|
|
 |
 |
 |
  |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
                |
 |
Garden Village (News)
Unless otherwise stated all match reports relate to Division Two Link to Garden Village Photographs E-mail: info@gardenvillagefc.co.uk, or programme@gardenvillagefc.co.uk (Programme information only)
PRE-SEASON WIN FOR VILLAGE Garden Village kick-started their preparations for the new season with a 3-1 victory at Pembrokeshire League outfit Clarbeston Road on Saturday, writes Owain Johns. The visitors included new signings Anthony Wright, Mark Jones (both West End), Derrick Jenkins (Morriston) and former Tredegar Town midfielder Craig Davies in the starting eleven but it was long-serving defender David Evans who put the visitors in front shortly before half-time. Village then extended their lead with two quick-fire goals after the break with player-coach Anthony Wright and last seasons top-scorer Ashley Richards both on target. The hosts pulled one back twenty minutes before time but Bob Lloyd’s side held on register the win. Village host Neath Athletic on Tuesday July 31 (6.30pm), a Swansea City XI on Saturday August 4 (2.30pm) and Bryntirion Athletic on August 7 (6.30pm) before they travel to Barry Town for the opening league game of the season in two weeks’ time. Village: Matthew Martin; David Rimmer, Gary Davies, David Evans; Sam Brown, Mark Jones, Anthony Wright, Craig Davies; Derrick Jenkins, Ashley Richards, Phil Myles. Used Subs: Stuart Lloyd (GK), Neil Lloyd, Alex Jones, Matthew Cannon. *For a chance to win tickets to next Saturday’s friendly with the young Swans, visit: http://official.sportnetwork.net/main/s221/st116469.htm.
GARDEN VILLAGE ANNOUNCE PRE-SEASON LINE-UP Garden Village have announced four pre-season friendlies as they prepare for the 2007/08 MacWhirter Welsh League Second Division campaign, writes Owain Johns. Welsh Premiership sides Neath Athletic and Port Talbot Town will line-up against Bob Lloyd’s side while trips have been arranged to Third Division neighbours Cwmamman United and Pembrokeshire outfit Clarbeston Road. Pre-season kicks-off against a Port Talbot Town side managed by Welsh Semi-Pro boss Tony Pennock. The Steelmen, who completed the last Welsh Premiership season in sixth placed and reached the semi-final’s of the FAW Premier Cup, will make the short trip to Stafford Common on Tuesday July 24 (6.30). Lloyd will then take his side to Cwmamman United of the Welsh League Third Division forty eight hours later for a 6.30pm start at their Grenig Park base. The Glanaman-based outfit finished the Third Division in tenth place last term and this will be the first meeting between the two sides since the 2-2 pre-season stalemate at Stafford Common back in July 2003. Village head west to Pembrokeshire for the second successive pre-season to take on Clarbeston Road on July 28 (2.30). Having beaten Tenby FC 5-1 last summer, they face the FAW’s ‘Club of the Year’ for 2003 that finished last seasons Pembrokeshire League Division Two campaign in fourth position. Finally there will be a re-match of the Tony Nakonecznyj West Wales Senior Cup when Welsh League champions Neath Athletic come to town on Tuesday July 31 (6.30). The Eagles clinched West Wales’ premier cup competition with two late goals in the meeting between the two sides at Llandarcy Park in May. There could be further matches added to this list in the near future. Watch this space. 13 June 2007
CUP FINAL HEARTACHE FOR GARDEN VILLAGE By Owain Johns Welsh Premiership-bound Neath Athletic brought the curtain down on their successful season by lifting the Tony Nakonecznyj West Wales Senior Cup on Wednesday night. The Welsh League champions defeated Second Division neighbours Garden Village, 2-1, at a rain-swept Llandarcy Park but were made to work hard for their victory. An impressive first-half performance saw the visitors take the lead through Lee Rastatter shortly before the break, but it was the same player who put through his own net on 76 minutes to level the scoreline. Neath now had the momentum and in the very last minute were awarded a controversial penalty which was converted by Jarrod Price, who only 24 hours earlier had helped Cwmaman Institute win promotion to the Welsh Football League. A full-strength Village side did well to keep their high-flying hosts at bay for the majority of the first-half, and Bob Lloyd's side could have taken a 15th minute but player-coach Gary Davies could only direct his powerful strike into the side netting. Davies, though, made amends later on in the half with a goal-line clearance after 'keeper Stuart Lloyd had been caught out. The visitors' best chance of the half came on 41 minutes through Cameron Hopkins, whose curling strike dipped just over the top of the bar, but all of Village's hard work was rewarded two minutes later as they took the lead. David Rimmer's long free-kick into the box was knocked across goal by Gary Davies and Lee Rastatter was at the back post to head Village in front. Neath looked more lively in the second period and shortly after the re-start forced Village striker Ashley Richards to clear off his own line after Lloyd has been beaten. But Richards had a glorious chance to put his side further in front on 71 minutes; Paul Bromage put the ball into the six-yard box and, with the 'keeper beaten, only needed the slightest of touches for it to be converted. Richards was sliding in at the back post but missed out on connecting with the ball by a matter of inches. It got worse for the side from Stafford Common as Neath grabbed themselves a sloppy equaliser in the 76th minute. A corner from the right-hand side was sent into the heart of a crowded box but unfortunately ricocheted off the leg of Lee Rastatter for an own-goal. Stuart Lloyd pulled off an excellent acrobatic save on 84 minutes but as the tie looked to be heading for extra-time the home side were awarded a penalty, and was calmly converted by former AFC Llwydcoed midfielder Jarrod Price to seal victory for Athletic and send the distraught players, management and large band of supporters back to the west of Swansea empty handed. 17 May 2007
By Owain Johns Garden Village ended their league campaign in disappointing fashion but now have the chance of winning some silverware for the first time in five years. They take on Welsh League champions Neath Athletic in the final of the Tony Nakonecznyj West Wales Senior Cup at Llandarcy Park on Wednesday (7.30), the first time that the Kingsbridge-based side have reached this stage of the competition. A 4-1 defeat at neighbours Ammanford in midweek brought the curtain down on their Second Division campaign, but Village go into the final on the back of three defeats in their last 15 matches, two of which came in the last two games, and manager Bob Lloyd is looking forward to the challenge. “This is a very prestigious game for the club, it will be our first appearance in the final and it will be a challenge,” said Lloyd. “Our ultimate aim is to get back into Division One and there is no better way to prove ourselves than to play against the Welsh League champions. “I am a little disappointed that the game won’t be played on neutral ground but it will still be a great day for the club.” Village started off the season as promotion favourites and they lived up to those odds by taking 12 points from a possible 18, but a bad string of results sent them into a downward spiral and by January the club was flirting with relegation. Form picked up in March and after eight victories and four draws from their final 15 outings they finished a credible ninth, but Lloyd wants his side to push forward and challenge for honours at the top next term. “This season has been a rollercoaster ride,” he said. “After starting off as promotion favourites it all went wrong and I am so glad we came out of it. “We are going to work extremely hard over the summer as I want us to progress. I don’t want Garden Village to become a mid-table side.” Goalkeeper Stuart Lloyd returns after injury and suspension kept him out of the first-team set-up while promising youngsters Cameron Hopkins and Dayle Selvage are set to return after missing the final day defeat at Ammanford. Winch Wen, who lifted the West Wales Intermediate Cup at the Liberty Stadium in midweek, were comfortably beaten by Ragged School at Garden Village on Saturday. The two teams were playing for the Swansea League Senior Cup and it was Ragged who came out on top by two goals to nil. 12 May 2007
SEASON 2006-07 Please follow headline link(s) to article(s) Village book their place in cup final 26 March 2007 Village win as web-site starts to function again 24 March 2007 Village perform their own great escape in derby 19 November 2006 Five-star performance earns first win since August 11 November 2006 Winless run continues at Old Road 8 November 2006 Village held by Caldicot but win in cup 30 October 2006 Village narrowly defeated at Bettws Park 22 October 2006 Garden Village suffer derby day blues 15 October 2006 Cup run brought to an end at Coychurch Road 1 October 2006 Six-goal thriller at The Willows 23 September 2006 Garden Village comfortably progress in Welsh Cup 16 September 2006 Ten-man Village crash out of League Cup 9 September 2006
VILLAGE HANDED WELFARE CUP DATE
Village have been drawn
at Carmarthenshire League Premier Division outfit Dafen Welfare in the
first round of this season's Tony Nakonecznyj Insurance Brokers West Wales
Senior Cup, writes Owain Johns,
www.gvafc.co.uk. 8
September 2006 New boy Devonald strikes on debut 2 September 2006 Winning run brought to an end in Cardiff 26 August 2006 Top of the league! 19 August 2006 Two out of two as Village win derby match 16 August 2006 Opening Day Delight For Garden Village 12 August 2006
Sunday 6 August 2006 Pre-season friendly Garden Village 2 - 2 Afan Lido Garden Village ended pre-season with a creditable draw against First Division neighbours Afan Lido at a baking hot Stafford Common on Sunday afternoon, writes Owain Johns, www.gvafc.co.uk. The home side were without last seasons top-scorer Ashley Richards which allowed young Dayle Selvage to take a more attacking role, while the experienced Paul Bromage returned to the side for the first time since the end of last season and was named amongst the substitutes. Village should have gone in front within the opening 60 seconds as when Steven Evans was through on goal, instead of shooting he decided to put the ball across goal but it was safely collected by one-time Garden Village 'keeper Wyn Walters. The deadlock was broken shortly afterwards when Michael Harvey connected with a Mark Napieralla corner and volleyed low past Walters. Phil Myles came close with a volley on 16 minutes but the Lido equalised ten minutes afterwards through former Port Talbot League player Chris Latham who headed across Stuart Lloyd into the corner of the net. The scoreline remained the same until the first-half was drawing to a close, but a piece of magic by Phil Myles ensured that Garden Village would return to the changing rooms one goal in front. After twisting and turning past a few defenders he launched an unstoppable shot high into the net from near 25-yards which left Wyn Walters stranded. For the second-half during Tuesday's win over St. Joseph's, manager Bob Lloyd had made a dozen changes at the interval, the only substitution made this time 'round was the introduction of Paul Bromage who replaced the impressive Freddy Treloar. But it was the visiting side that struck first nine minutes into the second-half, Latham again on target with a lob over Stuart Lloyd which trickled over the line to make it 2-2. David Rimmer had a free-kick deflected just wide of the target and Mark Napieralla had a strike well held by Wyn Walters during a quiet second-half but all-in-all a good physical test for Garden Village before the league opener at Cambrian & Clydach Vale on August 12 (2.30). Village: Stuart Lloyd; Michael Harvey, David Rimmer, Neil Simon; Mark Napieralla, Phil John, Freddy Treloar, Steven Evans, Jack Jenkins; Phil Myles, Dayle Selvage. Used Subs: Alex Jones, Nicky Lowe, Paul Bromage.
