All roads lead to The Lant Field on Saturday as Builth Wells go head to head with Brecon Corries in the first qualifying Round of this season’s JD Welsh Cup.

It is the stand out tie locally and Builth can expect a bumper crowd as they renew acquaintances with Damien Daniels’ Corries. 

The local rivals were both in the MMP Mid Wales League (East) in 2021-22 before going their separate ways. Corries pipped Builth for the title to step up to the Ardal League South East while Builth were promoted to the Ardal League North East. 

The tie will be Builth’s first competitive match of the new campaign while Corries are due to start tomorrow night (Tuesday) away at Treowen Stars in the Ardal League. 

Builth have retained all last season’s squad, which finished fourth in the Ardal North East, with the exception of Rudi Griffiths, who, having relocated to Cardiff, has signed for Abergavenny Town. New arrivals at The Lant Field are midfielders, Josh Joyce, who has played his football in South Wales, and Keegan McGinn, a local youngster who has been in the academies at both Newtown and Shrewsbury Town. Ollie Woods looks set to return following a stint with Hay St Marys. 

But The Bulls are without Tommy Rowlands who misses Saturday’s tie through suspension, while midfielders, Danny Ives and Alex Hicks are ruled out through injury.

Corries should include new signings, Jack Biggs and Liam McAnally, who have made the switch from Hay St Marys following their relegation to Tier Four. Both are quality signings and should prove a big boost to player-manager, Damien Daniels, strengthening his squad for the season ahead. Corey Evans should also return having missed last night’s league opener through suspension.

Elsewhere in the Welsh Cup, both Llandrindod Wells and Radnor Valley will be looking to progress against lower graded opposition.

Llandrindod, who expect to be pretty much unchanged from last season, welcome Mountain Rangers, from the North Wales Coast West first division, to The Broadway, admitting to knowing little about their opposition. Llandrindod are yet to announce any new signings but Tom Goodwin is being linked with a  return to his former club, while Rob Kear will hopefully figure having missed virtually the whole of last season through injury.

Radnor are away at Mid Wales rivals, Carno, who have made several new signings with ex-Llanidloes Town manager, Chris Davies also back at the club as assistant to Callum Breese. 

Radnor have signed goalkeeper, Tom Lewis, and defender, Elliot Williams and manager, Adam Jones was hoping to get a couple more signings over the line this week following Radnor’s last pre-season game against Presteigne St Andrews but Jack Price has left the club.

Midfielder, Elliot Morris is available for The Goats but then faces a five match league ban following a red card at Llanfair in their last league game last season. 

Knighton Town also feature in the first qualifying round draw and face a huge task with Cefn Albion, from the Ardal North East, their opposition at Bryn-y-Castell. 

After Saturday’s JD Welsh Cup ties, the Ardal league North East League programme commences in midweek with Builth Wells, Llandrindod Wells and Radnor Valley all in action on Wednesday night. Llandrindod host Radnor Valley in what should be a cracking local derby to start the league season while Builth Wells make the trip to Llanidloes Town, who were relegated from the JD Cymru North.