4th May Welsh Cup

[traeth]

Welsh Cup 04.05.08 being shown live on S4C @2:30

Llanelli v Bangor 2.10 3.10 3.25 these odds from VC
League Champions Llanelli against 5th placed Bangor
Llanelli won the league with 85 points, 30 more than Bangor. Llanelli lost just three matches in the league this season , the final game away at TNS when the league was won and two matches at home to Porthmadog and Bangor. The match at Bangor was a 1-1 draw so in the league have performed well against Llanelli. The league fixtures were completed two weeks ago but Llanelli played in the League cup final last week , which they won 2-0 at the same venue as Sunday , Newtown.
Llanelli have qualified for the Champions league qualifiers which means that Bangor qualify for the UEFA irrespective of the result of this final.
Bangor have won this cup whilst Llanelli have never won this competition which dates back to 1878.
The way Llanelli have played this season I would have expected an easy first win in this cup for them but they have numerous injury problems. The biggest miss would be top scorer Rhys Griffiths who has attracted the attention of Cardiff.
My opinion is that Llanelli are playing mind games with Bangor and that most of these "injuries" are knocks and that we will see Griffiths performing on Sunday.
If you have any doubts you should wait until Sunday but my money will be on Llanelli @ 2.1 with VictorChandler


this news from Welsh-premier site about the Llanelli injury news

LLANELLI have seven injury doubts ahead of Sunday's bid to complete a treble by lifting the FAW Welsh Cup at Newtown's Latham Park.
Leading scorer Rhys Griffiths, who has more than 50 goals under his belt this season but missed last week's League Cup win, tops the list, with defenders Wyn Thomas (hamstring), Stuart Jones (ankle) and Gary Lloyd (calf), midfielders Matthew Jones (cracked rib), Craig Jones (hamstring) and Antonio Corbisiero (ankle) also in a race to be fit to face Bangor City.
Griffiths, along with Corbisiero, Thomas and Lloyd, is expected to get the green light while the three Joneses are rated 50-50, but keeper Ryan Harrison and midfielder Craig Williams both miss out through injury.
"The chairman is a winner and kicks every ball," manager Peter Nicholas told the Llanelli Star.
2 May 2008

I will post more news throughout the weekend

[Kop66]

Hi traeth, good see your team escape the drop in the end

That does look a generous price for Llanelli, i would of thought odds on (1.72 maybe) looking at the league form, 2.1 just looks wrong. And as you say the injury is probably mind games, you cant see any player wanting to miss this one.

Neath to improve again next season for me, i'll be looking for an each way bet on them come August.

[traeth]

Originally Posted by Kop66

Hi traeth, good see your team escape the drop in the end

That does look a generous price for Llanelli, i would of thought odds on (1.72 maybe) looking at the league form, 2.1 just looks wrong. And as you say the injury is probably mind games, you cant see any player wanting to miss this one.

Neath to improve again next season for me, i'll be looking for an each way bet on them come August.

cheers kop , on the final saturday I was very nervous but we managed our first home win to ensure safety , but it looks as if Caersws may also stay up due to no team from South Wales having acceptable ground facilities.
I still find it difficult to believe that Neath did so well , we lost our opening game to them , they never looked back and we struggled all season , Neath an each way bet not for me , I see the top three being the same next season .

I did not believe the price at odds against in this match , they beat Rhyl 2-0 in last week's League Cup final . I think that Rhyl are a better side than Bangor . Bangor's fans are happy to be in the final and into Europe

[traeth]

This is a North Wales [Bangor] bias preview from the Daily Post.
Bangor are a Northern club "loved" by the Northern press but hated by fans of the other Northern clubs, me included so be warned of my anti Bangor bias

May 3 2008 by Our Correspondent, Daily Post

NEVILLE POWELL reckons Bangor City will have the psychological edge when they face Llanelli in tomorrow’s Welsh Cup final
Llanelli are targeting the treble having already clinched the Welsh Premier title and the League Cup, but the full-timers hold no fear for Bangor as Powell’s side were the only team not to be beaten by them this season.
The manager will want more of the same from striker Ashley Stott after the 28-goal ace scored all Bangor’s goals in City’s 2-0 win at Stebonheath Park and the 1-1 draw at Farrar Road.
Powell said: “Not having been beaten by Llanelli in the league, which is something no other team can claim, gives us a tremendous boost.”
Lee Webber and Martin Beattie should also return for Bangor at Newtown in their 14th Cup showdown.
Centre-back Webber limped off with damaged knee ligaments during Bangor’s 2-1 defeat to Rhyl at Farrar Road last month, and missed their final home game with Neath Athletic.
Beattie, who fractured a cheek bone playing at Neath in late March, has undergone surgery and might use a face mask if called into action.
One of the most fascinating features of the final could be the test of talents between Llanelli’s Rhys Griffiths, scorer of more than 50 goals in all competitions, and City’s Michael Johnston, the Daily Post readers’ choice as player-of-the-season.
However, Griffiths is one of seven injury doubts for Llanelli after he missed last Sunday’s League Cup final win over Rhyl – although the marksman is expected to get the green light.
Defenders Wyn Thomas (hamstring), Stuart Jones (ankle) and Gary Lloyd (calf), midfielders Matthew Jones (cracked rib), Craig Jones (hamstring) and Antonio Corbisiero (ankle) are also in a race to be fit.
With both teams assured of entry into European competition – Llanelli in the Champions’ League and City in the Uefa Cup – the extra prize now on offer is Wales’ oldest and most coveted piece of silverware, first competed for 131 years ago when Wrexham beat Druids 1-0 in the final.
Powell said: “The game has all the hallmarks of being a classic between two teams who love to play quality football, and it should be a great spectacle for the TV cameras.
“The lads had two good training sessions this week and looked lively, and there is great excitement about the occasion.
“After our most enjoyable season, this is the opportunity to put the icing on the cake – and it is a few years since Bangor won a cup of this importance.
“We will set out to put on a good show and are expecting great support from the fans.”
Bangor last captured the Welsh Cup in 2000, when Paul Roberts scored the only goal to defeat Cwmbran Town at Wrexham. Llanelli’s only final appearance was back in 1914, when they lost 3-0 to Wrexham.

[traeth]

WELSH CUP FINAL
Bangor 4-2 Llanelli aet

well got that wrong , Bangor were down to 10 men after 4 minutes but led 1-0 at half time , Llanelli came back and led 2-1 until 2 minutes into injury time when Bangor equalised , there were problems with Bangor fans again.

poor end to my season

[Kop66]

I couldn't find the score earlier on the bbc so i just logged into my account hoping to find a few funds from the result


Nevermind traeth, a small break now (does us all good) and it'll soon be pre season again

GO NEATH! GO NEATH! GO NEATH!