Tuesday 1 August 2006 Pre-season friendly Garden Village 4 - 0 St. Joseph's Garden Village put in a productive performance as they dispensed of reigning Swansea Senior League champions and West Wales Intermediate Cup holders St. Joseph's at Stafford Common on Tuesday evening, writes Owain Johns, www.gvafc.co.uk. . Neil Simon made his first appearance in a Village shirt while the likes of Stuart Lloyd, Carl Alfei, Craig Blake, Dayle Selvage and Owen Williams returned to the side after missing the weekend fixture. The hosts took a third minute lead through former Neath Athletic midfield Mark Napieralla who beat the offside trap to slot the ball in after some good work down the right by Derrick Jenkins. It should have been two by the sixth minute when Steven Evans was through on goal but he could only shoot wide. St. Joseph's had a few efforts on goal and forcing returning goalkeeper Stuart Lloyd into making some good saves, their best effort coming on 27 minutes when Lloyd was beaten and the ball skimmed the top of the bar, but down at the other end the visiting 'keeper was called into action on a few occasions and didn't let his side down. But two goals towards the end of the opening half all but sealed the win for Village; Phil Myles doubled the lead on 35 minutes from close-range and he added a third from similar distance a minute before the break. Bob Lloyd introduced eight new faces in the second and it was one of those players, Ashley Richards, who came close on 48 minutes with a lob just over the top after some great play down the left by Jack Jenkins and new boy Nicky Lowe. Richards tried his luck agains with a lob, this time from around 30 yards, four minutes later but again it dipped just over. The rout was completed in the 63rd minute when young Dayle Selvage, one of the eight half-time substitutes, struck an unstoppable volley from a difficult angle into the corner of the net. Owen Williams, Ashley Richards and Craig Blake all had chances late on to extend the lead but the game ended 4-0 for Village to secure a second pre-season friendly win out of three. Next match: Sunday August 6 vs Afan Lido (H) kick-off 2.30pm. Village: Stuart Lloyd; David Rimmer, Michael Harvey, Neil Simon; Mark Napieralla, Phil John, Steven Evans, Freddy Treloar, Jack Jenkins; Derrick Jenkins, Phil Myles. Subs Used: Dale Hulland (GK); Nicky Lowe, Carl Alfei, Dayle Selvage, Chris Holt, Owen Williams, Craig Blake, Ashley Richards.
Saturday 29 July 2006 Pre-season friendly Garden Village 0 - 1 ENTO Aberaman Athletic A second-half penalty was the only difference between Village and ENTO, writes Owain Johns, www.gvafc.co.uk. Aberaman as they fought out a very competitive pre-season friendly on Saturday. Richard Jago was the man who converted past Simon Cole in the 57th minute after ENTO's star signing Kurt Nogan was grounded by home debutant Michael Harvey. It was Nogan who had the first proper chance after 19 minutes when he brought a fine save out of Cole on the edge of the area. Phil John brought a save out of visiting 'keeper Neil Collins towards the end of the half as did striker Robert Shannon, who was a handful all afternoon, after flicking the ball past a few defenders before unleashing a thunderous half-volley heading towards the top corner but dealt with by ex-Scunthorpe stopper Collins. A minute before the break ENTO trialist Rhys Carr supplied a pin-point cross into the box which met the head of Kurt Nogan but the former Stockport man could only direct it wide of the target. The deadlock was broken 12 minutes into the half after Michael Harvey, who recently joined the club from Neath Athletic, brought Kurt Nogan down in the corner of the area which left Fforestfach official Adrian Hartley with no choice but to award a penalty. Former Bryntirion and Pontypridd front-man Jago drove his penalty straight down the middle to put David Morgan's side in front. Substitutes Ashley Richards and Jack Jenkins both had chances during a quiet second period, as did Derrick Jenkins, but the home side just couldn't find that extra something to draw themselves level. Robert Shannon was forced to leave the pitch with facial injuries after taking a nasty blow to the face towards the end of the match; David Evans, David Rimmer and Nicky Lowe also picked up injuries during the course of the match. Village: Simon Cole; Michael Harvey, David Evans, David Rimmer; Mark Napieralla, Phil John, Chris Thomas, Derrick Jenkins, Nicky Lowe; Phil Myles, Rob Shannon. Used Subs: Dale Hulland (GK), Jack Jenkins, Steven Evans, Chris Holt, Freddy Treloar, Ashley Richards.
Saturday 22 July 2006 Pre-season friendly Tenby 1 - 5 Garden Village Garden Village's preparations for the upcoming season got off to the perfect start with a comfortable win over Pembrokeshire League side Tenby at the Clicketts Sportsground, Tenby on Saturday, writes Owain Johns, www.gvafc.co.uk. Bob Lloyd included new signings Robert Shannon, a striker who joined from new Second Division rivals West End, and defender Michael Harvey who made the short trip down the M4 from Neath Athletic. Young striker Richard Jones also played some part in the fixture after he recently signed senior forms. Phil John also returned to action for the first-time since sustaining ligament damage 11 months ago and put in a good performance. The visitors took the lead on 11 minutes through Jack Jenkins who was quickest to the ball after the home 'keeper parried a free-kick, and the match was effectively over within a five minute period later on when Garden Village found the net on three occasions. Rob Shannon opened his Garden Village account on 29 minutes to make it 2-0, Phil Myles added a third on 32 minutes and Shannon grabbed a second two minutes later to take this friendly encounter into the break at 4-0. Garden Village's free-scoring attitude looked to have stayed with them as they began the second-half with Jack Jenkins scoring his second of the game in the 50th minute, but that was the last of the goals for the side from Stafford Common. The hosts did pull back a consolation with 15 minutes to go but as the game drew to a close Richard Jones had a goal disallowed and Ashley Richards struck the post. Next up is the home match against ENTO Aberaman, who won promotion to Division One last term after taking Garw's position in third spot, and kick-off is at 3.00pm. Village: Dale Hulland; Andrew Pugh, Michael Harvey, David Evans; Jack Jenkins, Phil Myles, Steven Evans, Phil John, Derrick Jenkins, Rob Shannon, Ashley Richards. Used Subs: Dayle Selvage, Freddy Treolar, Chris Myles, Richard Jones.
AFAN LIDO - GARDEN VILLAGE CONTEST CALLED OFF The pre-season friendly match against Welsh League Division One outfit Afan Lido has been called off. It was due to be played at the British Steel ground in Port Talbot on Thursday July 27 but there is another match scheduled to be played there instead. If anymore information is released regarding a new date or new opposition it will be announced on www.gvafc.co.uk. Revised Pre-Season Fixture List: Sat Jul 22 vs Tenby (A) 2.00pm Sat Jul 29 vs ENTO Aberaman (H) 3.00pm Tue Aug 1 vs St. Joseph's (H) 6.30pm Sat Aug 5 vs Illogan RBL (A) 3.00pm Owain Johns www.gvafc.co.uk 18 July 2006
Garden Village Football Club - Pre-Season Friendlies Saturday July 22 TENBY FC (Pembrokeshire League Division 1) The Clicketts Sportsground, Tenby, Pembrokeshire Kick-off: 2.00pm Thursday July 27 AFAN LIDO FC BSC Port Talbot Ground Kick-off: 6.30pm Saturday July 29 ENTO ABERAMAN ATHLETIC FC Stafford Common, Kingsbridge Kick-off: 3.00pm Tuesday August 1 ST. JOSEPH’S FC (Swansea Senior League Division One)* Stafford Common, Kingsbridge Kick-off: 6.30pm *2005/2006 Swansea Senior League champions and West Wales Intermediate Cup winners Saturday August 5 ILLOGAN RBL FC (Cornwall Combination League) Oxland Parc, Illogan, Cornwall Kick-off: 3.00pm The above information was supplied by Owain Johns, www.gvafc.co.uk 28 June 2006
SEASON 2005-06 Please follow headline link(s) to article(s) Village Miss Out On Points Record After Defeat 10 May 2006 Late Strikes Seal Victory Over Promoted Cockerels 9 May 2006 Aberaman Park Encounter Ends All-Square 3 May 2006 Away Day Joy As Promotion Post Is Still In Sight 29 April 2006 Village Leave It Late At Blandy Park 26 April 2006 Village Up One Place After Ivor Park Success 22 April 2006 Cockerels Come From Behind To Steal Vital Point 17 April 2006 Derby Day Defeat For Lloyd's Men 15 April 2006 Late Strike Seals Victory Over Pontyclun 13 April 2006 Village Slip To Defeat At The Riverside 10 April 2006 Village's League Cup Dreams Come To An End 7 April 2006 Blandy Park Encounter Rained Off In First Half 25 March 2006 Shamrock Cup Semi Final Venue Revealed 19 March 2006 Garden Village Knock Saints For Six 18 March 2006 Village Into Last Four After Spytty Park Triumph 11 March 2006 Second Half Strikes See Off Excelsiors 4 March 2006 Village Held Against Promotion Rivals Caldicot 18 February 2006 Four-Match Winning Run Brought To An End 12 February 2006 Village Victorious Over Struggling Gwynfi 4 February 2006 Village Book Their Place In Cup Quarter Finals 28 January 2006 Dickie At The Double As Village Record Another Win 21 January 2006 Richards Double Sinks Seasiders 14 January 2006 Unbeaten Run Ended By Experienced League Leaders 7 January 2006 Village Climb To Second After Derby Success 17 December 2005 Unbeaten Run Extends To Six After Corries Win 10 December 2005 Away Day Success Continues At Glasbrook 4 December 2005 Richards On Target To Defeat Saints 19 November 2005 Richards Double Seals Away Win For Village 5 November 2005 Town Strike Late To Deny Village Victory 29 October 2005 Village Leave It Late To Progress Into Round Three 22 October 2005 Last Minute Heartbreak At Jubilee Way 15 October 2005 Mansell Strike Helps Village To Victory 8 October 2005 Village Pick Up First League Points Since August 1 October 2005 Garden Village Record Historic Win Over Barry 25 September 2005 Nine-Man Aberaman Come From Behind To Win 19 September 2005 Injury-Time Heartbreak For Village In Welsh Cup 12 September 2005 Village Beaten In Welsh Cup Opener 10 September 2005 Evans & Rimmer See Red As Village Are Beaten 27 August 2005 First Away Points Secured With Win At Ammanford 25 August 2005 Village Beat Porthcawl To Keep 100% Home Record 22 August 2005 Village Stroll To Victory Over 10-Man Ammanford 17 August 2005 Opening Day Woe As Village Lose At Ponty 14 August 2005
SEASON 2004-05
TUESDAY 4 MAY 2005 NEWPORT YMCA 1 - 1 GARDEN VILLAGE Promotion-hopefuls Newport YMCA needed a last minute re-taken penalty to clinch a draw in Tuesday's encounter with Garden Village at Mendalgief Road. A win for the Pill-based side would have given them promotion to the First Division for the first time in 13 years but Garden Village, who had defender David Rimmer in goal because of there being no goalkeeper available to play, read the wrong script and denied Newport YM promotion on the night. From their remaining two matches they need just two points to confirm their promotion. If Village had won the match, they would have inflicted a first defeat in 14 matches - and three months - on Newport YM, and a first defeat at home since November. The visitors took the lead in the first-half through Ben Brown and that's how it remained until the break. YM came out strong in the second-half and continuously pushed for the equaliser; they hit the post three times before they finally got their goal from the penalty spot in the 90th minute after David Rimmer brought down a player in the box. They were requested to take the spot-kick twice because two of their players were in the box at the first attempt, but they did score the equalising goal second time 'round. By Owain Johns
