October 2004

thisisNewSouthWales

TIME FOR CHANGE ON AND OFF PITCH

30 October 2004

The onset of winter marks the end of the first portion of the season and next Saturday sees the start of the early kick-off times. Over the next five months the complexion of the game can change dramatically as heavier grounds become the norm.

A taste of what is to come was sparked last weekend when the first washout of the season claimed all but two games.

However, matches might have been scarce but there was no shortage of action around some clubs.

Struggling Garw followed Maesteg Park in experiencing a mid-season change at their helm.

Former Bridgend Town, Maesteg Park and Bryntirion Athletic defender Drewe Phillips decided to call it day before the Blandy club crashed to a 5-0 midweek defeat at Maesteg Park.

Phillips, older brother of ex-Bridgend Town wing Tony, was a respected character on the circuit.

However, when he arrived at Blandy from Bryntirion in 1996, the club were in an even more perilous state.

There was a grave danger of them drifting out of the Welsh League and he was instrumental in bringing the likes of ex-Glasgow Celtic apprentice Frank Nuttall and Garfield Leask to Blandy.

His brother Tony ended his playing days at Blandy as they staged a remarkable recovery during the closing weeks of the season to finish seventh - and it was Seven Sisters who dropped out of the league.

Gradually, the Pontycymer-based club got their act together on the back of a cascade of goals from proven strikers of the quality of Gareth Hughes, Philip Popham, Ceri Williams and Rhodri Parry.

They became a force on the Welsh League scene and Phillips eventually took over managerial duties from Kevin Day, father of snooker star Ryan and Wales Under-21 and Mansfield centre-back Rhys.

And he went on to become the second-longest serving manager in the first division behind Ton Pentre's Kevin Richards.

Last season Garw finished 11th in the first division, and there was no hint during the summer that they were in for a troubled season.

But players of the calibre of Gareth Sage, Rhys John, Rhodri Parry, Ryan Thornton and goalkeeper Mark Elliott have hardly kicked a ball this season.

The heart has been ripped out of the side, and they were docked three points and fined for failing to fulfil a league fixture at Skewen in August.

But it was with a heavy heart that Phillips decided to move on.

''Owing to a recent promotion at work, I have found it increasingly difficult every week to find the five or so players that the team needed to make it competitive,'' said Phillips, a member of the care science team at the University of Glamorgan in Treforest.

He added: ''Garw aren't a glamorous club, and because we are off the beaten track it is increasingly difficult to recruit players from outside the area.

''Our situation is made doubly difficult as we now have Betws on our doorstep, and we have lost players to them.

''However, I parted company on amicable terms, and it is my hope now that someone can come in and turn things around.''

Midfield dynamo Mark Sage, who was Phillips's assistant, has taken over team responsibilities on a temporary basis.

Phillips met the players last weekend and, barring midfield man Del James, who has signed for second division Porthcawl Town, the remainder of the squad have agreed to stay with the club.

So, whoever takes over from Phillips will have a nucleus of players to work with, and it appears as if money is available to bring in some new men.

Meanwhile, rumours sweeping the village this week suggest that a knight in shining armour, answering to the name of David Rees, might be charging towards Pontycymer.

The former Port Talbot Town, Goytre Utd and Maesteg Park boss has been away from the scene since relinquishing duties at Tudor Park at the back end of last season.

However, since then Rees has turned down overtures from former champions Betws, citing mid-winter travel from his home in Cimla as a problem.

But since turning down that offer last summer, Rees has remained on the sidelines.

However, it is possible that he is missing the buzz of being a manager, and it might be a case of the Blandy boys coming in for him at the right time.

However, Garw find themselves in a similar position to Gwynfi, but a year on.

This time last year the Cape side were struggling, and in a bid to stave off relegation they brought in players from outside the Afan Valley.

They did manage to stay up, but it was at a price as most of the loyal players took umbrage and moved on.

But with the money at the Cape having run dry, they now find themselves propping up the table with Garw.

So, two of the grittiest sides in the first division, Garw and Gwynfi, now find themselves at the crossroads.

Both clubs fear their very existence could be at stake during changing times for the game at this level.

The situation at Maesteg Park, in the wake of the management team of Brian Carpenter and Paul Evans departing on a matter of principle, is that they will be reviewing the situation on a regular basis.

They feel it might be better to hang on and see the season out as opposed to making a hasty decision and choosing from limited candidates.

At the moment, chairman Phil Davies, captain Dean South and coach Dave Michael are selecting the team.

Michael, the father of Maesteg defender Lee, only arrived at Tudor Park this season.

Maesteg had been keen to recruit him in the past as he is a qualified physiotherapist and holds a UEFA coaching badge.

