Rhyl not intimidated by Caernarfon challenge in JD Welsh Cup

Rhyl 1879 manager Paul Moore has urged his team to keep believing as they prepare for their JD Welsh Cup semi‑final against JD Cymru Premier opponents Caernarfon Town on Sunday (KO 1:45pm).

The Lilywhites head into the biggest game since the phoenix club’s rebirth after a memorable 2-1 quarter‑final victory over Barry Town United put them within touching distance of the final.

“It was such a good result against Barry,” said Moore. “Until playing us, they hadn’t conceded a goal in the competition. When we got the draw I was a bit disappointed and thought it was the hardest of the draws we could get. The saving grace was that we were at home and we knew if we didn’t allow them to get their heads up and we got into them, it would make it a difficult afternoon.

“When we went a goal behind after seven minutes, I thought ‘crikey, here we go’, but it actually sprung us into life and after 15–20 minutes we kept our heads, stayed calm and stuck to our game plan. Our goal was a really well‑worked goal and then we just didn’t stop and carried on from there. It was a really good contest and I really do think we deserved to go through.

“We were on such a high after that game and needed to get back focused for the league, but since then we’ve only been beaten once and that was against Airbus.”

Having achieved promotion last season, Rhyl 1879 have had an encouraging first season in the JD Cymru North but Moore is clear‑eyed about the gulf on paper between the sides, although refuses to be intimidated.

“I think the pressure is on them most definitely because they are the Cymru Premier side. If you’re a betting man, you wouldn’t bet against them beating us – they’ve already achieved European qualification and we’re a phoenix club who have only just come up out of Tier 3. But in the 15 months I’ve been here, we’ve won a league title, reached two cup semi‑finals and we’re lying fifth in the league.

“They are the favourites to win the tie and all the pressure is on them. If we do beat them, a lot of people are going to ask questions of them. It’s a one‑off game – anything can happen. We’re not a team that panics; we stick to our plan. We’ve got good resilience. I’m not going to panic if we go a goal down on Sunday.”

Following the dissolution of Rhyl FC in 2021, the rise of phoenix side CPD Y Rhyl 1879 has kept the passion burning in the football-mad town but nothing has so far come close to Sunday in terms of an occasion.

“It’s without doubt the biggest game since we became a phoenix club,” Moore says. “In terms of the overall history of Rhyl, it would be another historic day for the fans. As a phoenix club, it would mean everything to Adam Roche and Tom Jamieson and all our volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the five years.

“Bearing in mind the club didn’t have a budget or anything when they started off, they built this themselves. There’s been no big benefactor coming in and everything has been self‑generated. The supporters come through the gate and give their hard‑earned coin to watch us play.

“For the club to accomplish what we’ve achieved in such a short space of time is phenomenal. The other thing is we’re also flying the flag for Tier 2 this weekend — and that’s something to be proud of. I’ve had loads of messages from managers in our division wishing us luck.

“We’re under no illusions how big a task it’s going to be. It’s a tough draw but at the same time Caernarfon will have to look at us and think, ‘they just knocked Barry out and Barry beat us 2-0 last week’.

“Once me and assistant manager Ronnie Green do our bit, after the players go over that white line it’s all down to them. They’re the ones who have to put in the hard, unselfish running to get the result, so for them it will be a huge achievement in their own football careers and for many of them probably the only time they might ever get to play in a Welsh Cup final.”

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