WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

28 February 2005

GOYTRE manager Steve Morgan is still positive that his side can escape relegation despite their 1-1 draw against Fields Park/Pontllanfraith.

Goytre took their lead through Graham Mason after only 20 minutes, but Fields Park grabbed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, with Jay Davies scoring direct from a free kick.

Both sides are now in desperate trouble at the bottom of Division Three, but Morgan refuses to be downbeat.

He said: “We would have liked to have won the game but we have four games in hand on most teams above and I am confident we can pull clear.

“We didn’t play well and we’ll need to start beating teams like Field Park if we are to get out of trouble, but I am confident we can do it.”

In Division One Caerleon scrapped out a 1-1 draw thanks to a second-half goal from Troy Quarterly.

Caerleon’s David Griffiths said: “First half we were sloppy and just weren’t at the races. But we turned it around and came out in the second half and got back into the game.”

In Welsh League Division Two Tredegar kept up their current fine form with a 3-2 victory over Merthyr Saints.  Two goals from Shane Williamson and one from Ian Morris gave them all three points after they had been 1-0 down.

Manager John Lewis said: “We can’t catch Pontardawe but it is nice to be second."  “We have a massive game against Newport YMCA next weekend and this was perfect preparation for it.”

YMCA themselves drew 2-2 with Porthcawl thanks to goals from Kristian Avery and Craig Jones.

Darren Poretta said: “We have all the top sides to play and we still have 12 or 13 games to play, so anything is possible."  “We were the better team, but because we were always chasing the game we could never take control."  “Next week is a big game, and if we can get a result it will be a huge boost.”

Tillery went down 5-0 at Pontardawe and they find themselves in a relegation battle after their 13th defeat of the season.

Llanwern are also struggling after their 2-2 draw with league whipping boys Seven Sisters.

Kieron Porter scored both goals, but a late equaliser saw them fail to get all three points.  Llanwern were hit by two late withdrawals, with Alex Lee and Jason Hoskins both pulling out.

Manager Laurence Owen said: “It was a must-win game for us and we only got a point."  “Losing the two lads before kick-off didn’t help either.”

Caldicot maintain their mid-table position after a 1-0 victory over Pontyclun. Gareth Cullimore scored the first-half goal in the 42nd minute to give his side all three points.

John Burrows said: “We had five first-team players missing but we didn’t let that affect us. We were the better side, but James Morecombe pulled off a great save late on.”

In Division Three Croesyceiliog went 1-0 down to AFC Porth.  Albion Rovers also went down by the same score to Caerau Ely.

Chepstow got a point after their 2-2 draw away at Cwmamman, while Treowen managed a 2-0 victory over Llantwit Fardre thanks to a header from Carl Thorne and Andrew Speed’s first goal for the club.

Manager Richard Davies said: “Our ’keeper didn’t have a shot to save and we  deserved our victory.”

Elsewhere, Risca and Gelli went down 2-0 against Troedyrhiw.

WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

21 February 2005

CAERLEON were still struggling long after their home Motaquote Insurance Welsh Football League game with fourth-placed Skewen on Saturday to come to terms with how the fates conspired to send them to a 3-0 defeat.

The Gwent side felt they were the better side and had played the better football until an incident 15 minutes into the second half, with the game still scoreless, changed the game.

Centre-half Todd Quarterley and a Skewen striker went for the ball from a corner and appeared to collide, but in the skirmish Quarterley was sent off, and from the penalty awarded Skewen scored and never looked back.

Later, midfielder Denis Spiteri was also sent off for a second bookable offence and Caerleon had no complaints about that, but assistant manager Brendon Dowd was completely bemused by the first dismissal.

“The referee said he sent Todd off for kicking a player, but nobody else saw it and Skewen did not even appeal for a penalty,” said Dowd.

“We had been well on top in the first half against the wind and felt we could go on and win, but the first sending-off changed the whole game and when we were reduced to nine men they scored twice in the last eight minutes.

“Normally, when you’ve lost 3-0 at home, the players are down, but ours were laughing and joking because they played well and just couldn’t believe what had happened.”

Another game in which a Gwent team had two players sent off was the Third Division clash at Fields Park, where Albion Rovers had Kenny Brown and Dale Roberts dismissed in the second half of a 2-1 defeat.

Albion, four off the bottom, took the lead against the basement side just after half-time with a goal by Lee Gwilliam.

But midway through the second half the Albion goalkeeper was adjudged to have brought down a Fields Park player and Craig Jones equalised from the penalty spot.

And to compound Albion’s misery, with the last move of the game soon after Roberts had been given his marching orders to leave his side with nine men, Phil Bowden swung over the ball and Mike Hill, making his debut after being signed from Taffs Well last week, headed home the Fields Park winner.

