Newbridge, Presteigne and Rhayader Town are targeting a run in the Central Wales Challenge Cup when they enter the competition at tomorrow’s third round stage.
All three meet rivals from the Spar Mid Wales League with Newbridge and Presteigne enjoying home advantage. And all three will be hoping for a break in the weather as they attempt to make a belated start to the New Year.
Newbridge possibly look to have one of the toughest draws when they host Tywyn/Bryncrug. It will be the third meeting between the teams this season with The Villagers having suffered a 2-0 Welsh Cup defeat on the coast on the opening day of the season as well as securing a hard earned league point in a 1-1 away draw.
Manager Kevin Price is now hoping to make home advantage count as Newbridge, semi-finalists last season, look to redress the balance.
Presteigne will be looking to put their poor league form to one side when they welcome Penparcau to Llanandras Park. The Radnorshire side recorded one of their only four league wins this season when beating Penparcau 3-1 at home, but since then the Aberystwyth-based side are unbeaten in five – a run which includes wins against Berriew and Tywyn/Bryncrug.
Penparcau will undoubtedly provide a physical challenge but the Min-y-Ddol side, certainly on previous visits to Radnor- shire, do not deserve the bad boy image they have been labelled with.
Presteigne are without Chris Goode, who serves a one-match ban, but last week’s cancellation has given player-manager Mike Symonds, Adie Bennett and Kenny Styles extra time to recover from injury.
Rhayader Town are the only one of the Radnorshire trio on the road, when they visit Bow Street and their former goalkeeper Nathan Bennett.
Town recorded what was a more than comfortable 3-1 win in the league meeting between the sides and player-boss Dylan McPhee is calling for more of the same.
