CUP FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Pencader and Llandysul will finally get it on today in the J.Emrys Morgan Cup after two postponements and this eagerly awaited clash will now go ahead at Parc Tir Y Dref.
The Pencader Park strip has still not recovered from a battering suffered a few weeks ago in heavy rain and manager Kevin Evans has been forced to concede home advantage and the current state of his pitch is of major concern as the surface water is not draining away.
Chris ‘Coco’ Davies and his men were finalists last season and it has been well documented in these pages that they were by far the best team in the final against Llanfair but they blew their chance. Today they face their near neighbours from division two who have a sprinkling of former Llan players and the visitors will be up for this crunch encounter.
The Swallows have all but sewn up the league championship and unless they capitulate over the next couple of months it is difficult to see any team catching them apart from Newcastle Emlyn. His club have high hopes of lifting a few trophies this term and who can blame them as both their teams are playing some splendid football but they have to get over a very difficult hurdle this afternoon.
Pencader may be in the second division but if Kevin Evan and his team turn up with the intention of spoiling the party they have players in the shape of Liam and Craig Gordan and Dan Jones to hurt them. Llandysul will be expected to come through but they are going to have to do it the hard way and be patient as they will be tested.
Cardigan Town have pulled out of their fixture this afternoon as they were unable to raise a team. The Magpies who won this competition only a couple of years ago when they defeated Crannog at Newcastle Emlyn with one of the best teams to have played in these parts for many years are struggling week to week. They were able to field a full-strength team recently against Lampeter in a league match and they were outstanding as a team in that 5-1 success but they can never guarantee a full compliment of players especially for away games and the future looks bleak.
Dewi Stars who won this competition back in season 1992-93 face Caersws Reserves and manager John Jones will travel with his team in a confident mood. Most of his young fit side were not even born when the Llanddewi outfit defeated Llansantffraid on that wonderful Good Friday afternoon and they can go out today and enjoy themselves without any fear but with a real chance of pulling off a surprise.
Jones and his men have a huge incentive to win as they will then have a home tie in the quarter-final against Berriew Reserves and they will fancy having a go at them. If manager Jones, who is a fine footballing man who has given so much to local sport gets his team to the final there will be a big party.
Some interesting ties in the League Cup this afternoon with none more so than at the School Field where Lampeter are the visitors. Luke Lovell and his men have all but conceded the league title but they would dearly like to get to the final on Easter Monday. St Dogmaels have an impressive cup tradition and they are a side on the up who have improved significantly over the past few months apart from their Boxing Day blip against the Magpies when the Christmas festivities took their toll and they didn’t really turn up.
Manager Steve Williams will fancy his team’s chances of making the Cae Sgwar showdown and they will be very tough to beat today on home soil.
Another intriguing game at Parc Emlyn where second division side Ffostrasol are the visitors.
The Wanderers who look a shoe in for promotion as champions will test the reds this afternoon and inform striker player Dion Phillips and partner Carwyn Morgan will relish an opportunity to have a go at the Emlyn defence.
This is a very good young Ffostrasol team with a bright future if they stick together and it promises to be an entertaining match.
