MATCH DAY ONE
2024/25
We kick off our fourth season of the Floodlighting & Electrical Ardal Southern on Tuesday 23rd July, with some mouth-watering ties and a number of local derbies. We have four new teams competing for the first time in our league, while some old friends who are back aiming for a quick return to the Cymru South.
Evans & Williams, Treherbert BGC, Newport Corinthians and Bridgend Street compete for the first time in Ardal Southern. Evans & Williams will groundshare with Llanelli Town, playing at the historic Stebonheath Park, a ground actually owned by their founder Albie Evans, prior to selling to Llanelli AFC in 1958 for £8,000. Treherbert Boys & Girls Club were only formed in 2017-18 and will play on Baglan 3G in Treorhcy and have gained four back to back promotions. Newport Corinthians play at Coronation Park in the shadows of Newport Transporter Bridge and once played a friendly against the mighty Ajax in 1967. While Bridgend Street were an established Welsh League side before the pyramid restructuring and will be looking to make up for lost time back in Tier 3.
Meanwhile Pontardawe Town, Abergavenny Town and Abertillery Bluebirds are back after spells in the Cymru South, all former League winners of the Ardal Southern. While Croesyceiliog return after their one season absence in the Gwent County League. Pontardawe and Abergavenny respectively were the first ever West and East winners of Ardal Southern back on 2021-22, while Abertillery Bluebirds won the South East Division in 2022-23. They are all under new management since they left Ardal Southern with Ben Williams now Manager of Pontardawe, Rhys Llewellyn Abergavenny Manager and Lee Thomas in charge at Abertillery Bluebirds. While Paul Brown is in the hotseat at Croesyceiliog, winning the Gwent County Title with 24 wins out of 30 league games last season.
Looking at the games in the West on Tuesday, Pontardawe Town host Evans & Williams, both teams having a division between them last season. Pontardawe will be relying on the goals of Josh Doward, a Wales Futsal International, while Evans & Williams will have high hopes of star signing Liam Samuel who has dropped down a division from Ammanford to play at his spiritual home of Stebonheath Park where he made his name for Llanelli Town. Evans & Williams will be looking for their exciting Junior players who now have two seasons of senior football under their belts to kick on at this level, notably Jac Lewis, Steff Vincent, Sion Williams and Ace Lloyd.
An exciting game takes place at the Cefn Cribwr where last season’s Finalists in both the Ardal Southern Cup and Play Off, host Pontyclun, their first ever competitive game at Cae Gof, which has been developed over the last two seasons. Cefn Cribwr have ground shared with Cambrian & Clydach Vale during this time. Ross Hooper who represented the Cymru Leagues Southern Squad last season has been retained and much will be expected of Aaron Weaver and Ioan Clatworthy. Pontyclun will be looking to bounce back after last seasons disappointing campaign and hope to find the form of their first two seasons in Ardal Southern when they lost just 11 games out of 60 games in finishing in third place on both occasions. New signings include Jackson Acreman, Lennie Norris, Mike Jones, Dan Roderick and Sam Brown.
Cardiff Draconians, were last season’s surprise package at the end of the season, when they lost only three of their last 21 games to finish in third position. New Manager Nana Baah has prepared his team well in preseason to take on AFC Llwydcoed with an excellent 6-0 win over Cardiff Airport last Saturday. AFC Llwydcoed, under new management in Lewis Holder, will again be relying on the goals of centre forward Ricky Carter, Golden Boot winner in 2022-23 with 29 goals and shared winner with 19 goals in 2023-24, as they look to improve on their previous three finishes of 13th, 8th and 11th. They continue to play in exile at the Ron Jones Stadium while work is completed on their Welfare Ground.
A first Cardiff derby of the season sees Bridgend Street take on Cardiff Corinthians, with the Splott based side, managed by Craig Dale relying on the goals of Jeff White, who scored 11 in 18 games last season, including a five goal haul against Pencoed Atheltic. They finished in runners up spot in the South Wales Alliance, while Captain Paul Fowler has now hung up his boots, so they will be looking at new signings Jacob Dublin, Calum Gunstone, Jack Preston, Cian Hales, Joel Croker, Aaron Fettah, Kyle Bassett and Harry Cuddihy to light up the Willows. Corries, under the management of Grant Thompson, will have high hopes of new signings Thierry Out, Mo Djalo, Elliot Matthews, Mackenzie Biggs, Sam Jacobson and returning star Aron Davies.