SUNDAY 1 MAY 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 2 - 0 PORTHCAWL
TOWN The home side were without Ben Brown, Andy Mumford, Chris Thomas, Louis Cann, David Evans and Carl Alfei for the game but were boosted by the return of Jamie Evans from injury. Young goalkeeper Matthew Martin was picked ahead of Carl Howells to start only his second match for the first team. The first of a host of chances came after just 18 seconds; straight from the kick-off David Rimmer's long-ball forward found Chris Morgan to the right of goal and his cross was half-cleared by the Porthcawl defence, the ball fell to Phil John and his close-range shot crashed against the crossbar. Dai Rimmer headed wide from a corner soon after but the first goal finally came on 11 minutes from Craig Blake, who headed home from a Chris Morgan cross. The game died down after that with Village unable to add to their one-goal advantage. Young defender Kerry Williams picked up an injury ten minutes before half-time which saw him carried off the pitch and replaced by another young player in Marc Thomas. HALF-TIME: Garden Village 1 - 0 Porthcawl Town It didn't take long for Village to score a second after the re-start; a quick free-kick on the edge of the box from Jamie Evans picked out Paul Bromage, who put the ball across goal for Marc Lloyd to tap-in at the back post on 52 minutes. Porthcawl did have the ball in the back of the net four minutes later through Dan Harris but it was ruled out for offside. Dai Rimmer had a few chances to score with headers in the first-half, but on 65 minutes he had possibly his best chance of the match. The unmarked defender was on the end of a low cross from the left but from a matter of yards out, and just seven minutes later he could have scored again, this time he headed onto the post from a Chris Morgan free-kick. He was replaced soon after by Michael Hughes. It was a game that Village could easily have won by more against a below-par Porthcawl side, but we go into Tuesday's final match of the season at high-flying Newport YMCA on the back of well-deserved win which saw us move 11 points clear of Penrhiwceiber, who occupy the place below. Village: M Martin, N Lloyd, K Williams (M Thomas '35), D Rimmer (M Hughes '82), C Morgan, J Evans, P John, N Romanello, P Bromage, M Lloyd, C Blake (G Fisher '67). Goals: Craig Blake (11) & Marc Lloyd (52). Porthcawl: W Alston, J Robbins, R Owen, M Morgan (P Gilbert '57), R Owen, C Holmes, D James, S Atkinson, D Harris, M Cile, J Brown (J Owen '84). Un-Used: R Comley. By Owain Johns
WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL 2005 PENRHIWCEIBER RANGERS 5 - 1 GARDEN VILLAGE Penrhiwceiber inflicted this heavy defeat on Garden Village, our heaviest away from home this season, in a game which Village could easily have won if we took our chances early on. The home side went into the half-time interval with a three-goal advantage and killed off any hopes of a Village comeback with two further goals at the start of the second-half; 17-year-old forward Matthew Thomas grabbed a consolation towards the end of the match while Penrhiwceiber were reduced to 10-men in the second-half. Village had top-scorer Ben Brown missing from the squad due to other commitments, and he was badly missed. The visitors could easily have scored four goals inside the opening 25 minutes, chances that would have surely ended the match as a contest if they had been converted. David Rimmer and Neil Lloyd both returned from injury to start the match and they partnered Nicky Romanello and Alex Jones in a four-man defence. Chris Morgan made his first appearance in a number of months on the right side of midfield while Phil John was used as a striker to replace the missing Ben Brown. As early as the second minute Marc Lloyd capitalised on a defensive slip-up to go through on goal; Chris Morgan's throw into the box was totally missed by a 'Ceiber defender which saw Lloyd go one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he saw the 'keeper come off his line but sent his lob over the top of goal. Three minutes later Andy Mumford brought a fine save out of the 'keeper with a free-kick which saw him dive down well to his right and on 11 minutes Craig Blake cut-in and shot just wide. On 23 minutes Phil John completed a great move which involved Andy Mumford, Carl Alfei and Chris Morgan by cracking the foot of the post. How the Village players would have rued missing those chances as in the 24th minute, totally against the run of play, Penrhiwceiber took the lead. Carl Howells dropped the ball from a right-sided cross to the feet of a 'Ceiber player and he simply tapped the ball in to make it 1-0. They should have doubled that lead just a minute later but Howells made amends from his earlier mistake by palming away a close-range shot. Howells went on to make another fine save during the first-half but was twice beaten right at the end of this forgettable 45 minutes. On 45 minutes another cross in from the right was heading for the gloves of Howells but a player popped up in front of him to head through his hands and into the net. They put the match beyond their visitors with a third goal a minute into stoppage-time when a player beat the offside trap to go through on goal and calmly slot the ball beyond a helpless Howells. HALF-TIME: Penrhiwceiber Rangers 3 - 0 Garden Village If Penrhiwceiber could score three goals in a half and look second best (for the first quarter at least) there was no doubt that Village could peg them back in the second-half, but any hopes of this event occurring was dashed just three minutes into the half. After Howells had made a great save the ball was knocked back into the box and tapped-in to make it 4-0. The home side were reduced to 10-men on 54 minutes, one of their players swore at the referee Phil Watts after the Bridgend official awarded Village a free-kick. He didn't improve his case as he swore at Watts a second time as he left the pitch. The early second-half dismissal didn't affect Penrhiwceiber in any way as they managed to produce a fifth and final goal on 57 minutes; their player was played through and after beating Carl Howells he slotted the ball in from a tight angle to give his side a 5-0 lead. It now looked to be an impossible task ahead for the Village players and in the 30-plus minutes that remained of the match we still weren't creating the chances. Andy Mumford did have a couple of chances; he cut-in and shot just wide of the target on 69 minutes and 12 minutes later he forced the goalkeeper into making a fantastic save from his thunderous strike. Six minutes from time and Village finally got their goal; a ball in from the left-hand side fell into a crowd of players but as it got loose substitute Matthew Thomas got a hard enough touch to force it over the line for him to score his first ever goal for the first-team. Village head into the penultimate weekend of the season with two matches to be played in the space of 24 hours. On Saturday third-placed Tredegar is the destination for Bob Lloyd's side while on Sunday Porthcawl Town make the short trip to Stafford Common. Both matches kick-off at 3.00pm. Village: C Howells, N Lloyd (C Smith '66), D Rimmer, N Romanello, A Jones (M Thomas '45), C Morgan, A Mumford, M Lloyd, C Alfei (O Dugdale '66), P John, C Blake. By Owain Johns
TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2005 PONTARDAWE TOWN 1 - 1 GARDEN VILLAGE This match was played in awful weather conditions which included: heavy rain, hail, thunder and lightning, which made it extremely difficult for both sides to play in, and by half-time there was a lot of surface water visible on the playing surface. But the match was completed and Village's excellent run away from home in the league this season (just one defeat) added another result to its toll after this draw at league-leaders Pontardawe. The home side had taken the lead in the first-half through Jamie Brown but Chris Thomas brought Village level mid-way through the second-half with his first goal for the club. Thomas was later sent off as was a Pontardawe midfield player. Village were still without key-players such as David Rimmer, Jamie Evans, Louis Cann and Owen Williams through injury, while Neil Lloyd could only make do with a place on the bench after he limped off early on in Saturday's win at Caldicot. Carl Howells returned in goal to replace Matthew Martin and young defender Alex Jones was named amongst the substitutes. Jones was used as an early substitute to replace David Evans who was forced off with injury, the last thing the club needed with the long list of players already missing. Champions-elect Pontardawe forced Carl Howells into making a string of fine saves during the first-half and the Village 'keeper did well considering the awful conditions of the pitch. Andy Mumford had Village's best chance of the half on 20 minutes with a free-kick but he was unable to add to his goal as he saw the home 'keeper save comfortably. Two minutes later and the deadlock was broken by the home side; a quick free-kick was taken out on the right-hand side and from the cross Jamie Brown attacked the ball well and sent his header flying into the bottom corner. HALF-TIME: Pontardawe Town 1 - 0 Garden Village Village played a much better game in the second-half and after some early pressure should have been awarded a penalty. Paul Bromage was clearly fouled in the box on 52 minutes but Swansea ref' Andy Bachelor turned a blind-eye to it. The home side could have put the game beyond Village five minutes later but Nicky Romanello made a fine stop on the line to deny them a second. After some more pressure the equalising goal finally came in the 67th minute; from the edge of the box Chris Thomas curled the ball into the bottom corner - with the aid of a deflection - to level the scores at 1-1 and for him to score his first for the club since joining from Neath last month. Craig Blake then had a glorious chance to put Village in-front three minutes later but from a matter of yards, and with only the 'keeper to beat, he could only put it wide. One thing that was missing from this fiery derby match was a sending-off, and the game had two red-cards flashed in the closing minutes. Goalscorer Chris Thomas was the first to go in the 89th minute after collecting a second yellow card for deliberate hand-ball and two minutes into injury-time Pontardawe also had a man dismissed after collecting two yellows. Village: C Howells, D Evans (A Jones), A Mumford, N Romanello, M Lloyd, C Alfei, P John, P Bromage, C Thomas, C Blake (G Fisher), B Brown. Un-Used: N Lloyd. By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2005 CALDICOT TOWN 1 - 2 GARDEN VILLAGE Garden Village picked up their ninth away win of the season with a 2-1 success at mid-table Caldicot on Saturday. Andy Mumford's second goal in three games for the club and a Craig Blake header helped Village race into an early two-goal lead, the home side did pull one back soon after but the visitors held on for the win. Bob Lloyd was without many of his first-team regulars through injury - Jamie Evans, Owen Williams, Louis Cann and David Rimmer all missing out. Things didn't get better as defender Neil Lloyd only lasted 20 minutes of the match at Jubilee Way before being substituted. Young goalkeeper Matthew Martin came in to replaced Rob Thomas - after a shaky start he went on to have a very good game - and young forward Matthew Thomas was also used in the first team for the first time this season. Paul Bromage also returned to the side after sitting out the last three matches through suspension. Village got off to the perfect start by taking an eighth minute lead through an Andy Mumford free-kick. The former Swans midfielder also scored in similar fashion against Newport YMCA in midweek; but this time curling the ball around the outside of the wall, totally catching out the home side's goalkeeper. That lead was doubled on the quarter of an hour mark. Ben Brown took the ball to the by-line after going on one of his mazy runs and crossed into the centre for Craig Blake, whose diving header put Village 2-0 up. Caldicot did pull one back ten minutes later - Phil John lost possession on the edge of the box and the ball was cracked in from just inside the area - but that was as good as it got for the home side. Village boss Bob Lloyd commented about the game, saying: "The boys did really well. We were really up against it as we had so many players missing." He added: "We brought in Matthew Martin whose been playing in goal for the Seconds, he had a shaky start but then went on to play really well. Matthew Thomas also came on for the last 20 minutes and did well." Village: M Martin, N Lloyd (K Williams), N Romanello, D Evans, M Lloyd, C Alfei (P Bromage), P John, A Mumford, C Thomas (M Thomas), C Blake, B Brown. By Owain Johns
