The 2025/26 Welsh Blood Service League Cup kicks off this weekend with Round One fixtures for all clubs in the JD Cymru North and JD Cymru South.
Perhaps the standout tie comes at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium, where Airbus UK Broughton and Mold Alexandra – the last two national winners of the competition – go head-to-head on Friday night.
The Wingmakers lifted the trophy last season courtesy of beating Trefelin in the final, while they have started the new JD Cymru North campaign with 13 points from a possible 15. Kaiden Cooke’s hat-trick inspired a 5-0 home win over Brickfield Rangers in their most recent outing on Monday.
Mold Alexandra caused a shock in the 2023/24 national final as they triumphed over JD Cymru Premier-bound Briton Ferry Llansawel, but the Flintshire side were then beaten 1-0 by Holywell Town in Round One last season. Barry Owen’s side have drawn three of their opening five league games of the new campaign, winning one and losing one.
The two sides drew 1-1 in their last meeting in April, when Lucas Gregson scored a 79th-minute equaliser for Mold after Cooke’s early opener for Airbus.
Two of the early pacesetters in the JD Cymru North meet on Saturday as Llandudno host Newtown.
Both sides sit on 13 points from a possible 15 so far, while Llandudno are yet to concede a goal in six matches in any competition. The Seasiders were 4-0 winners over Gresford Athletic on Monday.
Newtown have made a strong start to life in the second tier following relegation from the top-flight, earning the bragging rights in the mid-Wales derby on Monday as Fin Starkey-Jones scored a late winner to defeat Caersws 2-1.
The two sides last met in the JD Cymru Premier in 2018/19, when they drew 0-0 at the Go Goodwins Stadium before Newtown triumphed 3-1 at Latham Park.
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JD Cymru North leaders Holywell Town will aim to keep building early season momentum when they travel to Penrhyncoch on Friday.
The Roosters caused one of the biggest shocks in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup last season as they won 5-1 over the Wellmen in Round One – their first victory over the Flintshire side in nine meetings.
However, Gari Lewis’ side are yet to win in 2025/26, losing three and drawing two of their first five league fixtures. Isaac Pridmore’s stoppage time equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw at home against Denbigh Town on Monday.
In contrast, Holywell have won all five of their league matches so far, as well as knocking out top-flight Flint Town United from the Nathaniel MG Cup. Craig Lindfield starred with two goals and two assists in the 5-1 win over Ruthin Town on Monday.
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In the Southern section of the draw, last season’s regional winners Trefelin host Ammanford on Saturday.
Tref triumphed over Penrhiwceiber Rangers to lift the Southern trophy last term, before defeat to Airbus in the national final. Andy Hill’s side have started the new season with 10 points from a possible 15 in the JD Cymru South, playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Llantwit Major on Monday.
Ammanford remain unbeaten following their first five league games of the new season, winning three and drawing two while only conceding one goal. Wyn Thomas’ team earned a goalless draw away at Aberystwyth Town on Monday.
Lee Trundle scored an 87th-minute winner to earn a 2-1 victory for Trefelin when the two sides last met in March – ending Tref’s six-match winless streak against Ammanford.
Early JD Cymru South leaders Cambrian United kick off their cup campaign away at Pontypridd United on Friday night.
Cambrian’s 2-0 derby victory over Ynyshir Albions on Monday made it five wins from five matches for Liam Williams’ side in the JD Cymru South so far this term. However, they were beaten by Trefelin in Round One of the Welsh Blood Service League Cup last season.
After a squad overhaul under new boss Mark Dunford in the summer, it has not been the start to the season that Pontypridd United would have wanted. The Dragons have taken just one point from their opening five league games, losing 2-0 away at Caerau Ely on Monday. They made their debut in this competition last season, reaching the Southern semi-finals before defeat to Penrhiwceiber Rangers.
The last meeting between the two sides was a thrilling 3-3 draw on New Year’s Day, when now-Cambrian frontman Liam Eason scored the opening for Ponty and Tim Parker scored a 99th-minute equaliser for Cam.
Cwmbran Celtic’s home tie against Carmarthen Town on Saturday is another clash between two sides who have had contrasting starts to the season.
Following defeat in their opening four matches, Celtic finally picked up their first point of the campaign in a 1-1 draw with Newport City on Monday. The Yellows have never won a match in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup, losing in Round One in each of the previous three years.
Carmarthen remain unbeaten following their first five league games of the new season, winning three and drawing two while only conceding one goal. Mark Aizlewood’s team earned a goalless draw at home against Baglan Dragons on Monday.
The two sides have already met this season on the opening weekend of the JD Cymru South, when Liam Thomas’ brace inspired Carmarthen to a 4-0 win away at Celtic Park.
Welsh Blood Service League Cup Round One Fixtures
Friday 29 August
Northern Section
Ruthin Town v Gresford Athletic (19:30)
Airbus UK Broughton v Mold Alexandra (20:00)
Southern Section
Caerau Ely v Treowen Stars (19:30)
Pontypridd United v Cambrian United (19:30)
Trethomas Bluebirds v Llantwit Major (19:45)
Saturday 30 August
Northern Section
Caersws v Brickfield Rangers (14:00)
Guilsfield v Flint Mountain (14:00)
Holyhead Hotspur v Buckley Town (14:00)
Llandudno v Newtown (14:00)
Penrhyncoch v Holywell Town (14:00)
Rhyl 1879 v Denbigh Town (14:00)
Southern Section
Cardiff Draconians v Newport City (14:00)
Cwmbran Celtic v Carmarthen Town (14:00)
Trefelin v Ammanford (14:00)
Ynyshir Albions v Afan Lido (14:00)
Aberystwyth Town v Baglan Dragons (14:30)
