FA Cup third round: The greatest shocks produced by Welsh clubs

Martin Thomas, Scott Young, Mickey Thomas and Padraig Amond all played starring roles for their Welsh clubs in FA Cup triumphs

The FA Cup takes centre stage once again this weekend.

Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County are all in third-round action.

And Wales' four English Football League clubs have all enjoyed some special moments in the competition in years gone by.

On Saturday, 6 January Newport County host Eastleigh, Cardiff City go to Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea welcome Morecambe and a day later Wrexham are at Shrewsbury Town.

Here we recall some of the most memorable occasions the sides have had in round three of the world's oldest domestic football cup competition.

Swansea City 1-0 West Ham United (13 January, 1999)

Swansea City knocked out three-time winners West Ham United in a memorable FA Cup third-round replay at Vetch Field.

At the start of the 1998-99 season, no side from the lowest division in the Football League had claimed an FA Cup win over a Premiership club since the league's formation in 1992.

The Swans almost wiped out that statistic at Upton Park, only for a late equaliser from West Ham's Julian Dicks to cancel out Jason Smith's opening goal.

Fast forward 10 days to the replay, and John Hollins' Swansea side faced the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Swansea-born John Hartson.

Swansea midfielder Martin Thomas grabbed the headlines, driving the ball home from 20 yards to put his side ahead.

The Swans defended valiantly and were able to hold on to beat Harry Redknapp's Hammers, who went on to finish fifth in the top flight that season.

Cardiff City 2-1 Leeds United (6 January, 2002)

Second-tier Cardiff City sensationally dumped then Premier League leaders Leeds United out of the FA Cup in an incident-packed game at Ninian Park.

After Mark Viduka gave Leeds the lead in the 12th minute, Cardiff fought back valiantly and quickly equalised through Graham Kavanagh.

The then Cardiff captain sent a curling free-kick past Nigel Martyn in the Leeds goal.

Leeds were forced to play the entire second half with 10 men after Alan Smith was sent off for an elbow on Andy Legg.

There was a dramatic finale, with Bluebirds defender Scott Young smashing home the winner from close range three minutes from time.

Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal (4 January, 1992)

There was a Wrexham comeback for the ages as reigning league champions Arsenal fell victim to an FA Cup third-round giant-killing at the Racecourse Ground.

The two teams were poles apart, with 90 places separating them in the football pyramid the previous season as Arsenal were crowned First Division champions, their second title in three seasons under manager George Graham.

Wrexham had ended the 1990-91 campaign bottom of the Fourth Division.

In any other season they would have been relegated to the Conference but they were spared that fate due to Football League reorganisation.

Arsenal dominated the first half at the Racecourse but, despite creating a plethora of chances, only scored one goal, when Alan Smith struck from close range from Paul Merson's pass a minute before half time.

Wrexham boss Brian Flynn rallied his players for the second half and Arsenal found it hard to get back into any kind of rhythm after the break.

With eight minutes remaining, Wrexham were awarded a free-kick after Gordon Davies was fouled by David O'Leary on the edge of the area. Veteran Mickey Thomas stepped up and fired the free-kick past England goalkeeper David Seaman.

Two minutes after the equaliser, striker Steve Watkin slid in to score the winner. It remains one of the greatest upsets in the history of the competition.

Newport County 2-1 Leicester City (6 January, 2019)

Newport County beat 2016 Premier League champions Leicester City in the FA Cup third round at a raucous Rodney Parade thanks to Padraig Amond's late penalty.

Jamille Matt's perfectly placed header - after a pulsating run and cross from Robbie Willmott - gave the Exiles the advantage against a side sitting 74 places above them in the football pyramid at the time.

Foxes winger Marc Albrighton hit the crossbar and Newport goalkeeper Joe Day produced a string of saves before Rachid Ghezzai smashed the visitors level.

However, Amond's 85th-minute penalty - awarded for an Albrighton handball - sent the crowd into raptures as Michael Flynn's Newport produced one of the club's greatest results.

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