TUESDAY 12 APRIL 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 1 - 2 NEWPORT YMCA A Marc Lloyd own-goal six minutes from time broke Village hearts as the game had looked like it was heading for a draw. The home side battled well throughout and it was Andy Mumford with his first goal for the club who opened the scoring with a spectacular curling free-kick from 20-yards out. Newport YMCA piled on the pressure in the second-half and they were rewarded with a goal on 59 minutes. Phil Tranter was the man who got the goal from close range and right at the death they got the goal that gifted them the win. One change was made to the side that drew with ENTO Aberaman at the weekend; Andy Mumford made was given his first start in Village colours in place of Carl Alfei while young defender Kerry Williams made the subs' bench. David Rimmer was still missing through injury and Paul Bromage served the final match of his suspension. Garden Village made the perfect start to the game and on his full-debut, Andy Mumford fired his new side in front. On nine minutes Ben Brown was fouled just outside the box and Mumford, well known for his excellent set-pieces, stepped-up and curled the ball into the top-corner to put Village one-up. The game got sloppy and not much was produced by either side until we reached the closing minutes of the half. In the 41st minute giant striker Lewis Sommers sent his free-kick over and a minute later Phil Tranter shot across the face of goal. Garden Village had their chances, too. Ben Brown produced a fine finish which saw him chip the goalkeeper but the goal was ruled out for offside and Craig Blake shot across goal soon after. HALF-TIME: Garden Village 1 - 0 Newport YMCA The second-half proved to be much more one-sided than the first, with the visitors in possession of the ball more than their hosts. They could have levelled things up five minutes into the half if not for Jamie Evans' goal-saving tackle right on the line. They did, though, pull one back just before the hour through winger Phil Tranter who scored from close-range after some good work by Aaron Stewart. Newport YM did have their chances to take full-control of the game but some stubborn defending from the home defence kept the score at 1-1. Village could easily have re-taken the lead nine minutes from time through Andy Mumford, but he shot just wide of the target. YM's second finally came in the 84th minute, but in cruel fashion. The ball fell to Marc Lloyd in front of goal and as he attempted to clear the ball away for a corner, he unfortunately found the top corner of Rob Thomas' goal. They could also have scored a third just before the end but substitute Chris Egitto, who had caused problems since arriving on the scene with just under quarter of an hour left, but he shot just over. Village face Caldicot at Jubilee Way on Saturday afternoon before they face another tough midweek test when they travel to table-topping Pontardawe on Tuesday. Village: R Thomas, N Lloyd, A Mumford, D Evans, L Cann, J Evans, P John (N Romanello 69), C Thomas, M Lloyd, C Blake (O Williams 72), B Brown.Un-Used: K Williams. YMCA:
M Rees, S James, S Pearce (K Averie 82), F Yafa' (D Porretta 68), By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 9 APRIL 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 2 - 2 ENTO ABERAMAN ATHLETIC Marc Lloyd's scrambled goal two minutes into injury-time capped off a great Village comeback against ENTO Aberaman on Saturday - the second time in a week in which Village have scored right at the death to earn a 2-2 draw. Craig Blake's goal early in the second-half started the comeback to peg back the visitors who took a 2-0 lead into the break thanks to goals from Leighton Price and Ross Williams. There was only one change to the side that beat Ammanford in midweek, David Rimmer was forced to miss out through injury and he was replaced by David Evans. Paul Bromage was still suspended but there was a place on the bench for former Swansea City midfielder Andy Mumford, who less than 24 hours earlier played the full 90 minutes in Aberystwyth's 4-0 drubbing of Haverfordwest. The game got off to the worst possible start for Garden Village when they conceded with only four minutes on the watch. A quick ball across the face of goal defied the defence and the unmarked Leighton Price was gifted an easy tap-in to put his side in front. Jamie Evans came close to levelling just a minute later when he headed over the top from Louis Cann's corner. ENTO never looked like a quality side but they were causing Village all sorts of problems at the back. They doubled their lead on 20 minutes and this time goalscorer Price turned provider, it was his corner that met the head of Ross Williams and the ball flew past Rob Thomas. The half started to go quiet with neither side really creating much, but six minutes before the break top-scorer Ben Brown came close to producing a goal similar to the first one he scored in the win over Ammanford. After beating two defenders on the edge of the area he let loose a powerful shot that beat ENTO player-manager David Morgan in goal but cracked the top of the crossbar. HALF-TIME: Garden Village 0 - 2 ENTO Aberaman Athletic With just five minutes of the second-half played, and with Village still not creating many chances, Andy Mumford was brought on to replace Carl Alfei to help bolster the midfield. The home side did pull one back on 54 minutes; Ben Brown again managed to get past a defender and his low shot beat the 'keeper and struck the foot of the post but, as the bounced up into the air, Craig Blake was at hand to knock the ball into the empty net. Things started to pick up for Village from here. With 20 minutes of the half gone Village were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area. Cries from the crowd insisted that Andy Mumford should be the one to take it, as he proved to be a master at taking set-pieces during his days at the Vetch. He stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and it looked to be heading for the top corner, but David Morgan produced a fantastic one-handed save to push the ball onto the crossbar, and from the rebound Marc Lloyd flew in with a diving header, with the open goal in front of him, he could only head the ball in the direction of the post. Rob Thomas was also forced into making a great save from a Leighton Price free-kick just three minutes later, which he acrobatically tipped over the bar. Phil John then had a chance for Village but with less than quarter of an hour to go Mumford was gifted another chance in front of goal with another free-kick. This time he sent his set-piece low and around the outside of the wall, but David Morgan was alert to it and again produced a fine save by tipping it around the foot of the left-hand post. Time was now running out for the home side. The chances were coming but they just were't becoming anything. With two minutes to go Jamie Evans had his header tipped over the bar after getting on the end of another quality Mumford free-kick, and in the last minute Craig Blake, with a shot, and Andy Mumford, with a header, could have scored. After trying so hard in the second-half the equalising goal finally came two minutes into injury-time. Once again Ben Brown beat his man and took the ball right to the by-line, with the 'keeper at the front post all he had to do was place the ball inside the 6-yard box and there were at least three Village players waiting to score; the ball fell to Marc Lloyd and he just managed to scramble it in to make it 2-2. The game could have easily been turned on its head if Louis Cann had struck his shot harder in the 3rd minute of the added time, which was collected comfortably by David Morgan, who had an excellent match between the sticks for the visitors. This draw extended Village's unbeaten run to three matches, and on Tuesday night fellow promotion-hopefuls Newport YMCA are the visitors to Stafford Common. Kick-off is at 6.15pm. Village: R Thomas, N Lloyd, D Evans, J Evans, L Cann, C Alfei (A Mumford 50), P John (O Williams 83), C Thomas, M Lloyd, C Blake, B Brown. Un-Used: N Romanello. ENTO: D Morgan, G Fowler, L Williams, M Edwards, G Bennett, D Blackstock, M Smart, R Whatley, L Price, R Horan (M Cable 86), R Williams. Un-Used: A Jenkins, N Giles. By Owain Johns
TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 2 - 0 AMMANFORD Garden Village returned to winning ways with a convincing victory over rivals Ammanford at Stafford Common on Tuesday evening.
Village welcomed back five players who missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Morriston. Jamie Evans, Chris Thomas, Marc Lloyd, Craig Blake and Ben Brown all returned but David Evans was unavailable and Paul Bromage was suspended having picked up a red card at Morriston. The visitors included midfielder Michael Donne and striker Paul Hughes, both formerly of Garden Village, in their starting XI.
The game itself saw very little chances created by both side’s; a goal in each half from Ben Brown, his fourteenth and fifteenth goals of the season, separated the two sides in what was a dull match. A few hefty challenges were put in from players of both sides but the game won't be remembered as a classic.
Phil John had the game’s first real chance on 13 minutes when he shot just, while just six minutes later he was brought down inside the area from behind and looked to have been a definite penalty, but play was waved on by referee Mark Evans. The game had to wait until the 24th minute for its first goal, top-scorer Ben Brown beat two defenders and unleashed an unstoppable shot which ended up in the top corner.
HALF-TIME: Garden Village 1 – 0 Ammanford
The second-half started as quiet as the whole of the first-half had been. Village came close to scoring a second on 54 minutes; David Rimmer’s well directed pass from the left-flank found Louis Cann out on the right, Cann then picked out Marc Lloyd just inside the area but the midfielder’s shot was dragged a few yards wide of the target.
