Swans Prepare For FAW Premier Cup Test

Last updated : 25 January 2005 By Richard Evans
Swansea return to action in the FAW Premier Cup on Wednesday night, as they travel to The Oval to face Caernarfon Town. Kenny Jackett is expected to name a weakened side for the trip to the Welsh Premier League outfit and will seek to rest a number of first-team players for the visit of Chester to the Vetch Field on Saturday.

First formed in 1876, Swansea's opponents began life as Carnarvon Athletic
and moved to their current home, "The Oval", in 1888. After battling their way through the local non-league system, Caernarfon Town (as they became known in 1937) were elected into the Northern Premier League in 1985. The following season saw manager John King snapped up by Tranmere Rovers after the club finished third in the league and took two league scalps on the way to the third round of the FA Cup. However, two years later, they were relegated back to the First Division and after seven years of failing to return to the Premier, opted to join the Welsh League in 1995. Financial difficulties plagued the club for the next few years before last season's 9th placed finish saw them qualify for the FAW Premier Cup.

Ex-Welsh International Wyn Davies, ex-England International Ian Woan and Hartlepool's Eifion Williams have all donned the yellow and green Caernarfon kit, although it will be an ex-Swan that will be most recognisable to Swansea fans on Wednesday night. Steve Watkin signed for Swansea for over £100k from Wrexham in the 90's, where he famously knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup with his late strike at the Racecourse Ground. Watkin joined Caernarfon Town in the summer of 2003 after being released Brian Flynn and looks set to play out his twilight years at The Oval.

Caernarfon Town are currently languishing towards the bottom of the Welsh Premier League and are currently experiencing a dismal run of form. Yet to have scored a goal in 2005, the Canaries lost 2-0 on New Years Day to Bangor before grabbing their only point of the year so far with a 0-0 draw at Port Talbot. However, their last two fixtures have seen them beaten 7-0 by TNS and 5-0 by mid-table Aberystwyth and the odds aren't looking good for a cup upset.

Kenny Jackett is likely to call upon the likes of Mark Pritchard and Antonio Corbisiero for this quarter-final tie, with probable recalls for Gary Fisken and Alan Tate. Brian Murphy is also likely to continue his run in goal following an impressive performance at Boston on Saturday, although Frenchman Willy Gueret looks odds-on to regain his place for Swansea's league match on Saturday.

The match will be shown live on BBC2 Wales, with kick-off at 7pm.