Sixteen teams from across the country will look to move a step closer to lifting the FAW Women’s Cup on Sunday as the 2nd Round takes place with a number of intriguing ties headlined by Swansea City taking on perennial rivals Cardiff Met at Llandarcy.
The Swans are currently third in the Genaro Adran Premier table, just two points Cardiff Met who are in second place, and the current league champions will be keen to progress in a competition that they have won three times previously. Swansea City opened the new season with a 2-0 win over Cardiff Met in front of over 1,400 fans through goals from Katy Hosford and Stacey John-Davies. “We created a few good chances which we didn’t quite take,” explained Met head coach Izzy Taylor to BBC Sport Wales. “Swansea took their two moments and that’s all it comes down to.”
Cardiff City are the current holders of the FAW Women’s Cup having claimed the trophy with a 2-0 over Cardiff Met in the Final last April and they can expect a tough challenge on Sunday when they host Pontypridd United. Iain Darbyshire’s side progressed with a 5-0 victory over Cascade YC in the last round. “It was a good opportunity for some of the players to show what they can do,” said Darbyshire to the Cardiff City website after the win. “Especially for the players who haven’t had as many minutes as they would have liked. It’s a positive performance, another clean sheet and into the next round.”
With six wins out of six in the league this season, Cardiff City have enjoyed the perfect start to the campaign with victories in all competitions and defeated Sunday’s opponents Pontypridd United 2-0 on the opening weekend. However, Pontypridd United have won their last three games and head into the weekend high in confidence. “I’m really, really happy the way things are going for us,” said manager James Fishlock following the 3-0 win over Barry Town United to the club’s social channels. “It was a good game [against Cardiff] at the start of the season and I’m sure it will be a really good challenge and we’re all looking forward to it.”
Connah’s Quay Nomads and Briton Ferry Llansawel are the respective leaders of the Genero Adran North and South tables, and they will look to maintain their perfect starts to the season when they return to cup action. The Nomads host Aberystwyth Town and meeting a team from the Adran Premier will offer an indication of where they are on the field as they push for promotion. Both Briton Ferry Llansawel and their opponents Llanelli Town enjoyed convincing victories in Round 1 and both sides will be looking to impress at the Old Road on Sunday with a place in the last eight at stake.
There is an interesting tie at Park Hall as The New Saints take on Wrexham. Saints’ manager Andy Williams watched his side push champions Cardiff City all the way in the capital last weekend, but his side were eventually defeated 3-2. “We want to win this game and we want to be in the hat for the next round,” explained Williams to TNS TV this week. “We know that Wrexham are on a good run and they will be full of confidence. They will be wanting to prove themselves so we will be taking nothing for granted this weekend.”
Abergavenny are still looking for their first league points of the season but claimed a 3-1 victory over Swansea University of the Adran South in the previous round. This weekend they take on Carmarthen Town who entered the competition at the qualifying round and have defeated Penybont and Tonyrefail Welfare to reach this stage. Meanwhile, Pencoed Athletic BGC U19 host Cardiff Wanderers at Pencoed College while Llandudno take on Adran North rivals CPD Y Rhyl 1879. All the games on Sunday kick-off at 2pm.