Chances were few and far between for the two sides between then and the end of the game. Village’s second, which ended the match as a contest, came a few minutes into added time to secure Village’s first win in three games.
From Craig Blake’s lay-off Ben Brown held-up the ball well under pressure from three Ammanford defenders before firing home his and Village’s second of the night to secure all three points.
Village are at home again this weekend, ENTO Aberaman are the visitors to Stafford Common for the match that kicks-off at 3.00pm.
Village:
R Thomas, N Lloyd (N Romanello 70), J Evans, D Rimmer, L Cann,
Un-Used Subs: C Smith, O Williams.
Goals: Ben Brown (24 & 90+3).
By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2005 MORRISTON TOWN 2 - 2 GARDEN VILLAGE Garden Village's chances of promotion looked all but over after they were held to a boring 2-2 draw against relegation threatened Morriston Town at the Dingle. Village's goals came courtesy of David Rimmer and an injury-time strike from Michael Neale, but midfielder Paul Bromage was sent off in the second half. Bob Lloyd was without Jamie Evans, Marc Lloyd, Chris Thomas, Ben Brown and Craig Blake for the short trip east; Carl Alfei and Owen Williams were drafted into the starting eleven while striker Michael Neale found himself on the bench. Lloyd was happy with the draw but didn't think much of the game itself, he said: "It was a shocking first-half played on a shocking pitch. Both teams tried to play football but the pitch was too bad for that." "Neither side had any chances and we went in 0-0 at half-time." Morriston took the lead through Dean Beniamous after he beat three defenders and his weak shot somehow slipped through the hands of Rob Thomas and into the bottom corner. David Rimmer levelled the scores with a well-taken free-kick but with about six minutes remaining the home side restored their lead in comical fashion. Rob Thomas sliced a Craig Smith back-pass out for a corner and from the resulting flag-kick, which no one in the box attempted to clear, the ball hit the back of a Morriston player and went in. Village's equaliser came in injury-time when Michael Neale's terrific strike from outside the area found its way into the top corner. At 1-1 both Paul Bromage and a Morriston centre-back were shown straight red cards by the referee for fighting. "It all happened in the last 20 minutes
where we had most of the play," said Lloyd, "It was a great fight-back by
us and a terrific goal from Michael Neale to get us the draw." Village:
R Thomas, N Lloyd, D Evans, D Rimmer, L Cann, C Alfei,
P John, Used Subs: C Smith, D Ferro, M Neale. Goals: David Rimmer & Michael Neale. Sent Off: Paul Bromage.
By Owain Johns
SUNDAY 27 MARCH 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 1 - 7 PONTYPRIDD TOWN Garden Village’s chances of promotion suffered a major blow on Easter Sunday after they crashed to a 7-1 defeat at home against big-spenders Pontypridd Town. The home side’s only goal of the game came from a David Rimmer penalty in the second-half and the afternoon became much worse when wing-back Jamie Evans was dismissed shortly before the end.
Marc Lloyd and Chris Thomas were both missing for Village while Greg Fisher and Kerry Williams were added to the side for the visit of Ponty.
It took the visitors just three minutes to open the scoring, experienced midfielder Chris Summers was put through by former Swansea City striker Jonathan Keaveny and from the angle he struck the ball past Rob Thomas. Nicky Romanello went close for Village with a header on 15 minutes but Ponty went straight down the other end to score a second through Kerry Harding.
Pontypridd eased off for the remainder of the half and the hosts came close to pegging them back on a few occasions. Just before the half-hour Daniel Ferro ran onto Phil John’s cross at the back post and struck his shot across the face of goal, and just before the break Paul Bromage’s free-kick was headed into the side netting by Louis Cann, who impressed throughout on the right-hand side.
HALF-TIME: Garden Village 0 - 2 Pontypridd Town
The second-half saw Pontypridd come out with all guns blazing and showed why they currently occupy second spot in the division.
It took them just 17 second-half seconds to score a third and put the game beyond Village, Chris Summers tapped home from a Kerry Harding cross for his second. Ben Brown forced visiting ‘keeper Neil Collins into making a fine save from his 30-yard drive on 62 minutes but seven minutes later Chris Summers scored his third and Ponty’s fourth of the afternoon from close-range.
Two minutes later and Village were awarded a penalty after substitute Owen Williams was grounded in the box. Another substitute, David Rimmer, stepped-up to convert what was only a consolation goal for the home side. Ponty were awarded a penalty of their own just a minute later when Kerry Harding was brought down by Neil Lloyd after a mix-up between defender and goalkeeper; former-Swan Jonathan Keaveny easily slotted home his side’s fifth past Rob Thomas from the spot.
Ben Brown came close to scoring a second for Village on 77 minutes but he shot just wide. Things didn’t get any better for Village when Jamie Evans was given his marching orders by Morriston official Garwyn Davies with six minutes to go; the wing-back was booked for a second time in the match after his mis-timed challenge on Kerry Harding.
Pontypridd added a sixth and a seventh right at the end; Chris Summers twisted and turned his way through the Village defence before scoring his fourth and a minute into injury-time Stephen Powell was gifted possession in the middle of the park and on reaching the penalty area comfortably slotted the ball past Rob Thomas.
Village: R Thomas, N Lloyd, J Evans, D Evans (D Rimmer 65), L Cann, K Williams (D Ferro 24), P John, N Romanello, P Bromage, G Fisher (O Williams 65), B Brown. Goal: David Rimmer (72, pen) Sent Off: Jamie Evans (84) Pontypridd: N Collins, J Ryan, J Lee, I French, W Price, L Thomas, C Summers, D Morris, S Powell, J Keaveny, K Harding. Un-Used Subs: J Jeremiah, R Lewis, B Gibson. Goals: Chris Summers (3, 46, 65, 90), Kerry Harding (16), Jonathan Keaveny (73, pen), Stephen Powell (90+1) By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 19 MARCH 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 1 - 0 PONTYCLUN Garden Village remain in touch with their promotion rivals after a 1-0 win over mid-table Pontyclun at Stafford Common. Phil John was Village's hero as it was his goal three minutes into the second-half which ensured that the Ivor Park outfit would return home pointless. It turned out to be a very bad day at the office for the visitors as they had Adrian James sent-off three minutes before time after he had swung his arm in the face of Paul Bromage. Marc Lloyd returned to the side having missed the match against Llanwern the previous week; he partnered Ben Brown up-front in replace of Gregg Fisher. David Rimmer also returned to the side, albeit to start on the bench, after turning out for the Reserves against Briton Ferry last week. There was also a place on the bench for new recruit Chris Thomas, the midfielder has joined the club from First Division neighbours Neath. It was a very quiet start to the match with both sides failing to create anything worth mentioning during the opening 30 minutes, but the last quarter of an hour did have a little bit more life in it. Pontyclun goalkeeper Barry Whiteham was forced down to his right to make a good save on the line from Marc Lloyd and two minutes later Ben Brown headed just over the top. The visitors had their chances towards the end of the half, ex-Swansea City youngster Craig Williams drilled a shot just wide and Eliot Davey also came close before Ben Brown set-up Paul Bromage down the other end but the midfielder sent his low drive past the post. HALF-TIME: Garden Village 0 - 0 Pontyclun Village started the second-half as they finished the first and were rewarded with a goal in the 48th minute. A move which started with a clearance by Village 'keeper Rob Thomas, the ball found its way to Marc Lloyd on the right-hand side and his cross into the area was met by the head of the unmarked PHIL JOHN to make it 1-0. The match, again, started to get a little quiet with chances for both sides coming few and far between. Pontyclun, who rarely looked like scoring, had their best chance of the match on 69 minutes when substitute Matthew Parker's shot from the edge of the area beat Rob Thomas but rattled the crossbar. The woodwork also denied Village a second eight minutes later when from a matter of yards out Ben Brown saw his header bounce off the up-right. With three minutes to go the visitors were reduced to 10-men after ADRIAN JAMES swung what looked to have been his elbow in the face of Paul Bromage. Referee Phil Davies was left with no choice but to produce the red card to the former Pontypridd Town midfielder. Pontyclun also finished with 10-men when both sides last met in the league back in October. The win should have been wrapped up in injury-time; Ben Brown beat two defenders inside the area before squaring the ball to substitute Owen Williams but the 17-year-old failed to connect with the ball cleanly and it was sent over from a few yards out. This was the first time that Village had won back-to-back matches and clean-sheets since the start of December, a run of form needed before going into Sunday's vital promotion 6-pointer at home against the in-form Pontypridd Town, who currently hold second spot. Village: R Thomas, N Lloyd (D Rimmer 65), J Evans, D Evans, L Cann, D Ferro (O Williams 64), P John, N Romanello (C Thomas 81), P Bromage, M Lloyd, B Brown. Goal: Phil John (48) Pontyclun: B Whiteham, P Watson, D Lewis, T Pope, G Rees, A James, C Williams, W Green (S Wallace 90), G Williams (P Williams 58), R Hutchins (M Parker 64), E Davey. Red Card: Adrian James (87) By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 12 MARCH 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 2 -
0 LLANWERN Village boss Bob Lloyd was pleased to get the win but admits that his side could have performed better. "I'm pleased that we got the three points but I feel that we could have played better," he said. "It was quite an average game, you could say it was a cameo of the Merthyr Saints game." Village welcomed back Phil John and top-scorer Ben Brown to the side after the pair missed the defeat against Merthyr Saints. Young midfielder Daniel Ferro was included in the first-team for the first time this season but missing from the side was Marc Lloyd who had the flu. The deadlocked was broken as early as the eighth minute when a sweeping move that included Neil Lloyd and Phil John saw the ball reach Louis Cann on the right, he drove the ball into the box and it was met by the diving header of Paul Bromage to score his first goal since arriving from Seven Sisters in December. "Paul Bromage opened the scoring with a very good goal early on but then we just took our foot off the gas," said Lloyd. "They then hit back at us and had two or three chances, and they hit the bar." Village's second goal came 20 minutes before the end courtesy of youngster Daniel Ferro, and what a goal it was. Llanwern cleared a corner up to the half-way line where Ferro was marking their striker, he took the ball a few yards into the Llanwern half before unleashing a thunderous strike which hit the underside of the bar and went in for him to score his first of the season. This surely a goal to be in contention for goal of the season. "We played a little bit better in the second half and Llanwern didn't really create many problems for us." "Our second goal was absolutely fantastic. Llanwern cleared a corner to Daniel Ferro on half-way, he brought it forward and he just hit it, and it flew!" Lloyd added: "It was nice to get the win and keep the pressure on the top sides. On Tuesday Pontypridd play Tredegar, I'm hoping for a draw there so we'll still be just behind them with those games in hand." Next weekend Pontyclun are the visitors to Stafford Common and Lloyd knows it won't be an easy game. "It's not going to be easy against Pontyclun next week, and they're going to want some revenge after we put five past them at their place earlier in the season." Village: R Thomas, N Lloyd, D Evans, J Evans, L Cann, D Ferro, P Bromage, N Romanello, P John, B Brown, G Fisher. Used Subs: C Smith, S Morgan, O Williams. By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 5 MARCH 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 1 - 2 MERTHYR SAINTS Two strikes in the space of five second-half minutes from Gavin