A West Wales derby takes place in Scurlage as South Gower take on Morriston Town, with both teams establishing themselves in Ardal Southern last season after their promotions from the West Wales Premier Division at the end of 2022-23. South Gower will miss the goals of 19 goal top scorer Alex Giardelli who has joined Llanelli Town, but Macsen Llewelyn will be looking to establish himself at this level. Morriston meanwhile have been boosted by the signing of Ammanford Captain Luke Harris, both clubs having excellent pre-season results against Ammanford, South Gower winning 1-0 and Morriston drawing 0-0 at the Recreation Ground.
A historic evening at Coed Gwillym Park, as Clydach promoted in fourth place last season from the West Wales Premier League play their first ever game at Tier 3 level having just been formed in 2021 when FC Clydach and Clydach Cricket Football Club merged. Manager Damien Daley will be looking for Ex Cwmamman star Ryan Thomas to guide his team at this level, after a CV which contains prolonged spells playing at Tier 2. While Swansea University will be looking to build on their Ardal Southern Cup triumph over Cefn Cribwr and hit the ground running under Jon Beale after finishing in fourth position last season with Noah Osborne who represented the Cymru Leagues Southern Squad and Josh Cole scoring 19 league goals.
Two games now which take place on Wednesday. Treherbert BGC host Ynyshir Albions in a Rhondda derby at Baglan Field. Manager Liam Goatson and his coaching team of Shane Davies, Ashley Johns and Gareth Lewis will be looking to make the most of their midweek home games to start, after finishing in third place last season behind runners up Bridgend Street in the South Wales Alliance League. Ynyshir Albions, play off winners in the Ardal Southern in 2021-22, will be looking to build on last seasons fifth place finish when they returned after one season in the Cymru South in 2022-23. With last seasons star performers Captain Scott Jones and Jacob Isaacs looking to cement the clubs place near the top early in the season.
To finish the first schedule of games in the West on Wednesday, Ynysygerwn take on Seven Sisters Onllwyn in another West Wales derby. The visitors won this corresponding game last season 3-1, Nathan Jones scoring twice for Seven Sisters Onllwyn, but he has now moved onto Clydach, with Jacob Sadler coming in from Cwm Wanderers as a replacement. Ynysygerwn again finished in mid-table last season in 8th position, while their first two seasons in the Ardal Southern brought seventh place finishes. New signings include Jac Jones a keeper from Pontardawe, Adam Rees from Baglan Dragons and another Jac Jones this time from Swansea University.
Over to the East and there’s a full schedule of fixtures on Tuesday starting with Undy and against Chepstow Town, just 11 mile between the two teams. The home side will be looking to build on their third place finish of two years ago and make up for last seasons disappointing eighth place finish. They had a good preseason run out against Newport County at the Causeway a week last Saturday, with over 800 present to see the Football League side win 4-1. Chepstow meanwhile finished last season in tremendous form under Manager Marc Ingles winning ten of their final twelve league games. They warmed up with a hard fought 1-1 draw last week against Hereford Pegasus, following good performances against Tytherington Rocks, South Gower and Cwmbran Celtic.
Abercarn United are hosting league newcomers Newport Corinthians, looking to make sure they not in a relegation place this season after seeing their Tier 3 status remain due to vacancies within the Pyramid System after their 14th place finish. Manager Rhys Lles will be looking to build on encouraging pre-season performances against Pill, Canton and Abertillery Excelsiors. Newport Corinthians, under the management of Ben Davies, have strengthened with Luke White signing from Ponthir AFC, ex-Merthyr and Goytre player Kris Leek joining from Aberbargoed Buds, Dewi Lloyd-Perkins signing from Newport Saints and former captain Declan Grant returning after spells with Cinderford and Chepstow Town.
Abertillery Bluebirds return to the Ardal Southern with a local derby against Tredegar. With Manager Ben Murphy moving on last season, Manager Lee Thomas will be looking to challenge for promotion and has strengthened the squad with signings Rakesh Patel, Ben Taylor, Tom Beynon and Joel Powell. They have also retained the bulk of last seasons Cymru South squad. Tredegar Manager Craig Hewitt will be looking to improve on their performances over the last three seasons with finishes of 13th, 11th and 11th. A lot will be expected again of captain Ian Pettit, who now has 68 league games out of a possible 90 under his belt at this level. While the club have strengthened with the signings of Dylan Watkins and Oliver Bruton.
