MATCH DAY 11, 2024/25

Match Day 11 now and with 16 of our clubs competing in the Dragon Signs FAW Trophy, there are only 5 league games this weekend, all on Saturday. There are two games in the South East and three in the South West.

Starting with Morriston Town, they host Pontyclun at the Dingle, with 7th taking on 14th respectively. The home side are on an unbeaten run of three games winning their last two in the South West with a JD Welsh Cup win in-between away at Caldicot Town. Last Saturday they travelled to Cardiff Corinthians, and pulled off a spectacular 3-2 win against a side highly fancied to feature in the promotion battle this season. Charlie Coates put Morriston ahead on the stroke of half time, after being set up by former Swansea City midfielder Jandir Zola. The Corries were soon level though, equalising after 49 minutes and looked confident on winning the battle for three points at this stage. However they were hit by a double blow on 75 and 80 minutes as Morriston stormed into a 3-1 lead through David Williams assisted by Charlie Coates, and Jandir Zola scoring a solo effort. However the Corries were not finished yet and Aron Davies set up a goal for Thierry Otu with a minute remaining and it led to a nail biting period in injury time, Cardiff midfielder Mo Abdullah receiving two cautions in the space of a minute to receive his marching orders. Meanwhile Pontyclun have had a frustrating few weeks, drawing three league games, each by a 1-1 scoreline. Last week at home to Clydach at Ivor Park, they took the lead through Evan Griffith after just 11 minutes but failed to capitalise, after the same player was sent off after 55 minutes and Clydach equalised on 66 minutes. Clydach themselves were reduced to ten men with just four minutes remaining but the home side failed to find the goal they so desperately needed to move themselves out of the bottom three.

Clydach take on Cefn Cribwr sitting in 12th place with the visitors looking for any result to move to the top of the table in the absence of leaders Cardiff Draconians playing. It promises to be an exciting game at Coed Gwilym Park, with the home side still winless since the first two games of the season, 10 games without a win. Last week they ground out a 1-1 draw at Pontyclun, the home side taking the lead after just 11 minutes, however having a player sent off after 55 minutes. Clydach equalised on 66 minutes through a fine effort from Gavin Challacombe in his second season at Clydach after joining from Brynawel at the start of last season. However with Daniel Swinford receiving a second caution on 86 minutes, they had to settle for a point as both sides played the game out with ten men. The visitors will be looking to relieve their frustrations from last Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Seven Sisters Onllwyn, who are proving to be a bogey team for teams at the top after wins against Evans & Williams and Cardiff Corinthians in recent weeks. Cefn Cribwr are still well placed though with five wins out of nine games this season and currently joint top going into this game with the Dracs. Manager Scott Dryden will be looking for a goal threat from 35 year old Mark Evans who has joined recently from Litchfield Park and marked his first start for Cefn Cribwr with a goal in their 2-0 win at Ynyshir Albions two weeks ago. While Arron Weaver will be looking to make his mark in front of goal after scoring 7 in 25 league games last season.

The final game in the South West sees league newcomers Treherbert BGC take on South Gower who have hit a rich run of form over recent weeks. Its 10th place against 5th place as the home side hope to build on their excellent 1-0 over Pontardawe Town last Saturday thanks to a goal from Deacon Greening after 56 minutes, after excellent play from Riley Hughes. They made up for the disappoint the previous week of a JD Welsh Cup exit at home to Clwb Cymric on penalties 5-3, after a 1-1 draw thanks to a Mackenzie Davies goal. South Gower have recovered well from their disappointing JD Welsh Cup exit home to Rockspur 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw, when last season they reached the last 16. Last Saturday they held on for a thrilling 4-3 home win against AFC Llwydcoed just a week after a 2-0 win at Stebonheath Park against newcomers Evans & Williams. An own goal and a Ricky Martin effort brought the three points against Evans & Williams. While Nathaniel James (13), Jefferson Brown-Pinheiro (22), Mascen Llewellyn (43) and Jack Jones (67) were on target against AFC Llwydcoed, the Jack Jones effort putting South Gower 4-2 ahead with just twenty minutes remaining before the visitors scored deep in injury time, but too little too late. With games in hand South Gower will be looking to move up to 4th place this weekend, while a win for Treherbert will see them move at least four places up the table. Fresh from his debut two weeks ago for the South Regional Team, who represented Wales in the Regions Cup in Serbia will be Dion Carroll, who stared in a 2-1 win against North Macedonia, ex Ardal Southern South West Golden Boot winner Liam Eason scoring the winner with five minutes remaining.

Onto the South East and Blaenavon Blues face a home game against Caldicot Town, with 14th place against 8th place. The Blues haven’t won since the end of August, six games, with only a draw against Canton to show for their efforts over this period. Last weekend they travelled to face Risca United at the CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence and suffered a 2-0 defeat. New Manager Ryan Keen will be looking for a change in fortune in his third game in charge, with much relying on Matthew Burns to find the goals after his two goal effort against Undy two weeks ago to take him to 4 for the season as he aims to beat last seasons effort of 11 goals, and 33 Ardal Southern goals in total in 65 games since his 20 goals in 30 games helped Blaenavon achieve promotion from the Autocentre Gwent Premier League in 2021-22. Caldicot travel to the Memorial Ground in good spirits after ending their three game winless streak with an excellent 2-1 win at Parc Taf Bargoed last Saturday at Treharris Athletic Western. Sam Swann put Caldicot ahead from the penalty spot after 30 minutes, but they suffered a setback on 66 minutes when Treharris equalised. However Caldicot were soon back in front on 73 minutes after excellent play from Norwegian substitute Niro Gowran signed from Penydarren BGC in the summer. He set up Ben Donoghue for his 7th league and cup goal of the season in 11 games. A win for the management team Tony Wallis and Mark Williams, will see Caldicot cement their place in the top eight of the table.

The final game this weekend sees Tredegar Town take on Chepstow Town with 13th playing 6th. The home side have only lost one game in the last five and last Saturday produced a great performance to win 1-0 at Goytre. Tomos Lynch was the hero after just 33 minutes, after good work from Dafydd Jones, the 30th Ardal Southern goal for Lynch in just 55 games, who joined Tredegar from RTB Ebbw Vale in January 2023. Chepstow will be looking to end a three game winless streak, with their last win 5-4 on penalties at home against Abergavenny Town in the Ardal Southern League Cup after a 2-2 draw. Last week they again drew 2-2 against Abergavenny this time in the league and away, Adam Wakley putting Chepstow ahead after 23 minutes after an assist by Jack Pearson-Brown. The home side equalised on 41 minutes but Chepstow were soon back in front just a minute later when Mallachi Graham set up Josh Parsons. Chepstow were unable to hang onto the lead though, Abergavenny equalising again on 62 minutes and this is how the game stayed despite a number of substitutions from both sides to try and win the game. A win for Chepstow will see them move up to fourth in the table while a Tredegar Town win will see them move up three places to 10th in the table.