.

They say the magic of the cup takes place often, but a real miracle would have to happen to see the home side win in this one.

Bro Goronwy (Gwynedd League) v Cefni (Anglesey League)

Local derby match which could prove to be a decent match-up.

Bro haven’t been doing as well as many (Including I!) predicted in pre-season, having already lost two of their opening five Gwynedd League games so far. Having said that though, they always do well in cup competitions and will no doubt be up for this one with the likes of Taylor Jones, Liam Griffiths, Jac Thomas and Andy Williams pulling the strings for them.

Cefni are beginning to see results swing in their favour in the Anglesey League. Having beaten Llandegfan 6-1, they have since drew 3-3 with Valley and beaten Llanfairwpll 3-1 in the Dargie Cup. The likes of Ben Wright, Mark Wayne and Paul Jones will be crucial if they are to get something out of this Cup match.

Could there be a giant killing on the cards here?

Llangoed (Gwynedd League) v Gwalchmai (Gwynedd League)

Second in the Gwynedd League vs third in the Gwynedd League as it stands and two teams who really know how to play football and get the results.

Llangoed have the pace and a real attacking threat whilst Gwalchmai seem to have real grit and determination about them so this one will certainly be one to keep an eye on.

Menai Bridge Tigers (Gwynedd League) v Valley (Anglesey League)

Yet another potential cracker here.

Menai Tigers look destined to go on and win the Gwynedd League this year after already going six points clear at the top by winning all five of their matches so far. They will be on form for this one too no doubt and will be looking to win the cup for the eleventh time in their history.

Valley on the other hand were the Anglesey League team to go the furthest in this competition last year (Semi-finals) and so they know what it takes to cause an upset.

Old Colwyn (VCC Premier) v Cerrigydrudion (VCC Premier)

Two teams from the same league who just so happen to be the bottom two clubs in their division at this moment in time.

It’s still early days of course but this match should be a closely contested one between two teams who will be desperate to find some form of success beyond their league this season.

Penrhyn Bay Dragons (VCC Div 1) v Arriva Bangor (Anglesey League) – to be played on Saturday, October 20

The Dragons have enjoyed a decent start to their campaign having won two of their first three games and are currently sitting in sixth place in the table. Arriva have also had a very promising start to the season and have a squad full of talented players so this match could be interesting.

Nefyn United (Gwynedd League) v Llandudno Amateurs (VCC Premier)

Current cup holders Nefyn will be defending their tie at home to The Amateurs who should give them quite the game.

United beat Bontnewydd in last seasons final, beating them 4-2 as a Mark Dunn hat-trick guided them to success for the second time in their history. As always though, they’ll be the main team to target in this competition as they are the champions, so can they handle the pressure which the visitors will no doubt provide?

Two wins and two losses so far makes Nefyn tough to predict so far this season, so potentially anything could happen here. They will go all out to defend their trophy though.

Holyhead Hotspur Reserves (Anglesey League) v Glantraeth (Gwynedd League)

The youthful Hotspur second-string have settled into their new lives in the Anglesey League well and are on a roll there at the moment, having also won a Dargie Cup match on Monday.

Glantraeth are back this season too and after pulling of a surprising 2-1 win at Bro Goronwy this week they look as though they could return to form. This one really could go either way!

Waunfawr (Gwynedd League) v Rhos United (VCC Div 1)

The home side are yet to win a game in the Gwynedd League this season (after three attempts), whilst the visitors have won three of their first four in Division One.

Waunfawr are in a highly competitive league this season so they may focus more of their attention on a cup competition like this one. They’ll have to really put in a shift against a Rhos side that are pushing for the title in their league this season however.

Pentraeth Reserves (Anglesey League) v Llansannan (VCC Premier)

As draws go, Pentraeth Reserves couldn’t have hoped for a much tougher one as Llansannan are on fire in the VCC’s Premier Division – winning three out of three so far.

Nevertheless though, if there’s one thing you can say about the home side this season it’s that they’ve shown fight – pushing the likes of Caergybi and Arriva Bangor close with their new look squad.

Their side’s experience of playing Sunday League football has given them a rough edge and they certainly won’t let the visitors walk all over them.

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ROUND TWO (Saturday, December 1)

Bryngwran Bulls (Anglesey League) v Mynydd Tigers (Gwynedd League)

These two will have been glad to see the back of each other after last season having squared off no less than SIX TIMES in all competitions in the Anglesey League. It was destined to be then that they would meet once more in the cup.

Having been beaten by The Bulls in two cup finals last season, it was Mynydd who eventually got the last laugh – pipping their rivals to the Anglesey League title and promotion by beating them 4-2 on the final day of the 2017/18 campaign.

One things for sure – there will be plenty of goals in this one and it could certainly end up being the tie of the round.

Cemaes Bay (Anglesey League) v Llanfairfechan Town (VCC Premier)

Anglesey League newcomers Cemaes are one of the teams who have received a by to the second round of the Junior Cup, but they’ll certainly face a tough task against Llanfairfechan.

The visitors may be yet to win a game (only played two) in their league, but they won’t be pushovers that’s for sure. Cemaes will be looking to top-scorer Ryan Rowlands to fire them to glory again as this former footballing giant looks to get back on its feet.

