MATCH DAY 39, 2024/25

Match Day 39 and we have a program of 10 league matches on Saturday, 6 in the South East and 4 in the South West. Friday night also saw 2 further games, although Abergavenny Town v Treharris Athletic Western was postponed due to the weather, but AFC Llwydcoed earned a priceless win against Treherbert BGC at Taffs Well in a 4-3 thriller. Ricky Carter put AFC Llwydcoed ahead on the stroke of half time, assisted by Gabriele Viazzani, before Cian Cable set up Dewi Abbruzzese to make it 2-0 on 48 minutes. Cable himself made it 3-0 on 52 minutes before Treherbert pulled a goal back on the hour mark through Shane Davies. Cable looked to have made the game safe for AFC Llwydcoed after 65 minutes finishing a move started by Carter, however goals from Brandon Thomas, assisted by Shane Davies and Mackenzie Davies assisted by Liam Thomas, made for a nervous last quarter for AFC Llwydcoed, but the win closes the gap to safety to 6 points with 6 games remaining.

Moving onto Saturday and we start in the South East at Bush Park, where leaders Treowen Stars take on Abercarn United who are 14th in the league. Treowen could win the title if they better the result of Chepstow Town who travel to Caldicot Town. Last weekend the Stars won 2-1 at Risca United despite going a goal down after 12 minutes. An own goal brought their equaliser on 20 minutes, before leading scorer Chris Hartland grabbed the winner on 67 minutes, his 20th league goal of the season. Meanwhile Abercarn United are in a relegation battle and have lost their last 2 games, 2-0 at Canton and 3-1 last weekend at Caldicot Town. A goal down in the first minute, and going further behind on 19 minutes, Abercarn pulled a goal back on 21 minutes Noa Barry finishing an assist from Sam Thomas. It proved to be just a consolation though as Caldicot sealed the points with a penalty on 68 minutes.

Croesyceiliog face Newport Corinthians at Woodland Road, 10th v 13th in the table. A win for the home side would see them almost safe from the relegation dogfight, with recent good form seeing them pick up six points, although they lost 1-0 at home to Abergavenny Town last time out. Newport Corinthians, need to find some form soon as they have lost their last 3 league games, their most recent 2-1 at Undy two weeks ago. Despite taking a 22nd minute lead through Captain Nathan Perkins assisted by Kris Leek on a stroke of half time they were reduced to 10 men when Luke Verren received his marching orders for a second caution. Undy equalised in the 76th minute and just as Newport Corinthians looked like hanging on for a useful point, Undy scored a dramatic winner in the 90th minute.

Abertillery Bluebirds host Risca United at Cwm Nant Y Groes, 11th v 8th in the table. The Bluebirds are on a winless 3 game streak, although they have picked up two 0-0 draws either side of a 1-0 defeat at home to Treowen Stars in this run. Last weekend they earned a point at Abergavenny, but will need to start finding the net to finish the season on a high after last scoring in a 3-1 home win against Treharris Athletic Western in the middle of last month. Risca United have also lost their last two games, the last a 3-0 home defeat to Goytre last weekend. The previous midweek they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Treowen Stars despite taking a 12th minute lead through Finley Skiverton, assisted by Jack Darby. However an own goal from Regan Robinson gave the Stars an equaliser on 20 minutes before Treowen earned the points with a 67th minute winner.

Brecon Corries take on Canton at the Rich Field, 7th v 4th in the table. Brecon are on a poor run having gone 7 games since their last win and lost at Chepstow Town last weekend. They were 2-0 down at the interval and fell further behind on 64 minutes, before pulling a goal back on 70 minutes through Craig Evans. However a goal in injury time gave Chepstow the 3 points and a comprehensive 4-1 win. Canton though are in much better form, having won 3 out of their last 4 league games. Last weekend they beat Tredegar Town 3-2 at the House of Sport, however the first half saw the scores equal, after Canton took a 37th minute lead through Rameer Outlaw, assisted by Norton Ferreira, before Tredegar equalised on 42 minutes. Canton then fell behind on 67 minutes, but were soon back on level terms on 73 minutes, Captain Caylam Palmer scoring after an assist from John Clarke. Ferreira then scored the winner on 79 minutes, Clarke providing another assist to earn the 3 points.

At Tredegar Leisure Centre, Tredegar Town face Goytre, 15th v 5th in the table. The home side lost 3-2 last weekend at Canton, going a goal behind in the 37th minute before equalising on 42 minutes through Owen Thomas. Tredegar then took the lead on 67 minutes, Ellis Hibbert scoring from an Andrew Martin assist, but the lead only lasted until the 73rd minute, when they conceded an equaliser. Worse was to follow on 79 minutes, when Canton scored a winner. Goytre are in a good run of form having won their last 3 league games, the latest last weekend at Risca United. After a goalless first half, Jac Evans opened the scoring on 63 minutes from an assist by Captain Dan Barnard, before Chris Ham made it 2-0 on 85 minutes assisted by Chris Parry. The win was sealed in injury time, Jac Evans assisting Ham for his second goal of the game.