“Anything I say will sound like sour grapes and I really do wish Fields Park the very best. They deserve credit, but I will be making a complaint about the official,” said Albion’s Terry Wilkins.

In the same division there were two more 2-1 scorelines, sixth-placed Chepstow defeating Blaenrhondda by that margin, and Treowen losing by the same total at home to Newcastle Emlyn.

Treowen had countless chances to win their match but missed them all apart from one, though Peter Thomas’ strike from an indirect free kick only counted because the Newcastle Emlyn goalkeeper touched the ball in trying to make a save.

The visitors, bottom but one, equalised from a debatable penalty for handball before grabbing an injury-time winner.

Chepstow were involved in a real battle, taking the lead after a corner when Nicky Vassallo turned and buried the ball in the top corner after ten minutes.

Chepstow were under a lot of pressure early in the second half, but in a breakaway Paul Light and Vassallo combined before Vassallo’s shot was pushed away by the goalkeeper for Chris Lilygreen to follow up to score.

After some Chepstow substitutions, Blaenrhondda pulled a goal back with five minutes remaining, but the home side held out for victory.

Croesyceiliog maintained their promotion push with a 3-0 win over Goytre FC to lie fourth with games in hand, their opponents struggling in the relegation zone.

Risca and Gelli played well in patches at Ystradgynlais, and Chris Wilson and Paul Michael scored to pull them back from 2-0 to 2-2 before the home side poached a 5-2 lead, Shane Richards scoring Risca’s third.

In Division Two Newport YMCA maintained third spot with a 3-0 home win over Gwent rivals Caldicot. YM played well, though Caldicot had their chances.

Lewis Somers gave YM the lead on the half-hour with a shot from the corner of the penalty area and ten minutes into the second half Aaron Stewart added the second, driving home from near the penalty spot.

Somers grabbed the third 15 minutes from time when he curled a free kick around the defensive wall.

A double substitution worked wonders for fourth-placed Tredegar Town, who sent on 18-year-old midfielders Craig Cheady and Lewis James 18 minutes from the end of their game at Cardiff Corries.

Craig Evans had given them the first-half lead with a penalty, but the Corries equalised after 70 minutes and with Tredegar not playing well, manager John Lewis sent on the two youngsters.

“They gave us a fresh impetus and we upped our game,” said Lewis, who saw goals by Lawrence Davies and Rhys Carpenter (two) clinch an eventual convincing 4-1 win.

Llanwern played well away to second-placed Bryntirion, who led 1-0 at half-time through a penalty for a foul in the area by Richard Bingham.

But Tony Shire equalised with a superb 20-yard volley ten minutes after the interval, and Llanwern were right in the game until they conceded a bad goal.

They lost the ball on the by-line as they tried to shepherd it out of play and a Bryntirion player crossed for a team-mate to score, and later the home team added a third.

“Gary Spink (assistant manager) and myself were really pleased at half-time,” said manager Laurence Owen, “and in the end it was disappointing to lose as we did against a good side who will be promoted.”

Llanwern, too close to the bottom for comfort, face a vital game away to bottom club Seven Sisters next Saturday.

WELSH LEAGUE PREVIEW

18 February 2005

Carpenter helps build promotion hopes

By Ray Parker 

Tredegar Town’s recent arrival Rhys Carpenter could be a key figure in their drive for promotion. 

The slightly-built but immensely skillful 19-year-old, previously with Burnley, has linked with the Motaquote Insurance Welsh League, Second Division promotion hopefuls and proved outstanding in their midweek win over neighbours Tillery.

Carpenter, featuring mainly wide on the right, often popped up on the left and tormented Tillery, as did Steve Edwards and when Tredegar kept to their close-passing game the visitors were no match for them.

Carpenter, from Penywaun, Cross Keys, marked his debut at Llanwern with a goal in a 4-1 victory in mid-January. 

John Lewis, Tredegar manager, said: “He has a terrific attitude and he’s a lad you want to help. His ambition is to get back into the Football League and if he uses us a vehicle to get back then we don’t mind. 

“He is a good player, has terrific pace and great close control and he can finish. We would love to keep him because he is a smashing kid and we are grateful to have him.  

“He has settled well into our squad.” 

Tredegar, looking for a double when they travel to Cardiff Corries tomorrow, moved level on 37 points with Garden Village and now two points covers the four teams – Tredegar, Garden Village, Newport YMCA and Bryntirion – immediately behind runaway leaders Pontardawe who are set for an immediate return to Division One. 