Llandegfan or Llandudno Athletic v Caergybi (Anglesey League)

If Athletic do beat Llandegfan as expected then we will see a rematch of a fixture that took place in the Junior Cup last season between them and Caergybi.

Last time out, goals from star striker Gary Jo Owen and talented winger Glenn North gave Caergybi a surprising 2-1 win at Athletic’s home ground.

If these two meet again, you can put your money on it being one to watch. Athletic earned promotion last season and are flying in the Premier Division now, whilst Dale Moffat’s Caergybi side now have James Ryan up top with Owen – a deadly strikeforce that could be a handful to any side.

Bontnewydd (Gwynedd League) v Talysarn Celts (Gwynedd League)

Two Gwynedd League sides meet up in the second round and this one could be a great encounter.

Bontnewydd reached the final of the Cup last season and surprised many with their performances along the way so they’ll be looking for more of the same this time around. Talysarn themselves have the potential to cause an upset on their day so what happens in this one is anyone’s guess.

Rest of round two is as follows …

Denbigh Development (VCC Div 1) v Menai Bridge Tigers or Valley
Bodorgan (Anglesey League) v Rhuddlan Town (VCC Premier)
Abergele (VCC Premier) v Llanfairpwll (Anglesey League)
Betws Y Coed (VCC Div 1) v Llanelwy Athletic (VCC Div 1)
Y Glannau (VCC Div 1) v Llanystumdwy (Gwynedd League)
Pentraeth Reserves or Llansannan v Llangoed or Gwalchmai
Bro Goronwy or Cefni v St Asaph City (VCC Premier)
Penrhyn Bay Dragons or Arriva Bangor v Waunfawr or Rhos United
Old Colwyn or Cerrigydrudion v Henllan (VCC Div 1)
Llanfairfechan Town Reserves (VCC Div 1) v Nefyn United or Llandudno Amateurs
Holyhead Hotspur Reserves or Glantraeth v Machno United (VCC Premier)
Llysfaen (VCC Div 1) v Bro Cernyw (VCC Premier)

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NWCFA Junior Cup former winners:

#
31 TRA, Kinmel Camp (1948-49)

A
Abergele (1998-99, 1923-24, 1920-21)
Amlwch Town (1996-97, 1955-56, 1949-50)

B
Bagillt (1909-10)
Bangor (1897-98, 1895-96)
Bangor Athletic Reserves (1919-20)
Bangor Normal College (1938-39)
Bangor Reserves (1904-05)
Barmouth & Dyffryn United (2007-08)
Beaumaris Town (2006-07, 1924-25)
Bethel (2001-02)
Bethesda (1979-80, 1927-28)
Bro Goronwy (2016-17, 1986-87)
Brynsiencyn (1962-63)
Buckley Vics (1896-97)

C
Castle Rhuddlan (2002-03)
Colwyn Bay (1898-99)
Colwyn Bay Comrades (1933-34)
Connah’s Quay Albion (1989-90, 1951-52, 1950-51, 1939-40)
Conway (1903-04)

D
Deiniolen (1993-94)

F
Flint Reserves (1899-00)
Flint UAC (1902-03)

G
Glan Conwy (1997-98)
Glasinfryn (1921-22, 1912-13)
Greenfield and Holyhead (1905-06)
Greenfield United (1952-53)
Gwalchmai (1995-96, 1992-93, 1990-91, 1960-61, 1958-59)
Gwydyr Rovers (1961-62)

H
Hawarden Rangers (1981-82)
Holyhead Reserves (1910-11)
Holyhead Town (1987-88)
Holywell Town (1976-77)

LL
Llanberis (1965-66, 1964-65, 1963-64, 1935-36, 1934-35)
Llandegfan (1974-75)
Llandudno Albion (2014-15)
Llanerchymedd (1984-85)
Llanfairfechan (1988-89)
Llanfairpwll (1982-83, 1980-81, 1975-76)
Llanfairpwll Reserves (2015-16)
Llangefni Reserves (1991-92)
Llangoed (2003-04)
Llangoed and District (1970-71)
Llanrug (1978-79, 1977-78)
Llanrwst (1925-26, 1908-09, 1907-08, 1901-02)
Llanystumdwy (2004-05)
Llechid Celts (1968-69, 1966-67)

M
Machno United (1994-95, 1967-68)
Menai Bridge (1947-48, 1946-47, 1932-33, 1931-32, 1932-33, 1931-32, 1929-30, 1926-27, 1913-14, 1911-12)
Mold Alexandra (1930-31)
Morawelon (2011-12)
Mostyn YMCA (1973-74, 1972-73, 1971-72, 1959-60, 1953-54, 1945-46)
Mynydd Llandegai (2009-10)

N
Nantlle Vale (2000-01)
Newborough (1957-58, 1956-57)
Nefyn United (2017-18, 1999-00)

O
O’Holt St. David’s (Flint) (1922-23)

P
Prestatyn (1928-29)
Point of Ayr (2010-11)

R
Rhydymwyn (1983-84)
Rhyl Reserves (1900-01)
Rhyl Vics (1906-07)
Rhyl Wanderers (1969-70)

S
Saltney Ferry (1954-55)
Shotton Athletic (1937-38, 1936-37)
Sychdyn (1985-86)

T
Trearddur Bay United (2008-09)

Y
Y Felinheli (2012-13, 2013-14)

** Competition was suspended between 1914 and 1918 and then 1940 and 1945.

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