NEWPORT County AFC under-18s travel to North Wales today to take on Bangor City in the FAW Youth Cup quarter-finals.

The County youngsters have had to do it the hard way to get to the last eight of this season’s competition.

They have already won 1-0 at Cardiff Metropolitan in round two in November and 3-2 at Port Talbot Town in December.

That victory came after extra-time as the sides were locked at 2-2 in normal time.

Now they head to the Bangor University Stadium for tonight’s quarter-final clash.

Kick-off is at 7.30pm and admission for the match costs £3 for adults (including raffle ticket) and £1 for children.

Youth coach Byron Anthony said: “It’s a big trip for the boys to North Wales and it will be a tough test against a strong Bangor side but hopefully we can get to the last four.”

The Exiles got to the semi-finals of the same competition last season.

A side featuring the likes of Tom Owen-Evans and Aaron Collins was beaten in the last four by Cardiff City at Jenner Park in Barry.

The two sides drew 1-1 in normal time and couldn’t add to the scoring in a cagey extra period that saw Exiles sub Spencer Wood sent off.

And the Bluebirds youngsters eventually won a penalty shootout 5-3.

“I was lucky enough to be on the bench with Mike Flynn and Danny Elliott for that game at Barry last year,” said Anthony.

“The boys did great but we want to go one better this year and get to the final.”

County haven’t reached a Welsh Youth Cup final since winning the competition for the only time in 2005 when they beat Cardiff on penalties following a 2-2 draw in the final.

The County academy has had several success stories in recent years with Regan Poole, Aaron Collins and Tom Owen-Evans progressing through to the first team squad.

Poole is now at Manchester United and Collins is at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Anthony picks out Corey Shephard, Lewis Bamford, Dafydd Jones and Liam Angel as ones to watch in the current set-up, as well as new scholar Momodou Touray.

“Corey, Lewi and Dafydd were around the first team at the start of this season,” he said.

“Liam Angel is a quality defender who has already won the Victory Shield with Wales and I know Warren Feeney has had a look at him.

“And Momodou is one to watch with his tricky feet,” he added.

“We take a lot of time to develop these players for the first team but it’s great that they get the chance to win some silverware as well and hopefully we can do that this season.”

In this season’s FA Youth Cup the Exiles suffered a second round defeat to Southend United in November, going down 2-1 in extra-time at Rodney Parade.

Striker Connah Hughes gave the hosts the lead in the eight minutes but Norman Wabo’s leveller midway through the second half and a 103rd-minute penalty from Harry Phillips saw the Shrimpers progress.