Caldicot Town face their moment of truth in their play off bid when they host rivals Chepstow Town at Jubliee Way, 3rd v 2nd in the table. A win for Chepstow will all but seal at least a play off place, although they can still catch leaders Treowen Stars. Caldicot have won their last 3 games, the latest at home to Abercarn United last weekend. The home side struck first, Ben Donoghue scoring from a Jake Davies assist in the first minute, before going further ahead on 19 minutes Cole Greenhaf finding the net. Abercarn pulled a goal back on 21 minutes but it proved to be just a consolation though as Caldicot sealed the points with a penalty from Donoghue on 68 minutes. Chepstow found their scoring boots last weekend at home to Brecon Corries. Chepstow were 2-0 to the good at the interval, Captain Harry Waterhouse opening the scoring after 6 minutes assisted by Mallachi Graham, before scoring a second on 17 minutes Adam Wakley finding the net after good work from Josh Parsons. Chepstow scored again on 64 minutes, Finnan Maguire-Hamblett scoring from a Nathan Rose assist before Brecon pulled a goal back on 70 minutes. However a goal in injury time gave Chepstow the 3 points and a comprehensive 4-1 win when 16 year old substitute Mason Haysom scored his first Ardal league goal from an assist from fellow substitute Oliver Melling.

Onto the South West and Morriston Town take on Cardiff Draconians at the Dingle, 3rd v 1st in the table. Morriston drew their last game 1-1 at Evans & Williams despite taking the lead on 70 minutes through an own goal at Stebonheath Park. However a late goal from Evans & Williams on 88 minutes saw Morriston only earn a point. The hopes Morriston now have of a play-off place, rest with Ynyshir Albions losing their last 2 games and a 13 goal swing needed with 2 Morriston wins. Cardiff Dracsonians meanwhile need a maximum of 5 points at present to win the title if Ynyshir win their last 2 games. Last weekend the Dracs won 1-0 at AFC Llwydcoed, breaking the hearts of their opponents with an 89th minute winner at Rhiw Dda’r, substitutes Sam Roberts and Jamal Roberts combining for Sam to find the back of the net.

At the Swansea University Sports Centre, Swansea University play host to Ynysygerwn, 6th v 12th in the table. Swansea University have won their last 2 games, the most recent last weekend 2-1 at Cardiff Corinthians. Despite losing 1-0 at the interval after the home side scored after 33 minutes, Swansea University equalised on 58 minutes, Ronan Templeton finding the net from a Harry Huggart assist. The home side were reduced to 10 men on 62 minutes, and it wasn’t long until the University side scored what proved to be the winner, Casey Coughlin finding the net from an assist by Josh Cole. Ynysygerwn meanwhile are still not out of the woods in the relegation battle and lost last weekend to one of their rivals Clydach. A goal down after 6 minutes it looked like Ynysygerwn had earned a point when they equalised after 81 minutes, Rhys Owen, scoring from a Jamie Walsh assist. However a penalty deep into injury time earned Clydach a big win in their attempts to avoid the drop.

Cardiff Corinthians take on Pontardawe Town at the Riverside Ground, 9th v 7th in the table. Last weekend the Corries suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Swansea University despite taking a 1-0 lead at the interval after a Joe Evans goal on 33 minutes. However Swansea University equalised on 58 minutes, the Corries were reduced to 10 men on 62 minutes, their goalscorer seeing red. It wasn’t long until the University side scored what proved to be the winner on 64 minutes. Pontardawe Town have lost their last 2 games, 1-0 at Ynyshir Albions and 1-0 at home to South Gower last weekend. Pontardawe will be looking to end the season on a high after a 7 seven game winning run had looked to propel them into the title race at the end of the year, but only 2 wins in their last 9 league games has seen them tail off.

The final game in the South West sees Pontyclun face Bridgend Street, 15th v 14th in the table. Sadly the fate of Pontyclun has already been sealed with a return to the South Wales Premier League, but they will want to continue to go out with a bang in their last game today, following on from their win over Seven Sisters Onllwyn two weeks ago. Matthew Jacka scored the only goal of the game on 57 minutes after good work from James Gronow. Bridgend Street are still in with a fighting chance of staying in the division with 4 games remaining, but will have to find some improved form having only picked up 2 points from their last 4 games. Last weekend they lost 5-1 at Cefn Cribwr at the Jewson stadium, despite taking a 7th minute lead from an own goal. However goals for the home side on 15, 56, 59, 70 and 73 minutes inflicted a heavy defeat which hadn’t been helped when Paul Carro had received his marching orders for a straight red after 15 minutes.