MATCH DAY 14, 2024/25

Match Day 14 and we have just 7 league matches this weekend as it’s the last 16 of the Ardal Southern Cup, while Swansea University travel to Aber Valley looking for a place in the last 32 of the JD Welsh Cup, where the winners will travel to take on Llanuwchllyn.

The first Ardal Southern game was played on Friday as Goytre took on league leaders Treowen Stars, with 12th place against 1st. Goytre were fresh from their game on Tuesday evening against Cardiff Draconians, where they won 1-0 in the JD Welsh Cup, thanks to a goal from Lewis Iles their recent signing from Llanelli Town on 56 minutes assisted by Elias Youssef. In goal for Goytre was Glyn Garner who won one cap for Wales way back in 2006, against Trinidad & Tobago on the very day a certain Gareth Bale also made his Welsh debut. Goytre will now travel to Airbus UK Broughton in the last 32. Meanwhile Treowen were looking for their seventh win on the bounce after beating Tredegar Town 4-1 two weeks ago, thanks to two goals from Chris Hartland, Carter Campbell and substitute Jordan Needs, with Tredegar reduced to eight men by the end. On Friday it was Goytre, with regular goalkeeper Joe Massaro back between the sticks who took the lead, Joel Richards finding the net after good work from Lewis Iles. It got better in the 40th minute as an own goal from Tommy James made it 2-0 to Goytre at the interval. Chris Hartland pulled a goal back after 56 minutes and it looked like the leaders had salvaged a point when Chris Colvin scored deep into injury time. However with seconds left it was left to Chris Ham to score his 95th Ardal Southern goal to clinch the three points for the home side, moving them up 4 places to 8th in the South East.

Onto Saturday and there are three games in the South East. Blaenavon Blues host Abercarn United at the Memorial Ground with 15th place playing 6th. The Blues are looking for their first win in ten league and cup games and last Saturday played Treharris Athletic Western at home. Matthew Burns put the Blues ahead on the half hour, finding the net from a Bailey Perry assist, however they failed to hold onto the three points, Treharris scoring right at the death in the 89th minute for a share of the spoils. The visitors are having a great season compared to last, when they finished in 14th place and were reprieved from relegation thanks to Aberbargoed Buds withdrawal. However last Saturday proved to be an off day when they lost 5-1 away at Risca United at the CCB Centre of Sporting Excellence. 3-0 down at the interval, Abercarn had little chance of a comeback after going 4-0 down on 56 minutes and suffering the sending off of David Griffiths on the hour. It almost got worse but Risca missed a 67th minute penalty, but worse it then got with the sending off, of Josh Evans. The home side scored their fifth of the game on 75 minutes and it was left to Jack Bainton to find a consolation goal for Abercarn from the penalty spot on 79 minutes.

At Coronation Park, Newport Corinthians take on Abergavenny Town, with 14th place against 9th. Newport will be looking to forget last Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at Trefelin in the JD Welsh Cup, a certain Lee Trundle on the scoresheet. The previous week they had defeated Risca United 4-2 at home, Luke White opening the scoring, assisted by Harrison Shelley. By the interval though they were 2-1 down, as Risca scored after 15 and 45 minutes. However on 63 minutes a Liam Head goal, two minutes after coming on as substitute brought the scores level and the Corinthians went ahead after good work from Sam Broadribb on 81 minutes setting up a goal for Sam Beckett. It was all but over on 89 minutes as Broadribb was again the provider this time for Liam Head to score his second of the game. Abergavenny meanwhile will be looking for their first result in four games, after losing their last three. They were unlucky last Saturday going down 1-0 at Brecon Corries, a goal on 81 minutes proving their downfall. However the week before they could have no complaints well beaten 4-0 at home to Caldicot Town. Their last result was a 2-2 draw with Chepstow Town at the end of September and they have now gone 308 minutes without finding the net, despite top scorer Mason Keepin-Davies scoring 5 league goals in 10 outings and 9 in 15 games in all competitions.

The last South East game this weekend sees Treharris Athletic Western play host to Croesyceiliog at Parc Taf Bargoed, 16th against 12th respectively. Last Saturday Treharris travelled to play Blaenavon Blues at the Memorial Ground. The Blues went ahead on the half hour, however they failed to hold onto the three points, Treharris scoring right at the death in the 89th minute, Saul Tanhai setting up Nick Simcock for a share of the spoils. They have now gone 4 games without a win though so will be desperate for an upturn in fortunes after some promising displays over the last few games to move them from the foot of the table. Croesyceiliog will be looking to build on their excellent win at Tredegar Town last Saturday, their third win of the season in the league. Prolific scorer Owen Llewellyn put Croesyceiliog ahead after good build up play from Lewis Green on 30 minutes and they went further ahead on 54 minutes Green scoring himself after an assist from Morgan Devlin. It was not over though as Tredegar pulled a goal back on 87 minutes but the Croesyceiliog defence held firm for a well needed three points.