Treharris Athletic Western will be hoping they do not have to pull off a great escape again this season when they beat Cymru South bound Newport City 2-0 thanks to goals from Nick Simcock and Kallum Thomas to save their status at this level. Manager Dean Raven will relying on the consistency of captain Matthew Sellick who has 81 Ardal Southern appearances for the club and blooding some of the clubs promising youngsters such as Tyler George. While the club has strengthened with the signings of Saul Tanhai, Munya Mabwe and Elton Injai. Visitors Risca have undergone a great deal of change since Siomon Berry moved on after the club lost the play offs in 2022-23 to Baglan Dragons. New Manager Nathan Bracegirdle, has been busy with new signings including Terry Francis-Obeng, Dylan John, Bradley Wood-Harris, Cole Greenhaf, Josh Bolton and Laurent Ngunjoh.
Croesyceiliog are back after a one season absence, with Owen Llewellyn still prolific in front of goal, with 40 goals last season in his 30 league games. Two years ago in the Ardal Southern Owen was unlucky not to keep Croesyceiliog up as he scored 19 goals in 28 games, as they were relegated by just a point. Manager Paul Brown has managed to retain the bulk of last seasons title winners and they will be looking at being competitive this season. Visitors Caldicot will be looking to improve on their previous Ardal Southern finishes of 3rd, 5th and 6th under the management due of Mark Williams and Tony Wallis. They have had a strong pre-season with good performances against Hereford Pegasus, Thornbury Town and PILCS. Ben Smith will again be the man to watch with 41 goals in 72 Ardal Southern appearances. An exciting game on the cards here at Woodland Road.
Goytre kick off the season at home to Blaenavon Blues at Plough Road, under the management of Jason Murphy, supported by Eston Chiverton, Craig Lima, Simon Truman and Glyn Garner. Back at the club after a spell last season with the Visitors Blaenavon, is Chris Ham who is just 10 goals short of being the first player to reach 100 Ardal Southern goals. Goytre finished last season in fourth place and will be looking at this season finally making it back to Cymru South a status they lost after the inaugural season of 2018-19. Blaenavon will miss the goals of Chris Ham who scored 17 goals in 18 games last season. The club has strengthened the squad though with the signings of Alex Berrow, Fin Watkins, Ben Williams, Morgan Pugh, Ben Parfitt, while a lot will be expected of Captain Craig Tanner.
Treowen Stars, under the new management of Ben Murphy who needs no introductions to the Ardal Southern having been in the hotseat when Abertillery Bluebirds won the title two seasons ago. Ben has wasted no time strengthening the squad, signing Chris Colvin, Leigh Sharp, Jak Lewis, Mascen Evans, Chris Hartland, Jonathan Green, Jordan Needs, Gavin Meacham, Corey Mitchell, Nathan Gulley. While Owen Davies and Sam Daniels have joined Ben’s Coaching Team. The visitors to Bush Park, will be looking to build on their promising season last time out after staying up two years ago on the final Saturday of the season with a win over Lliswerry. Last season saw a seventh place finish as Manager Damien Daniels an ex Welsh Premier defender with Newtown improved the performances. A lot will ride on forward Joel Evans this season who scored 18 goals in 30 games last season and the experienced Paul Keddle. Damien has also strengthened the squad with the signings of Jack Biggs, Liam McAnally and Luis Lambourne-Price.
The only game kicking off at 7.30 sees Abergavenny Town take on Canton FC, who are new to the South East after playing last season in the South West. Abergavenny Manager Rhys Llewellyn has had a busy preseason strengthening the squad with the signings of Harri Moyle, Jack Evans, Harry Roe, Mackenzie Chadwick, Rudi Griffiths, William Higgs and Mason Keepin-Davies. A big loss will be Rhys Schwank though who has joined Barry Town United. On the field the club have played Abertillery Excelsiors and AFC Llwydcoed in preparation for the big kick off. Canton meantime, will be looking at a promotion push after finding their feat in the second half of last season in the South West finishing in ninth place. Manager Daniel Tanhai has produced some good performances pre-season out of his squad, with games against Caerau (Ely), Aberfan and Abercarn. Much will be expected from Suleimane Susso, who represented the Cymru Leagues Southern Squad last season as well as Captain Abraham Cordle.
