MATCH DAY 9, 2024/25

Match Day 9 now and after one Friday game we have another eight games on Saturday, three in the South West and five in the South East. Friday evening saw Evans & Williams take on South Gower at Stebonheath Park in front of a healthy crowd of 198. It was not a good night for the league leaders though as South Gower had a well-deserved 2-0 victory, thanks to an own goal from Evans & Williams Captain Rob Owens after 36 minutes, who would also suffer a red card on 75 minutes and a second goal from ex Garden Village striker Ricky Martin on 84 minutes after good work from ex Cwmamman United midfielder Rob Morgans. The result left Evans Williams still top of the table, but South Gower move up to 6^th before the games on Saturday.

Onto Saturday and Seven Sisters Onllwyn take on Pontyclun in the South West at the Welfare Ground, 9^th v 15^th in the table at present. The home side will be looking to build on their last two victories, the latter a shock as Seven Sisters Onllwyn, won 1-0 away at high flying Cardiff Corinthians to move into 5^th place at the time, their highest ever place in the Ardal Southern League. The only goal of the game came after just six minutes when Leon Herdman, set up a goal for Jacob Sadler, to earn them just their second win of the season after the previous weeks, 3-1 home win over Evans & Williams. Simon Isaac, is back in charge this season after leading Seven Sisters Onllwyn out of the West Wales Premier League in 2021-22, winning the West Wales Intermediate Cup and finishing in 11^th place in the Ardal Southern South West in 2022-23. He will be looking for his young side to make home advantage count with an average age of 24, with 16 year old Joshua Kibble making his Ardal Southern debut off the bench at Cardiff. Meanwhile the visitors Pontyclun will be looking to earn a result after last Saturdays encouraging 1-1 draw against Ynyshir Albions, who were unbeaten for six games coming into the game at Ivor Park. Pontyclun took the lead after just 10 minutes when George Shewring opened the soring after an excellent assist by Michael Jones. However the visitors equalised just before half time to make it 1-1 at the interval. Despite one of the visiting players seeing marching orders after 71 minutes due to a second yellow card, Pontyclun failed to capitalise on their extra man but nevertheless it was an excellent point against a team flying high at the other end of the table for Peter Banks and his team.

The Ynyshir Oval is the venue when home side Ynyshir Albions take on Cefn Cribwr, with both sides riding high at the moment, with the teams in 7^th and 3^rd places respectively. Last Saturday saw The Albions visit Ivor Park to face Pontyclun, unbeaten in six games coming into the game. Pontyclun took the lead after just 10 minutes however Ynyshir equalised just before half time to make it 1-1 at the interval, thanks to Leon Anstee after a good assist by Joseff Haig. The Albions found themselves digging in though for a point in the end when after 71 minutes Cory Morgan saw red due to a second yellow card. The final score ending at 1-1 and the are now Albions seven games unbeaten since they loss at Evans & Williams at the end of July. Scott Dryden will be looking for three points to take his side to the top of the Ardal Southern to bounce back from their 2-0 home defeat against Cardiff Draconians last Saturday. Nana Baah and his Dracs side had a dream start after 8 minutes, before adding a second on the interval to give themselves a 2-0 lead. Cefn Cribwr failed to come back from this setback after losing Assistant manager Craig Hopkins on 23 minutes and Ioan Clatworthy on the brink of half time. Prior to this Cefn Cribwr were in excellent form winning their last four Ardal Southern games as well as a 3-0 Ardal Southern Cup win over Seven Sisters Onllwyn as they look to reach their third final in a row.

The final game in the South West, sees Pontardawe Town face a local derby against Clydach, 11^th v 13^th positions. This will be the second meeting of the season after Pontardawe won 2-0 at Coed Gwilym Park in August in front of a crowd of 196. This was the first game without a Manager for the visitors after they had parted ways with Ben Williams in the lead up to the game, but goals from Ben Scannell and Arnold Ncube sealed the win despite having defender Alex Aldrich sent off late in the game for a second caution. Clydach have only played one game since that date, a 1-0 defeat to Morriston Town at the Dingle. Manager Damien Daley will be looking for a response from his team, after two games without a goal in the Ardal Southern and no wins since the first game of the season. Pontardawe have gone two games unbeaten now since the Clydach win, with a 8-1 Dragon Signs FAW Trophy win over high flying Swansea League side Blaenymaes, and picked up a useful away point with a 1-1 draw at Ynysygerwn. Josh Dorward was the hero of the day against Blaenymaes, with a four goal haul to go with goals from Arnold Ncube, Ben Scannell and a two goal effort from Lithuanian substitute Roman Legavec. They were also unlucky not to take all three points at Llandarcy Park last Saturday, when the home side equalised deep into injury time after Josh Dorward had put the visitors a goal up on 77 minutes.

Onto the South East and the Causeway hosts visitors Blaenavon Blues, with home side Undy looking to address their worrying league form, with only one league win this season against Tredegar Town, in seven league games, leaving them in 15^th place as opposed to the Blues who sit a few places up the table in 12^th. A week ago Undy travelled to high flying Treowen Stars and put up an encouraging display only going down by the solitary goal to the table topping promotion hopefuls. The goal came after 29 minutes, but Undy defended resolutely and their battling display could have earned them a point on another day. Manager Lewis Thomas will be looking to golden oldie Gareth Cullimore scorer of a hattrick in the Tredegar win to find the net today and earn Undy some priceless points as they look to kick start their season. Blaenavon Blues themselves only have two league wins this season but picked up an encouraging point last Saturday at home to Canton. After a tight first half, the visitors took the lead after 74 minutes and were looking good for all three points until Matthew Burns popped up a few minutes later to find the equaliser after good work from Michael Baugh, almost his last contribution to his Blues career, before his move to Goytre after 5 years and 51 goals and a short spell as First Team Manager. A fresh start this weekend for new Manager Ryan Keen, with Michael Waite continuing as First Team Coach.