MATCH DAY 26, 2024/25

Match Day 26 and we have a program of 13 league matches this weekend as we have 3 of our clubs aiming to reach the quarter finals of the FAW Trophy, a competition our clubs have won the last two seasons thanks to Trethomas Bluebirds and Newport City. We will be hoping for a weekend free of cancellations, after we lost 6 games last weekend in the South East and 1 game in the South West due to the cold spell.

So let’s start with a quick look at our clubs still in the FAW Trophy. Friday evening sees Goytre host Penydarren BGC at Plough Road, with the home side not having played since the middle of December, their last game a 1-0 win over Abergavenny Town thanks to a goal from Paul Daniel, assisted by Jamie Bird on 18 minutes. Striker Chris Ham is still 4 goals short of his 100 Ardal Southern goals and will be looking to reach this landmark early in 2025. Goytre are 7th in the South East, while Penydarren are 5th in the Highadmit Projects South Wales Premier League, but have a number of games in hand against teams above them as they look to bounce back and regain their place in the Ardal Southern.

Saturday sees our South East league leaders Treowen Stars travel to FC Cwmaman where they will play a home side in 9th place in the South Wales Premier League at Canolfan Glanaman in the FAW Trophy. Treowen didn’t play last Saturday, but the previous week Treowen won 3-2 at Undy after finding themselves 2-0 lead at the interval, after Undy had scored after 21 and 25 minutes. However the Stars pulled a goal back on 47 minutes through Christian Davies and equalised after 87 minutes Tommy James teeing up Aaron Thomas. Just when it looked like it would be a draw, deep into injury time Chris Hartland, the former Cardiff City and Port Talbot Town star, scored the winner to give the Stars a winning start to 2025.

Our final hope in the FAW Trophy is Canton, who face a long trip to North Wales to play Brickfield Rangers at Clywedog Park. The home side were successful against Cardiff Draconions 1-0 at Lydstep Park in the previous round, thanks to a goal from Michael-Jay Ashworth after 76 minutes. Canton had a 2-1 win at Risca United last Saturday, thanks firstly to an equalising goal, just before half time from Elliot Humphries, assisted by Ahmed Almansour after Canton had gone behind in the 13th minute. The second came in first half injury time, David Trace finding the net after an assist by Jack Wheten. Elliot Humphries, the clubs top scorer now has 8 goals in 18 league games this season. Canton are currently in 3rd place in the South East, with Brickfield sitting 4th place in the Ardal Northern North East.

Saturday sees 5 games in the South East, starting with Undy against Croesyceiliog at the Causeway. Undy are in 13th position where as the visitors are in 8th. Neither team played last Saturday, but Undy managed Undy to kick a ball the previous weekend, losing 3-2 at home to Treowen Stars. They had a great start, Jacob Osborne and Bradley Hanbury, assisting 17 year old James Griffiths-Harrop to score twice in only his second start at this level after three cameo appearances yielding 1, 7 and 4 minutes. He scored on his first ever start against Undy at the end of 2024 and scored 2 more here in the 21st and 25th minutes to give Undy a 2-0 lead at the break. However the Stars pulled a goal back on 47 minutes and two late goals after 87 and deep into injury time broke Undy hearts and a winning start to 2025. Croesyceiliog last played out a 4-4 draw at home to Treharris Athletic Western a month ago. They took the lead after 23 minutes Luke Dyke setting up 18 year old Hari Holtham for his second goal at this level. However Treharris bounced back with goals after 28 and 37 minutes to lead at the interval. Dyke was on hand again after the break to set up Owen Llewellyn to equalise and Llewellyn then set up 18 year old substitute Nathan Watts for the first of two goals on 72, the other scored after 77 to give the home side a 4-2 lead. However goals on 78 minutes and deep into injury time earned Treharris a share of the spoils.

Blaenavon Blues take on Risca United at the Memorial Ground, currently in 11th place with Risca sitting in 12th position. The Blues will be looking to arrest two 3-0 defeats in December against Tredegar Town and Caldicot Town respectively, after their three games against Brecon Corries, Canton and Undy were victims to the cold spell. Their last win was at the end of November a 3-0 home win against Abertillery Bluebirds, thanks to goals from Alex Berrow, Bailey Perry and Brandon Williams. Risca meanwhile played last week going down 2-1 to Canton at the CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach. Two goals shortly before the interval by Canton proved to be their downfall, after they had opened the scoring after just 13 minutes thanks to 16 year old Dylan John, his first league goal at this level after 11 league starts, after previously playing for the clubs Under 12 side in 2019-20.

