PREVIEW: MENAI BRIDGE TIGERS (A)
Aberystwyth Town begin their 2026/27 Welsh Cup campaign on Saturday with a trip north to face Tier 4 outfit Menai Bridge Tigers.
The Welsh Cup has provided plenty of memorable moments for the Black & Greens over the years, with Aberystwyth reaching the final on three occasions in recent decades - in 2009, 2014 and 2018. Following an encouraging start to the Novira Cymru South campaign, manager Craig Williams will be hoping his side can enjoy another successful cup run and create more memories for the Black & Green faithful.
The Seasiders head into Saturday's tie in excellent form, having won their last four consecutive matches. The most recent victory came last weekend, when they recorded an entertaining 3–2 win away at Caerphilly Athletic. The result leaves the team in second place in the Novira Cymru South, just one point behind leaders Pure Swansea.
Attention will soon turn to a mouthwatering meeting between the two sides, with Pure Swansea travelling to Aberystwyth University Park Avenue next Friday evening, 25th September. Before then, however, Aber will be looking to negotiate a tricky Welsh Cup tie against a Menai Bridge side that has made an excellent start to its own campaign.
Saturday’s hosts play in the North Wales Coast West Premier Division and currently sit top of the table having won all 6 of their league games so far, following up on an impressive season last season when they finished 2nd to Nefyn United.
Although various Menai Bridge clubs can be traced back to the 1800s, the current incarnation started life as a senior side back in 2009, playing in the Angelsey and Gwynedd leagues into the formation of the NWCW league after the pandemic. They spent one season in the Ardal North West league before returning to the NWCW in 2025.
Saturday's hosts currently sit top of the North Wales Coast West Premier Division, having won all six of their league matches so far this season. That follows an impressive 2025 campaign in which Menai Bridge finished runners-up to Nefyn United.
While football clubs representing Menai Bridge can trace their history back to the 1800s, the current incarnation of the Tigers was established as a senior side in 2009. They competed in the Anglesey and Gwynedd leagues before becoming part of the North Wales Coast West set-up following the pandemic.
The club also spent the 2024/25 season in the Ardal North West League, before returning to the North Wales Coast West League in 2025. They are managed by Aaron Rowlands, who is assisted by Karl Roberts.
The Tigers have two particularly prolific attacking players to keep an eye on. John Littlemore is currently their leading scorer with 12 goals, while Jamie McDaid has found the net 10 times. McDaid will be a familiar name to Aber supporters, having spent a brief spell with the Black & Greens in 2019.
Menai Bridge's most recent competitive fixture came on 5th September, when they drew 2–2 with Ardal North West side Llay Welfare before progressing with a victory on penalties.
Menai Bridge Tigers play at the Treborth Bangor University playing fields which can be found at LL57 2RQ. Come and get behind the lads as they start what will hopefully be a successful Welsh Cup campaign!
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