O'Connor helped Merthyr Saints seal their first points away from home since August. Louis Cann had given Village the lead at the start of the first-half but luck, and the terrible conditions, weren't on our side on the day. Village were missing a number of key players including Phil John, Craig Blake and top-scorer Ben Brown; Gregg Fisher made his first appearance of the season for the first team up-front while Barry Armstrong was another to get his first call-up into Bob Lloyd's side this term. The home side started brightly with Marc Lloyd striking the foot of the post after just 3 minutes. Five minutes later and the deadlock was broken by Louis Cann; after some excellent build-up play involving a number of Village players the ball found its way to Cann and from 10-yards out he struck his shot sweetly past Saints' goalkeeper Gavin Park to score his first league goal of the season. Chances were few and far between for both sides throughout the remainder of the first-half with conditions quite difficult to play in. The visitors' best chance came just before the half-hour mark through Jason Thomas who sent his effort over the top of the bar from a matter of yards out. HALF-TIME: Garden Village 1 - 0 Merthyr Saints The second-half started just as the first-half ended with both sides rarely threatening each other's goal. Nicky Romanello came close on 62 minutes with a shot he could only drag wide of the target and unfortunately for Village the visitors went straight down the pitch to score the equaliser. A fantastic lob over Rob Thomas from Gavin O'Connor from outside the area levelled matters and five minutes later he put his side into the lead; he shrugged off the challenge of David Rimmer to strike the ball low underneath Thomas to make it 2-1. O'Connor did look to have struck the ball with his hand in the build-up to the second goal, but with no official linesman running the line, the referee was unable to make a decision as it was out of his view. Visiting 'keeper Gavin Park was in top-form in the final quarter of the game and no matter what was thrown at him he kept his side in the game; this was summed up a minute into injury-time when he was forced into making a cracking save from Marc Lloyd's goal-bound strike. Village: R Thomas, N Lloyd, D Evans, D Rimmer, L Cann, J Evans, P Bromage, S Morgan (C Smith 79), N Romanello (B Armstrong 90+1), M Lloyd, G Fisher (O Williams 58). Goal: Louis Cann (8) Saints: G Park, W Pearce, I Nicholls, G Jones, L Haggerty, K Jones, K Mullins, J Thomas, J Mullan, J Thomas, G O'Connor. Un-Used Subs: R Nolan, R James, K Gall. Goals: Gavin O'Connor (62 & 67) By Owain Johns
CARDIFF CORINTHIANS 1 - 2 GARDEN VILLAGE Garden Village narrowed the gap between themselves and the other sides at the top with a convincing 2-1 win over struggling Cardiff Corries at their Riverside Ground on Saturday. Strikes either side of half-time from Jamie Evans and Ben Brown were enough to see off Corries, who did equalise soon after Evans' opener. Village boss Bob Lloyd was very pleased with his side's performance: "The lads done well," he said. "It was a big difference to last week (Pontypridd, away) which I think was a one-off blip. "I kept the same team that played in Pontypridd and it was the best football we played since losing at Pontardawe in the League Cup, where we played very well." Jamie Evans opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with a stunning free-kick from 30-yards out but the home side levelled matters soon after with a goal that looked suspiciously offside. The win was sealed twenty minutes into the second half after Ben Brown beat two defenders before slotting the ball underneath the oncoming 'keeper. "When we were awarded the free-kick I told Jamie to hit it with his laces, and if there hadn't have been a net in the goal the ball would have ended up at the Millennium Stadium, that's how hard he hit it," said Lloyd. "They equalised soon after and their guy looked to be about 3-yards offside." Village came out in the second half looking a much stronger side, and fully deserved more than the one goal they scored courtesy of Ben Brown, according to Lloyd. "We played really well in the second half," he said. "We put a lot of pressure on them. "After we scored our second we had two efforts cleared off the line and their goalkeeper made two cracking saves. We could have come away from there with about 5 or 6 goals if we would have taken our chances." Next weekend Village play the first of four back-to-back home games when Merthyr Saints visit Stafford Common (kick-off 3.00pm), and Lloyd is hoping for a successful month ahead. "We've got four home games on the bounce now and I'll be looking to achieve 12 points from them. "At the end of the month we host Pontypridd, it's going to be an important game and we know what to expect from them." Village will also play Llanwern and Pontyclun next month. Village: R Thomas, N Lloyd, D Rimmer, D Evans, M Lloyd, J Evans, P John, P Bromage, N Romanello, B Brown, C Blake. By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2005 PONTYPRIDD 4 - 0 GARDEN VILLAGE Pontypridd have leap-frogged Village into fifth place after cruising to victory at Ynysangharad Park on Saturday afternoon. The Dragons are level on 37 points but have a better goal difference, although do hold the disadvantage of having played three games more. Village were without Stewart Morgan and Andrew Bowden for the match so Neil Lloyd and Paul Bromage were named in the starting XI to replace them. Rob Thomas has fully recovered from mumps and took his place in goal instead of Carl Howells. Bob Lloyd was downbeat with his side's performance: "It was a disaster all round," said Lloyd, "we just didn't turn up." "They (Pontypridd) weren't particularly brilliant. They've got a few good players, some ex-Ton Pentre boys and of course former Swans player Jon Keaveny." This was Village's first away defeat on their travels since May of last year, when they were beaten 6-2 at Newport YMCA. Lloyd was left disappointed, but admits he wouldn't have believed that Village would have gathered as many points as they have now. "It was our first away defeat in the league for a long time. "I wouldn't have dreamt that we would have 37 points at this stage of the season (just six less than what Village achieved last season), and we've still got 15 games left to play." He added: "We've still got plenty to play for." Pontypridd took the lead on 19 minutes through ex-Ton Pentre man Kerry Harding; a rushed Village corner was cleared downfield and against the run of play Harding opened the scoring. Ponty doubled their advantage ten minutes before the break through Jonathan Keaveny, who volleyed home at the back post from a corner. They added a third in the second half and soon after the ball was flicked off Jamie Evans' leg for an own goal and number four for the hosts. Village will head back towards Pontypridd next weekend, to Radyr, where they'll face struggling Cardiff Corries at the Riverside Ground. Village: R Thomas, N Lloyd, D Rimmer, D Evans, M Lloyd, J Evans, P John, P Bromage, N Romanello, B Brown, C Blake. Used-Subs: A Jones, O Williams, L Cann. By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 4 - 3 PENRHIWCEIBER Garden Village moved up a place into third after beating a lively Penrhiwceiber side in this seven goal thriller - the second time this season that both sides have shared seven goals. Goalscorers for Village on the day were Ben Brown, Marc Lloyd, Craig Blake and Owen Williams; the goals from Blake and Williams both came in the final five minutes to secure a vital win for Bob Lloyd's side. Paul Bromage returned to the side after missing last weekend's cup exit at Pontardawe, and youngster Owen Williams was also included on the bench. Both players came into the side to replace Craig Smith and Carl Alfei. The visitors started the day just two points behind Village and they showed that they were not to be taken lightly by taking a 2-goal lead within the opening four minutes. After just three minutes, Carl Howells was rounded and the ball was struck into the net to make it 1-0, and barely a minute later Andrew Bowden lost possession in the middle of the park and a Penrhiwceiber player raced towards goal and slotted the ball past Howells. Village reacted to this very poor start by pulling a goal back soon after; from a free-kick the ball was cleared down to the Penrhiwceiber area and from Craig Blake's knock-down Ben Brown was there to flick the ball past the 'keeper. Soon after the goal Garden Village came close to levelling the scoreline through Nicky Romanello - who shot at the 'keeper - and a Jamie Evans strike that went across goal and just past the upright after some good work by Brown. With ten minutes to go before half-time Village had a clear penalty shout turned down by the referee when a Penrhiwceiber player handled just inside the area, but Hengoed official Graham Evans insisted that the offence was committed just outside the area. From the resulting free-kick Jamie Evans shot low into a wall of 'Ceiber players. Four minutes before the break and the scoreline was level. Jamie Evans shrugged off two defenders on the left-hand side of the area before crossing into the back post where Marc Lloyd was at hand to volley between the goalkeeper and the post from a tight angle. Evans came close to scoring himself a minute later, his low shot brought a fine save out of the 'keeper who turned the ball away for a corner. From the cross back in, Nicky Romanello sent a header just wide of the target. Penrhiwceiber weren't finishing the half without putting up a fight, and a minute into added on time Stewart Morgan was in the right place at the right time as he was called into action to clear the ball off the line after Howells was beaten. HALF-TIME: Garden Village 2 - 2 Penrhiwceiber Rangers Village came out for the second half looking the stronger side, and just two minutes in Craig Blake came close to scoring his first goal since October with a thunderous strike which was tipped just over the bar. The visitors carried on showing their fighting spirit and it was rewarded with a third goal just after the hour mark. A corner from the left-hand side was completely missed by Carl Howells and the ball was scrambled in from two yards out for Penrhiwceiber to re-take the lead. With a little over quarter of an hour remaining David Rimmer was grounded in the area and the referee awarded Village the penalty. But a minute later the linesman indicated to the ref that it wasn't a penalty, but a dive! Instead of awarding a free-kick and a yellow card for the dive, the referee got things underway with a drop ball. It was the second time in the game that Village were denied two clear penalties. That didn't seem to matter, though, as Village really started to come to life in the closing minutes. On 84 minutes Ben Brown struck the foot of the post from close range, and thirty seconds later Jamie Evans' left wing cross defied the goalkeeper and struck the top of the upright. The equaliser finally came five minutes before the end through Craig Blake's strike from inside the area, and it looked as if Village were to secure a vital point, but it wasn't over yet. Two minutes after pulling it back to 3-3, Jamie Evans sent in another dangerous cross from the left which caused a mix-up between goalkeeper and defender, and 17 year-old Owen Williams slid in at the back post to secure the win for Village much to the delight of the subs' bench and supporters. This brought an end to Penrhiwceiber's four match winning run and a first away defeat in the league this season was inflicted on the Glasbrook Field outfit, but it was the second time that 'Ceiber have lost at Stafford Common this season. Village: C Howells, D Evans (N Lloyd 81'), A Bowden, D Rimmer, M Lloyd, J Evans, P John, S Morgan (P Bromage 55'), N Romanello (O Williams 75'), B Brown, C Blake. Goals: Ben Brown (13'), Marc Lloyd (41'), Craig Blake (85'), Owen Williams (87'). The top of the table clash between Tredegar and Pontardawe was postponed, as was Bryntirion's trip to Tillery which means that Village have narrowed the gap on the top two after today's win, and after Newport YMCA's shock defeat at Morriston it sees Village move back into the automatic promotion places. By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 29 JANUARY 2005 SHAMROCK TRAVEL CUP, ROUND THREE PONTARDAWE TOWN 2 - 1 GARDEN VILLAGE ‘Pontardawe don’t know how close they came to losing’, that’s according to Village boss Bob Lloyd after his side’s exit from the Shamrock Travel Cup on Saturday at the hands of the Second Division leaders.