There are also three games in the South West on Saturday, starting with Cardiff Draconians against Bridgend Street, a Cardiff West v East derby, the Dracs in 3rd place and Bridgend Street in 14th place. The Dracs will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of their JD Welsh Cup exit at Goytre on Tuesday, the home side scoring the only goal of the game on 56 minutes. The Dracs are unbeaten in three league games and up until Tuesday hadn’t lost in six league and cup games. Their last league outing was a 1-1 home draw with Pontardawe Town, coming back from a goal down in the 34th minute to earn a draw with an equaliser on 51 minutes, Sam Roberts scoring after an assist from Dylan Amin. Bridgend Street haven’t played since the 12th October, when they produced a splendid display to defeat Clydach 4-1 at the Willows. This despite going a goal down on 24 minutes and being reduced to ten men just 10 minutes later when Kyle Bassett received a straight red. Bridgend Street came out fighting for the second half though, Paul Fowler turning back the years to set up Abdul Mohsin on 47 minutes and scoring himself on 62 minutes after an assist from Conor Jones. Five minutes later Harry Burge set up fellow golden oldie Jeff White to make it 3-1, before a goal from substitute Callum Gunstone sealed the three points after great work from Mike Murphy.

A West Wales derby takes place at Coed Gwillym Park, when Clydach take on Seven Sisters Onllwyn, 13th v 7th in the league. Clydach are still looking for their second win of the season in the league and last time out they earned a point with a thrilling 3-3 draw with South Gower last Saturday at home. It didn’t start well for Clydach though as the South Gower found themselves 3-0 up, goals after 26, 33 and 39 minutes giving the visitors, surely an unassailable lead. However Manager Damien Daley somehow galvanised his side and they came firing back in Liverpool style in Istanbul, with Joe Farthing setting up Ryan Thomas to pull the first goal back after 44 minutes. It was to get better on 71 minutes as Cameron Jones set up Ryan Thomas for his second of the game and the comeback was complete deep into injury time when Thomas scored his hattrick with ice cool ease, slotting home a penalty as the visitors saw red with Nathaniel James. Seven Sisters Onllwyn will be playing their first game for two weeks when they travelled to South Gower and came away with a 2-1 win after being a goal down after just 11 minutes. They were on level terms though on 50 minutes as Ethan Taylor set up Leon Herdman to equalise and despite Shay Isaac missing a 62 minute penalty, clinched the three points on 79 minutes Isaac making up for earlier miss from the spot, keeping his nerve to score from 12 yards and earn his side the points.

The final game this weekend in the South West sees another derby as inform Morriston Town host Ynysygerwn at the Dingle, 5th v 12th in league positions. Morriston are still on cloud nine after their thrilling penalty win last Saturday at Llantwit Major in the JD Welsh Cup earning them a trip to Afa Lido in the last 32. After a goalless first half at Windmill Lane, Morriston took the lead on 54 minutes as Luke Harris set up Liam Logan and it looked like this would lead to a giant killing act against their Tier 2 opponents until they equalised deep into injury time to break Morriston hearts. Onto penalties and Charlie Coates scored the first for Morriston before Llantwit saw their first penalty saved by keeper Steve Cann. They failed to take further advantage though as Mark Jones missed his spot kick and Llantwit scored to make it 1-1 after two rounds. Luke Harris then scored to make it 2-1, but Llantwit scored in reply, before Kieran Howard scored to make it 3-2. More excitement was to come as Cann saved the next Llantwit, but Stephen Davey failed to capitalise with Llantwit scoring to make it 3-3 after 5 rounds of penalties. Onto sudden death and next up was Matthew Bennett who held his nerve to make it 4-3 but Llantwit duly followed to make it 4-4. Next Nathan Beniamous found the net but again Llantwit were successful. It looked like Morriston had blown it when Liam Logan missed penalty number 8, but Cann was again the hero saving the Llantwit reply. It was left to the hero of the hour Steven Cann to score in round 9, to make it 6-5 before saving the following penalty from Llantwit and send Morriston into dreamland. Ynysygerwn will be looking to regain some confidence after last Saturday saw them lose 6-3 at Ynyshir Albions. It started well for Ynysygerwn at the Ynyshir Oval when Jac Jones set up Allister Davies to put the visitors ahead. However Jones missed a golden chance to put the visitors further ahead from the penalty spot on 42 minutes. It was a great start to the second half though for Ynysgerwn when Bradley Crookes scored after being set up by Davies, his second assist, but the home side pulled a goal back on 56 minutes. Three goals in just 4 minutes shocked Ynysgerwn though as Ynyshir went from a goal behind to 4-2 ahead with goals after 66, 67 and 69 minutes. A goal after 83 minutes seemed to seal it for the Albions at 5-2 but Crookes pulled a goal back as injury time commenced to make it 5-3. But the possibility of a miracle comeback was ended as Ynyshir scored deep into injury time to complete the 6-3 scoreline.