Chepstow Town take on Abergavenny Town at Larkhill Park, the home side sitting in 2nd place in the table, while Abergavenny are 9th. Chepstow last played two weeks ago and produced a 3-1 home win over Treharris Athletic Western. They didn’t have it all their own way though and were a goal down on 24 minutes, not equalising until the 72nd minute, when substitute Sonny Lewis set up Nathan Rose for the goal. Ten minutes later and Chepstow were ahead, Adam Wakley providing the assist for another substitute Josh Parsons to put Marc Ingles’ side ahead. Three minutes later and it was all but over, Parsons turning provider for Sonny Lewis to score the third. It proved to be an eventful afternoon for Lewis who also picked up 2 yellow cards, the second leading to his sending off in the 86th minute. Abergavenny last played the final Saturday of 2024, going down 2-1 defeat at home to Treowen Stars. The Stars took the lead on 29 minutes, but Abergavenny soon equalised 2 minutes later, Harrison Reynolds scoring, after an assist by Jack Evans to make it all square at the interval. However Treowen scored the winner on 79 minutes to give the visitors the 3 points.

Brecon Corries host Abercarn United at the Rich Field, currently in 4th place with Abercarn in 10th. The Corries will be looking to bounce back from last Saturdays 4-0 defeat at Newport Corinthians, with 4 goals in the last 20 minutes proving their downfall.
Brecon had previously played mid-December and were unbeaten in 3 games before last Saturday. Their last win was 6-0 at home to Undy in the middle of December. Joel Evans was the star of the show, netting five times on 12, 17, 44, 60 and 61 minutes along with a goal from Craig Evans after 40 minutes. On the assist list was Jordan Baker, Joel Evans himself, Matthew Tong and Corey Evans, with Joel Evans setting up two of his goals himself. Abercarn last played on the last Saturday of 2024, losing in disappointing fashion at home to Chepstow Town, a 3-0 defeat. Their last win was the previous week, a 2-0 win at Abertillery Bluebirds. Calwyn Fry set up David Griffiths for the first goal after 15 minutes, while Griffiths helped seal a crucial three points setting up the second goal for Calum Gwillym on 78 minutes.

The last game in the South East this week, sees Jubilee Way host Caldicot Town against Treharris Athletic Western, the home side in 5th place and the visitors in 16th place. Caldicot Town will be looking to get their 3-0 cup loss at Swansea University three weeks ago out of their system, after they had been in excellent form of late in the league, unbeaten in 8 games and winning their last 4 league games, their most recent a 3-0 win a month ago at home to Blaenavon Blues. Captain Mathew James opened the scoring after just 8 minutes after good work from Matthew Swann, before an own on 80 minutes and a goal set up by Ben Donoghue for Jake Davies on 89 minutes sealed the three points. Treharris meanwhile started 2025 with disappointment at Chepstow Town a fortnight ago, taking the lead through Bina Ibrahim Sani after 24 minutes, a lead they held onto until the 72nd minute when the home side equalised. A point would have been a good result for Treharris but Chepstow had other ideas scoring after 82 and 85 minutes to take the points.

Onto the South West and a new home venue for Morriston Town on Friday when they host Cardiff Corinthians at Afan Lido’s ground on Princess Margaret Way as work commences on the redevelopment of the Dingle. Last Saturday Morriston now in 8th place lost 1-0 in a derby game at Pontardawe Town, losing to a 19th minute goal. Their previous game, three weeks ago had seen them finish 2024 with an excellent 2-0 home win against Seven Sisters Onllwyn. Charlie Coates opened the scoring after 49 minutes after good work from Samm Harrison and Coates had a chance to put the game safe on 67 minutes but failed from the penalty spot. However substitutes Josh Howarth and Mark Jones combined 5 minutes from time, the latter finding the net and he now has 4 goals in 9 games in the league this season. Cardiff Corinthians in 6th place but having only played 12 league games, won 3-2 last Saturday at home to Clydach. The Corries were a goal down at the interval, Clydach opening the scoring right on half time and found themselves 2-0 down after 72 minutes. A shock away win was on the cards for the visitors. However the Corries were not throwing in the towel just yet and Aron Davies reduced the deficit on 74 minutes from the spot, his 20th league goal of the season. On 82 minutes he had his second and 21st goal again from the spot and the home side were level. Just when you though the game would end all square, Joe Evans set up substitute Mo Abdullah to give the Corries three priceless points and break Clydach hearts.