Lewis added: “We showed against Tillery the brand of football we are capable of playing. We could – and should – have been more clinical with our finishing. We were the far, far better team.” 

Ryan Durham and Sean Mainwaring return to the Tredegar squad while defender Ross Mazurczak serves the last of a three-match ban and Mark Dunn is out injured but should be available for the clash with Merthyr Saints a week tomorrow. 

Newport YMCA, a point better off than Tredegar and with a game in hand, are at home to Gwent mid-table rivals Caldicot while Llanwern, battling to preserve Division Two status, face a difficult game at second-place Bryntirion. Tillery are without a game. 

Caerleon, looking to follow-up their win at UWIC, face a stiffer task, although they have home advantage over Skewen who occupy fourth place.

Croesyceiliog, fourth in Division Three, unbeaten this year, look to extend the run at the expense of Gwent visitors Goytre while Chepstow, whose promotion flame glowed much brighter after their win over leaders Treharris last week.

WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

16 February 2005

Tredegar Town maintained their promotion bid from Division Two of the Motaquote Insurance Welsh League with a 4-0 home win over neighbours Tillery last night, writes Ray Parker.

Tredegar, in a blistering start, went into a second-minute lead when the swift-moving Shane Williamson produced a stunning finish, latching on to a long-distance clearance from goalkeeper Kris Morris which caught Tillery’s overworked defence completely on the hop.

On the stroke of half-time Williamson added a second. Steve Edwards did the damage down the right and skipper Ian Morris set up the scoring opportunity with the neatest of flicks. It was no more than Tredegar deserved and Tillery were fortunate to only be trailing by two goals at the break.

Edwards added a third after 58 minutes and the eye-catching Rhys Carpenter deservedly got the fourth in the 73rd-minute.

The closest Tillery came to worrying the home side was in the 68th minute when Richard Langley’s shot struck a post but Tredegar could have doubled their goal tally and it would not have been an injustice.

WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

14 February 2005

Caerleon eased their relegation fears in Division One of the Motaquote Insurance Welsh League with an away victory over UWIC, below them in the table, Jon Seymour scoring the all-important goal for a 1-0 victory, writes Ray Parker.

David Griffiths, Caerleon manager, said: “It was a cross-cum-shot and the ’keeper made a blunder, the ball going underneath his body. A piece of luck going our way was long overdue.

“We gave a good, gutsy performance in windy conditions and the rain tipping down. It was a much-needed three points, especially ahead of next week’s game with Skewen, who are in one of the leading positions.”

Caerleon were kept in the game by the work of goalkeeper Richard Lancaster, and Griffiths added: “He brought off a double-save just before half-time to keep us in the game. To say it was world-class would be overstating the case, but he was in brilliant form.”

Caerleon brought in Ceri Joseph from the youth team, and his performance earned praise from Griffiths, as did the midfield form of Steve Arthur.

Newport YMCA, looking to join Caerleon in the top flight, got back to winning ways in Division Two after two defeats without a goal.

They won 5-0 at home to ENTO Aberaman, who played just over half the game with ten men after a dismissal.

YM got off to a flying start, with a 13th-minute penalty from Craig James after Aaron Stewart had been upended, and then Stewart added a second. Gareth Lynch was on target and substitute Chris Egitto crowned his arrival with the last two goals, the first an exquisite chipped effort over the ’keeper.

Sadly, there was a dark cloud over YM’s victory, with debut-making midfield player Terry Morrissey lasting only a few minutes, the subject of an X-rated challenge, suffering knee damage. Morrissey, with Oxford United as a youngster, was playing with Didcot in the Hellenic League in England and has moved to South Wales to work. YM have received a backroom boost with the arrival of physiotherapist Russell Jones, and chairman Viv Edwards said: “It is a major improvement at the club, and the players really appreciate that someone with his ability is available.”

Chepstow were another side to earn management praise after the team woes of the previous week. They won 3-1 at Third Division leaders Treharris, who were seeking a fifth straight league win.

Treharris had scored 19 goals in their previous four matches, but their attack was blunted by a battling Chepstow side.

Barrie Vassallo, Chepstow’s assistant manager, said: “We made a couple of changes, including bringing in new signings Matthew Geron (in midfield from Caerleon) and Anthony Hopkins (former Cinderford player-manager at the back).

“We also changed the formation, with ‘Hoppy’ as sweeper, and he took control all the way through. He sorted things out for us and was clearly man of the match.”

Paul Tanner curled in a perfectly executed free-kick on the stroke of half-time, and on 56 minutes Nicky Vassallo converted a spot-kick after being brought down in the box.

Treharris pulled a goal back through Justin Clarkson, but in the final few minutes substitute Geron marked his debut with a goal.