A controversial opener from Jamie Rickard had put the hosts ahead on ten minutes but Ben Brown levelled matters on the stroke of half time with his eleventh of the season. Pontardawe then went on to book their place in the last eight of the competition with a goal in the second half. Leighton Thomas was also given his marching orders by the referee in the first half for retaliation.
“We played very well,” said Lloyd, “It was a great performance from the boys and I’m very pleased.
“I was very disappointed with their first goal, it was just given to them,” he said, “Dai Rimmer and Leighton Thomas both went in for the ball and the ref blew up for a free-kick."
“Our boys thought it went our way so they made their way up the pitch, but it was in fact a Pontardawe free-kick. Leighton Thomas passed it to Jamie Rickard and he put it passed Carl Howells. The referee didn’t even indicate for which side the free-kick was for."
“He later admitted that he had dropped a major clanger.”
Village brought themselves back into the tie thanks to a goal from top-scorer Ben Brown, who just before the break took advantage of a mix-up between goalkeeper and defender to tap into an empty net.
Lloyd stated that Pontardawe’s ‘keeper, Neil Frederickson, was the only difference between the two sides: “Their goalkeeper had a lot more to do than Carl Howells, who during the game only had one save to make and pick the ball out of the net twice,” he said, “Frederickson made some very important saves for them, including one where he tipped a Craig Blake header onto the crossbar and out for a corner. He was the only difference between them and us”
Village can now concentrate on league matters and the push for promotion back to the First Division. They return to Pontardawe’s Recreation Ground for a league match on February 12 but the attention will be on next weekend’s visit of in-form Penrhiwceiber Rangers.
“We have posted our notice on their billboard,” added Lloyd ahead of his side’s return to Pontardawe in two week's time. Village:
C Howells; D Evans, A Bowden, D Rimmer; M
Lloyd, N Romanello, Subs: C Smith, N Lloyd, C Alfei.
By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 22 JANUARY 2005 TILLERY 1 - 2 GARDEN VILLAGE Garden Village battles through the rain, sleet and snow on their way to an important 2-1 victory over lowly Tillery at Woodland Field on Saturday - Village's first win of 2005. Strikes either side of half-time saw Village open up a two-goal advantage, but the home pulled a goal back with a little of a quarter of an hour remaining to make for a tense finish. Village welcomed back defender Dai Rimmer from a lengthy spell on the sidelines and was straight away slotted into the three man defence alongside David Evans and new recruit Andrew Bowden. New goalkeeper Robert Thomas was forced to miss the game through illness, this saw a return to the side for Carl Howells who missed the defeat at home to Bryntirion last weekend. On a very heavy pitch Village had the best of the early chances; Nicky Romanello shot inches wide from Ben Brown's right-sides cross after just four minutes, and on eleven minutes Jamie Evans sent a free-kick just wide of Ian McKnight's goal. The goal came just after half an hour thanks to some excellent work by Ben Brown on the right-hand side, he beat his man and his by-line cross was met by Romanello inside the box and struck sweetly past McKnight in the Tillery goal who was left with no chance. Village's lead should have been doubled five minutes before half-time, a long clearance from Carl Howells was met by Brown on the edge of the area and his low shot was pushed onto the post by McKnight. Brown also came close a minute before the break but could only send his effort past the post. HALF-TIME: Tillery 0 - 1 Garden Village The second half started quietly with both sides giving the ball away to eachother for most of the time. We had wait until the 54th minute for the first proper chance of the half, which fell to the home side; Carl Howells was forced into making a fantastic save in which he palmed a close-range downward header onto the crossbar, a header that looked destined to go into the back of the net. After 66 minutes Phil John was brought on to replace Jamie Evans, and he was to make an immediate impact. John was on the pitch a little over a minute before Ben Brown sent him through on goal after holding off his man well, and from 20-yards out he lobbed 'keeper McKnight to score Village's second of the afternoon. The home side halved the scoreline within five minutes of John's strike; Tillery midfielder Chris Perry turned and twisted his way through the Village defence before shooting low beyond Carl Howells. Village had a clear penalty turned down by the referee, Cardiff official Garry Polkey, with seven minutes remaining after Ben Brown was floored in the area. Tillery: I McKnight, L Coburn, J Williams, G Harding, L Bull, S Hacklin, D Smith, C Perry, R Langley, M Price, S Smith. Goal: C Perry (73') Village: Not Used: L Cann. Goals: N Romanello (33'), P John (68').
By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 15 JANUARY 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 1 - 2 BRYNTIRION ATHLETIC Garden Village were unlucky to come away from this fixture with nothing after an impressive display against a Bryntirion side tipped to finish in the top three by Village boss Bob Lloyd. "At the start of the season I predicted the two that currently occupy the top two positions (Pontardawe and Bryntirion) will go up this season. Bryntirion are having a good run at the moment and they've got a couple of very good players." The sides went into half time locked at 1-1; Bryntirion took the lead before Jamie Evans levelled matters with his second goal in as many games. "In the first half we had the better chances," said Lloyd, "Craig Blake had a great chance with a header but their goalkeeper made a great save to tip it just over the bar, while down at our end Rob Thomas (new goalkeeper who joined from Port Talbot) didn't have a save to make." "I was very disappointed with their second goal, one of their players scuffed a shot across goal and another one of their players slid in at the back post to convert it. I thought that 1-1 would have been a fair result." Lloyd admits that a lot of work has to be done if his side are going to get results: "We're just missing that cutting edge at the moment, that's something we have to work on," he said, "Our seven-match unbeaten run was brought to an end but we've found ourselves in a run where we haven't won a match in four, and that's a run that we want to get ourselves out of." Village fielded two new faces at the weekend; ex-Carmarthen Town shot-stopper Rob Thomas, 21, joins from Port Talbot and defender Andrew Bowden is another who drops down two divisions from Welsh Premiership strugglers Llanelli. "Andrew Bowden played quite well at the back and with Dai Rimmer still to come back from injury, we're starting to look even stronger in defence," said Lloyd, "I was really impressed by Rob Thomas, he played very well. He's always alert and makes his presence known." He added: "Plus he's got hands like fly paper!" Village head into Gwent on Saturday to face a Tillery side who languish just one point and two places above the relegation zone, and Lloyd isn't expecting an easy game: "It's going to be a hard place to go but if you look at our away form it's just as good as our form at home, so I'm sure we can get something from this game." By Owain Johns
SUNDAY 2 JANUARY 2005 GARDEN VILLAGE 1 - 1 MORRISTON TOWN GARDEN VILLAGE were held to their third consecutive draw last Sunday as they found it hard to convert their chances at home to local rivals Morriston Town where the game finished 1-1. The visitors took the lead 14 minutes into the second half and a well-taken free-kick from Jamie Evans levelled matters seven minutes from time.
Village were without a few first-team players in David Rimmer, Chris Morgan and Phil John, while top-scorer Ben Brown was used as a right wing-back for most of the game.
After a very quiet first half the Dingle outfit pressurized the Village defence and with a little under an hour gone their efforts paid off and the deadlock was broken. Some poor defending allowed the Morriston forward through on goal and his close-range effort beat Village ‘keeper Carl Howells.
The home side were instantly back on the offensive and almost pulled a goal back on 53 minutes. Ben Brown’s low cross into the area was met by a shot from Stewart Morgan only for it to be cleared by a defender standing on the line. The equaliser came on 83 minutes through a well struck Jamie Evans free-kick which the Morriston goalkeeper allowed to creep through his hands.
With just minutes remaining Craig Blake had a glorious chance to win it for the hosts, with the goalkeeper stranded to the right of goal a low ball in from the right found Blake six yards out and in front of an open goal, but the striker somehow managed to sky it over the top of goal.
Village move back up into second place and will have the chance to gain ground on leaders Pontardawe when another struggling side, Ammanford, visit Stafford Common on Saturday for a 2.15 kick-off.
VILLAGE: C Howells, D Evans, P Bromage (L Cann 72'), J Evans, S Morgan, N Romanello, M Lloyd, B Brown, C Alfei (O Williams 53'), C Blake, S Williams.
Un-Used Sub: C Smith. By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER 2004 SEVEN SISTERS 0 - 0 GARDEN VILLAGE Village fought out their second consecutive draw after being held by rock-bottom Seven Sisters in a very dull and uneventful game at a soaked Welfare Ground. A new 3-4-1-2 formation was used with the side lining up as follows: Carl Howells in goal; Jamie Evans, David Evans and ex-Seven Sisters man Paul Bromage lined up at the back; the midfield consisted of Carl Alfei, Nicky Romanello, Stewart Morgan and Marc Lloyd; Steve Williams played just behind the front two of Ben Brown and Craig Blake. Both goalkeepers had next had very little to do during the first half, with most of the scrappy play contested in midfield. The second half was just as bad as the first, with the only real chance falling to the home side who had a shot that flashed just past the post. Jamie Evans was forced off with his injury during the second period and he was substituted by Owen Williams. Village drop a place to third after Tredegar’s win at Ammanford which moves them up into second, while Newport YMCA fell to their second defeat in two games, going down 2-1 at in-form Pontypridd Town.
