Two months into the new F.A.W Prermier Cup competition, and the nervous tension is beginning to grow. The Yellow Dragon casts an eye over the three different groups in this year's competition.
That hiccough has meant that the Lilywhites, who entertained Barry in the LoW last Saturday, have played only one of their six matches, and that was against local rivals, Bangor City, a fortnight ago. However, that game went badly for Rhyl as they lost 3-1 to Bangor.
Bangor, in fact, top Group A, above Cardiff City and Merthyr Tydfil, although they have played a game more than Cardiff and two more than Merthyr. Bangor's Premier Cup campaign began on a high note with a 1-0 victory over Cardiff at Ninian Park, with Darren Hilditch being awarded the Goal of the Month Award for his spectacular effort, and even-more spectacular celebration. From there, though, it has been downhill for the Farrar Road club, as they went down 2-1 at Merthyr Tydfil's Penydarren Park, with only Danny McGoona's 89th minute goal providing solace for the City faithful. That was followed by a 4-1 crushing on their own ground, as Cardiff put their world to rights. Nevertheless, Bangor remain top of the group, with a good chance of an automatic qualification spot.
Cardiff are in second, with 4 points from their 3 matches. Despite their surprise home defeat to Bangor, they remain upbeat about qualification, especially after their win in the North. Their other match again saw them drop points at home to Merthyr Tydfil in a 2-2 draw. The Martyrs had gone ahead in the match, but Cardiff had pegged them back, and then took a 2-1 lead. However, a late goal from former Cardiff and Barry player, Cohen Griffith, saw the Martyrs take a point back home.
Merthyr will certainly be happy with their start to the Premier Cup, as former Ebbw Vale and Barry manager, John Lewis, has seen his side take points home and away, and in good shape to qualify for the quarter-finals.
However, it's not been an easy trip for Swansea, who were lucky to get away from Caernarfon with all three points in their first match. Tony Bird had taken the lead for the Swans in the fifth minute, but Caernarfon central defender,Emrys Williams, had a goal disallowed for a foul on the keeper. Then, against Barry, Gary Lloyd rifled home a 4th minute free-kick, only for Tony Bird to score in injury time, and earn the Swans a point. Perhaps, with luck like that, the Swans name is engraved on this year's cup?!
Away at Wrexham, Swansea continued their good run, with a 2-0 victory over the side a division above them in English football. That included Steve Watkin scoring against his old club. Back at the Vetch, it took set-pieces to keep Caernarfon at bay. Cusack scored in the first half, before two goals from Steve Watkin settled the affair. For the Swans, a single victory, or a draw at home to Wrexham will ensure their qualification for the last eight.
Barry, with only 2 matches played, are second in the group, with 4 points. Everyone at Jenner Park will remember the victory over Wrexham that was the opening game of the Premier Cup this season. An excellent corner forced Wrexham defender, Dave Ridler, to head into his own goal, while excellent finishing from Richard Jones and Darren Davies, earnt Barry the three points. Barry's other match was that 1-1 draw at the Vetch. To ensure qualification for the quarter-final stages, Barry need to secure eight points from their final four matches.
In contrast, Wrexham look to be in trouble, having lost twice in their three matches so far. Their only points to date are those against Caernarfon Town, where Kevin Russell's goal secured a 1-0 victory. Caernarfon, who are bottom of the group and without points, were again unlucky, with a shot from player-manager, Paul Rowlands, flashing past the post in the final minutes of the match. The Canaries look to be down and out of the group, but there pride will be at stake when they play Barry in the final two matches of the group, and no-one should underestimate the North Walian club, who produced Eifion Williams.
Inter Cabletel top the group with three wins from four matches. Those include two wins over bottom of the group, Connah's Quay Nomads, and a win over Cwmbran Town, although their copybook was blotted by a 2-1 defeat at Newtown. Former Barry player, Samir Misbah, scored the consolation goal for Inter. Their wins over the Nomads have been impressive, coming from behind to register a 3-2 victory at the Cardiff Athletic Stadium, with Paul Evans scoring in injury-time, and a convincing 3-0 win at the Deeside Stadium, with Nomads's Jon Kenworthy smashing the ball into his own net, a far cry from his excellent 45-yard chip of Inter's keeper in Cardiff.
Cwmbran are in second, although with only one win in their four games. That win was at Newtown's Latham Park, where an 11th minute goal from Mattie Davies saw them take the points home. However, the Crows position has been undermined by dropping points to Connah's Quay, drawing 2-2 in North Wales, and then 1-1 at the Cwmbran Stadium. Meanwhile, in the rain last month, they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Inter Cabletel.
Much of the group positions will hinge on Newtown's ability to get results in their final games. The Robins have only played two matches so far, and are in third with a win against Inter Cabletel and defeat to Cwmbran Town. If, like Inter, they win their two matches against Connah's Quay, then they will be up with the leaders. Otherwise, whether Newtown, the group seeds, get through will depend upon their visits to Cardiff and Cwmbran, neither of which are places to go to in search of a result.
Connah's Quay, however, look to already be bowing out of their first F.A.W Premier Cup campaign. From their four matches so far, they have lost to Inter twice and drawn with Cwmbran on both occasions. Even victory home and away against Newtown would still make it unlikely for the Deeside club to qualify for the quarter-finals, even in third spot.
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
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F.A.W Premier Cup results 1998-99
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
This article first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Swansea City, 17.11.1998, F.A.W Premier Cup, Group B
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