“Biggest game in our club’s history”
The long-awaited draw was made yesterday following the conclusion of a Football Association of Wales investigation into Pontypridd United who have been given permission to play their delayed quarter-final match.
And while the winner of Pontypridd United v Cardiff Met will play Swansea City, Guilsfield have been drawn at home in the other semi-final against near neighbours The New Saints on January 3.
“It’s a massive match, the biggest in our club’s history, or at least since I became chairman back in 1999,” said Paul Harding.
“We have had some memorable cup days at Guilsfield, and have upset a lot of bigger clubs, so we’ll be looking forward to welcoming TNS in the New Year.”
Harding recalled the last time Cup fever grabbed Guilsfield in 2008 when the village hosted Bangor City in the quarter-final of the Welsh Cup.
They lost 5-0 on that occasion, but Harding believes their manager Nathan Leonard can plot a tougher time this time around against the undisputed kings of the Welsh League.
“The club has had some proud moments over the past couple of seasons with three players gaining Welsh caps in the UEFA Regions’ Cup, and this year ‘Lenny’ is going to be the North Wales manager and it’s all putting the football club on the map,” said Harding, who added that the villagers have knocked out Newtown, Caersws, Bala and Prestatyn on their way to the last four.
“It would be a massive achievement if we got to the final, but if we turn up on the night and play like we know we can, then we will give TNS a game to remember. We will be massive underdogs, but we will give it a good go and hope we get a lot of support behind us.”
The Nathaniel MG Cup involves all of the clubs from the top two tiers of Welsh football, with a couple of wild cards added this year in Cardiff City and Swansea City.
The winner gets £10,000 and enters The Scottish Cup.
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