Vassallo added: “We were at them from the off and the entire squad was smashing. I was quite proud of them after what went on the previous week. The attitude was right and everyone was battling for his teammate.

“In this division I have not seen a really good side, apart from Croesyceiliog, and I think they will go up and then it could be anyone going with them.”

And Croesyceiliog proved the point with a 4-0 win at Newcastle Emlyn to continue their unbeaten run since the turn of the year – four wins and two draws. Croesyceiliog, in fourth place and with games in hand over all teams above them, completed a comfortable double with goals from James Stokes (2), Chris Watkins and Ryan Fahey.

Goytre suffered a 4-2 home setback against Troedyrhiw, another side with an eye on promotion. Goytre are third from bottom but have plenty of games in hand to get out of trouble.

Steve Morgan, manager, said: “We’ve got five games in hand over some teams, so the table is not a true reflection of our season. I am not concerned about our position because I am more than confident we will come through to finish well in the division.

“We were two down at half-time and pulled back to 2-2 and we gave a much more spirited performance in the second half, but having drawn level we went for the win and left ourselves exposed.”

Darren Haines scored a penalty for Goytre following a foul in the box on Graham Mason, and the second came through Steve Collett.

Risca and Treowen shared the points again in the return match.

They drew 2-2 – a repeat scoreline of the game at Treowen at the end of last month. In a dramatic finish to the match Treowen, twice behind, scored with seconds left, Jeff Reynolds coming to

the rescue with a free kick. Carl Thorne scored their first equaliser.

Richard Davies, Treowen manager, said: “I was pleased with the two goals we scored, but not our defending. Considering the team we fielded I would have taken a point before the start.”

l The MacWhirter National Youth League could be forming a link with the Welsh League. They have made overtures to the Welsh League, and the subject is up for discussion at tonight’s management committee meeting, where the draw for the quarter-finals of the Shamrock Travel Cup will be made.

WELSH LEAGUE PREVIEW

11 February 2005

RAY PARKER

WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

7 February 2005

WELSH LEAGUE PREVIEW

4 February 2005

Ambitious Tredegar Town have finalised a sponsorship deal with Hirwaun-based company Crownford, the details to be approved next week.

John Lewis, Tredegar manager, said: “It is a huge step forward. We have made sterling progress off the pitch and this will help us push on even more."

“Hopefully we can get out of the Second Division, which is going to be difficult, but this will help us achieve our dream aim. We want to get in with the elite of the Welsh League clubs.”

Tredegar are at home to runaway leaders Pontardawe tomorrow, the visitors looking for a double, a defeat which still rankles with Lewis who said: “We should have won down there. It was one of the most frustrating games in which I have been involved.” 

Lawrence Davies and Craig Evans return to Tredegar’s squad but Ryan Durham and Ross Mazurczak are both missing because of suspension.

Tredegar will play their home game with Tillery – postponed on January 8 – on February 15. 

Llanwern have made a double signing in their bid to maintain First Division status. The experienced Jason Hoskins, central defender, has made the move from Tredegar. Llanwern manager Laurence Owen said: “He is a Newport lad and a great signing for us because  we have been lacking in that area.”

And also rejoining Llanwern is utility player Craig Johnson from Croesyceiliog.

Llanwern are at home to Ammanford tomorrow and Owen said: “It is a very big game for us. Anyone below us we have  to beat. We have leaked a few goals in our last two games which is unusual.”

Lee Stewart returns to the Llanwern squad, recovered from a facial injury but goalkeeper Mark Evans has a rib injury, Chris Hart taking his place. Alex Stewart is also missing.

Ammanford occupy a relegation spot, five points worse off than Llanwern who are ahead of Tillery on goal difference. Tillery face a very difficult home game with promotion-chasing Bryntirion.

Newport YMCA, away to Morriston tomorrow, are slowly gaining their long-term injured players either back in action or in training.

YM, bidding for a place in the league’s top flight, have Darren Beckett starting light training. He has been out with groin injury but is still some way from playing. Louis Walsh, knee injury, could be in action at the weekend, maybe for the reserves in their home game with Caldicot.

Coach Darren Porretta returned for the extra time Shamrock Travel Cup win over Penrhiwfer last week while midfield player Martin Phillips has rejoined them, playing two games since returning from Cwmbran Town.

Croesyceiliog, fourth in Division Three and looking for promotion at the first attempt, entertain Troedyrhiw, the two teams locked on 30 points and Croesyceiliog having a two-goal better goal difference.

The quarter-finals of the Shamrock Travel Cup will be on March 12 but the draw has not yet been made.

RAY PARKER