Village: C Howells, D Evans,
P Bromage, J Evans, C Alfei, S Morgan, Used subs: O Williams, P John, C Smith. By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER 2004 Garden Village 3 - 3 Tredegar Town Village threw away a two-goal lead at home against fellow promotion hopefuls Tredegar Town, whose equaliser came in the first minute of injury-time, and what a goal it was. A poor clearance by Carl Howells was picked up by a Tredegar player, and after seeing Howells off his line, chipped him from 40-yards out. Headers from David Rimmer (5) and Ben Brown (13) had given Village a 2-0 lead which they took into the break. Lawrence Davies pulled one back for the visitors on 56 minutes but Rimmer restored Village's two-goal advantage from the penalty spot after 70 minutes. Lee Brooker pulled one back for Tredegar a minute later and then they equalised right at the death. Thankfully for Village, Newport YMCA suffered a 3-0 defeat at league leaders Pontardawe which see's Village move up a place into second on goal difference. It took just 5 minutes for Village to open the scoring, David Rimmer towered above the Tredegar defence to head home an Owen Williams corner. Phil John came close to doubling the lead on 11 minutes but he drove his shot over the bar from the edge of the area. The second goal did come 2 minutes later, once again Owen Williams was the provider when he crossed for Ben Brown to head home his tenth goal of the season. Tredegar remained fairly quiet throughout the remainder of the first half, while Village came close to adding to their tally. Ben Brown raced through on goal but a last ditch tackle denied him a second, and quarter of an hour before the break Chris Morgan shot across the face of goal and hit the post. HALF-TIME: Garden Village 2 - 0 Tredegar Town The visitors came out for the second half a completely different side to the one that went in at half time; they put plenty of pressure on the Village defence in the opening stages of the half and were rewarded with a goal on 56 minutes. Lawrence Davies was the man who scored Tredegar's first goal, tapping in from close range after running through the defence. Dai Rimmer should have scored his second 2 minutes later, he was allowed space inside the Tredegar area where his header met Chris Morgan's corner but he could only direct it wide. He did, though, make ammends for that miss by restoring Village's two-goal lead from the penalty spot on 70 minutes. Ben Brown was floored in the area after bursting through the Tredegar defence, and up-stepped Rimmer who smashed the ball past Kris Morris. Some poor defending allowed Lee Brooker to pull a goal back for Tredegar from 6-yards out just a minute later. The goalscoring for the afternoon was complete a minute into injury-time, Carl Howells' poor clearance was picked up 40-yards from goal and then struck towards goal, unfortunately for Village Howells wasn't able to get back into his goal in time as he watched the ball dip over his head and into the net. This is the second time this season in which a last minute equaliser has denied Village all 3 points. Llanwern claimed a dramatic injury-time goal to level the game 1-1 at Newport Stadium back in August. Village play their final game of 2004 at rock-bottom Seven Sisters next Saturday (December 18), a side who on the opening day of the season totally outplayed Village on their way to a 2-0 victory. Kick-off at the Welfare Ground is at 2.15pm. Village:
C Howells, D Evans, D Rimmer, J Evans (N Romanello 80'), C
Morgan Tredegar:
K Morris, M Dunn, J Fowler, N Ward, D Davies, S Mainwaring, By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER 2004 PORTHCAWL TOWN 0 - 1 GARDEN VILLAGE Garden Village chalked up their third straight 1-0 victory on Saturday against a determined Porthcawl side at Lock's Lane. A David Rimmer penalty after 25 minutes was the difference between the two sides but there could easily have been more goals scored if not for goalkeepers Will Alston and Stuart Lloyd, who both put in fine displays. There was a place on the Village bench for new signing Paul Bromage, the much-travelled midfielder joins from struggling Second Division rivals Seven Sisters. It took a while for the game to get going as the game's first real chance fell to Stewart Morgan 12 minutes in, he sent a high ball into the box which looked to be dipping underneath the crossbar but it didn't trouble Alston in the Seasiders' goal. Two minutes later Steve Williams brought a fine save out of Alston who palmed a powerful close-range header away for a corner. Kristian Pascoe came close for the hosts on 16 minutes where he shot just wide of the target after a free-kick hadn't been cleared. With 25 minutes on the watch Steve Williams forced a hand ball out of a Porthcawl defender in the box which resulted in a penalty being awarded. David Rimmer stepped up to take the spot-kick and he left Alston with no chance as he smashed home Village's first. It could have been 2-0 five minutes later when Steve Williams was through on goal but he waited a second too long to shoot and when he did Alston was in the position to make the save, and from the re-bound Louis Cann's shot was deflected past the post for a corner. HALF-TIME: Porthcawl Town 0 - 1 Garden Village Straight from the re-start Village were on the attack and came close to adding a second. Steve Williams was put through on goal by Phil John but his low shot was sent straight at the goalkeeper. Porthcawl's shot-stopper was called into action soon after where he palmed away Chris Morgan's curling free-kick. Top goalscorer Ben Brown was fairly quiet during the game but on the hour went on a surging run down the left-hand side, he cut into the area and played the ball to Steve Williams but then had the ball back at his feet before seeing his shot cleared to Phil John, who from the edge of the area struck the ball inches over the top. Porthcawl started to pile on the pressure during the later stages of the second half but their best chance of a goal came on 69 minutes. A great move down the right-hand side ended with the ball at the feet of Mike Flanagan and from 10-yards unleashed a powerful shot which brought out a fantastic save from Stuart Lloyd, who has now kept four clean sheets in a row. The referee finally blew for full-time - after playing 7 minutes of injury-time - which took Village's winning streak in the league to seven matches. Porthcawl: W
Alston, L James, M Morgan, A Morgan, R Owen, M Noonan, Used subs: L Bowen, S Atkinson. Un-used: J Bovington. Village: S Lloyd,
D Evans, D Rimmer, J Evans, C Morgan (P Bromage 67'), Un-used: N Romanello. By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2004 GARDEN VILLAGE 1 - 0 CALDICOT TOWN Nicky Romanello's 15th minute strike, after some good play by Steve Williams, earned Village a 1-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Caldicot Town on Saturday and moved Bob Lloyd's side up to third in the table. The match also saw a return to first team action for Jonathan Reed who was introduced as a substitute after a lengthy injury lay-off. Neil Lloyd also made his return from injury and started the game in defence. Village took a while to settle and it was
the visitors who has the better of the early stages. Their build-up was
excellent and they moved the ball around well in midfield, luckily for the
Village they lacked the finishing ability in front of goal. Ben Brown made some breaks but on the whole had a quiet afternoon. The visitors still looked dangerous and the Village were lucky to hold on to their lead until half time. HALF-TIME: Garden Village 1 - 0
Caldicot Town Village: S Lloyd ; N
Lloyd, D Evans, D Rimmer ; C Morgan, S Morgan, Used Subs: C Alfei, J Reed, C Blake. By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2004 ENTO ABERAMAN ATHLETIC 0 - 1 GARDEN VILLAGE Garden
Steve Williams’ 31st minute tap-in was enough to
win a very uneventful game for Bob Lloyd’s side but there were times
during the game where the home side could have easily scored. Aberaman
were without top-scorer Lee Thomas due to work commitments so the game
could easily have gone the way of the
During the course of first half the hosts struck the woodwork on two occasions, Rhys Whatley shot across the face of goal and hit the post while Leighton Price rattled the crossbar from close range.
It was
Village’s top goalscorer Ben Brown was fairly quiet in front of goal but did come close to scoring shortly after Williams’ opener where he shot just wide, and in the second half brought a fine save out of Carl Mounty from close range.
Aberaman:
C Mounty ; C Ridgeon, A Potterton, M Edwards, L Williams,
Village:
S Lloyd ; D Evans, J Evans, D Rimmer ; C Morgan (C Smith '78), By Owain Johns
SATURDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2004 Welsh League Shamrock Travel Cup, Round Two Porthcawl Town 0 - 4 Garden Village
Garden Village showed great bouncebackability after last weekend's Welsh Cup exit by Barry to comfortably beat Porthcawl in round two of the Welsh League Cup. Goals from Ben Brown, Owen Williams, Marc Lloyd and Phil John contributed to a fine Village performance which sees them reach the last 16 of the competition. After a slow and uneventful start to the game we finally saw the first clear-cut chance of the match fall to Stewart Morgan on 22 minutes, where he shot wide from Phil John's cross. A minute later it was the hosts who were on the attack and after David Rimmer failed to clear his lines Mike Flanagan shot just over for Porthcawl. The deadlock was broken on 26 minutes thanks to a ninth goal of the season for Ben Brown. Marc Lloyd's ball into the box was met by a good touch and finish by Brown who grabbed his second goal in the League Cup this season. Village had a few chances to extend their lead in the closing stages of the first half through David Rimmer - whose close range header went straight to the 'keeper - and a Jamie Evans free-kick which curled just over the bar. HALF-TIME: Porthcawl Town 0 - 1 Garden Village Both sides came close to hitting the back of the net of the second half, Ben Brown headed just over the bar from close-range on 52 minutes and Porthcawl striker Paul Atkinson saw his lob over Stuart Lloyd from 18 yards go wide of the target. Village deservedly scored their second of the match through Owen Williams on 58 minutes. Chris Morgan saw his corner cleared back out to him and at the second attempt floated the ball into the back post where Williams was at hand to send a downward header into the net. Three minutes later Porthcawl's Mike Flanagan was lucky not to be sent off by the referee after a dangerous challenge on Morgan and straight after stood on his ankle, something missed by the officials. Flanagan walked away with a caution, while Morgan had to be substituted soon after. The visitors made the tie safe with a quarter of an hour remaining with a third goal from Marc Lloyd. After playing a neat one-two with Steve Williams on the edge of the area Lloyd completed the move by slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Village scored a fourth goal six minutes later through Phil John, who after some excellent build-up play involving three players smashed home from just inside the area. It's back to league affairs next weekend for Bob Lloyd and his players when they will be on their travels yet again, this time to strugglers ENTO Aberaman Athletic. Porthcawl: W Alston, L James, M Flanagan, M Morgan, R Owen, J Bovington (A Morgan 70'), M Nonan (L Bowen 45'), D James, C Pascoe, P Atkinson (M Courtney 67'), T Marlon. Village: S Lloyd, D Evans, D Rimmer, J Evans, C Morgan (L Cann 66'), O Williams, M Lloyd, S Morgan (N Romanello 80'), P John, B Brown (C Smith 80'), S Williams. By Owain Johns
|
|
|
|||
 |
 |
||||||
|
Copyright
© 2004-2009 The
Welsh Football League and Tony Griffiths. All rights reserved.
|