Last week the club's longstanding secretary and Welsh FA member David Griffiths signed forms allowing goalkeeper Leon Cosker to go to Betws and for Michael Waters to head for Goytre Utd.

However, they have completed the transfer of Dean Philpott from Barry Town now that his services aren't required by Welsh Premiership basement occupants Llanelli.

They are also likely to bring in a midfield player, who is currently unsettled with a second division side.

Waters was on apprentice terms with Swansea City before going to Port Talbot Town.

But when Paul Evans quit as coach at Victoria Road and took over managerial duties in Maesteg last summer, Waters followed suit.

However, Goytre are now hoping that he can freshen things up at Glenhafod Park following a spell of indifferent form.

Waters, who favours the left side of midfield, has followed Mark Dunford in switching from Maesteg to Goytre.

He arrived at Glenhafod Park last week at the same time as Richard Cleverly, who rejoined from Neath.

''The arrival of Michael Waters and Richard Cleverly should give us more in the way of attacking options - and hopefully more in the way of goals,'' said Goytre Utd assistant manager Andrew Radford.

Neath were disappointed to lose Cleverly to Goytre, but in the opposite direction they welcomed back striker Ben Davies from neighbours Skewen Athletic.

Davies joined Neath last season from UWIC and made a big impression, scoring four times in six appearances before suffering hamstring trouble.

But he failed to become a regular member of the Skewen team this season, and the hope now in the Neath camp is that he can pep up their attack.

During 11 league and cup matches this term, the Llandarcy Park side had hit the target just seven times ahead of this afternoon's clash with promotion-seeking Grange Quins at Leckwith Stadium.

Davies's registration came too late for him to figure for Neath at Barry Town a week last night.

Nevertheless, the Llandarcy Park men gave a good account of themselves in a 2-1 defeat.

Paul Carpenter cancelled out a Gavin Beddard strike, and it wasn't until the 88th minute that Simon Heal hit the winner.

The feeling around Jenner Park was that Neath deserved a draw, and Garden Village boss Robert Lloyd will no doubt have taken that sentiment on board.

A week today Village take on the Dragons at Jenner Park in the third round of the Welsh Cup.

The Gorseinon-based side are the league's sole survivors from South West Wales, and it would be a fantastic result if they could defy the odds and reach the last 16.

Owing to Barry's glorious past, clubs tend to live in awe of them, but hopefully Garden Village won't fall into that trap.

This season the former cup winners haven't exactly struck fear into anyone, and they suffered back-to-back league defeats against Briton Ferry and Betws.

Without setting the first division on fire, they have since steadied their rocking boat and ahead of today's round of fixtures were third behind leaders Taffs Well and Grange Quins.

Meanwhile, Briton Ferry's home game with Maesteg Park has been brought forward from April 30 to next Saturday as neither club is involved in the Welsh Cup.

TONY POOLE

FORMER SWANS LINING UP FOR GOYTRE

29 October 2004

Goytre include new signings Richard Cleverly and Michael Waters in their squad for tomorrow's Motaquote Welsh League division one encounter with Ely Rangers. Cleverly, once on Swansea City's books as a youngster, returned to Glenhafod Park last week from Skewen while Waters, another with Swansea before going to Port Talbot Town, left Maesteg Park.

The Port Talbot village side will be looking to get back on track against Rangers, following a barren five-match run.

Neath include new striker Ben Davies in a provisional squad for a tough assignment against second-placed Grange Quins at the Leckwith Stadium.

Davies has returned to Llandarcy Park from Skewen and available following suspensions are Chris Thomas and Ashley Hopkins.

Skewen keep faith with the same squad for their home game with Uwic, who have won just once in eight league starts this term.

Gwynfi go into the lion's den at Barry Town, and Maesteg Park are involved in a derby clash at Bridgend Town.

Former Barry Town midfield man Dean Philpott is included in the Maesteg squad but captain Dean South is likely to miss out with an Achilles problem.

Briton Ferry welcome high-flying AFC Llwydcoed.

Ferry have hit a rich vein of form of late, but the Cynon Valley side are likely to put it to the test.

Since losing back-to-back matches against Caerleon and Neath during August, Llwydcoed have pieced together a six-match unbeaten run.

In the second division, table-topping Pontardawe Town host Penrhiwceiber, and three players have been restored to full fitness.

Lee Jones, Layton Thomas and Steve Stone are all back in the reckoning at the Recreation Ground while Andrew Wright has returned from holiday.

Ammanford's selection problems have eased ahead of their trip to unbeaten Newport YMCA. Goalkeeper Craig Morris and striker Nathan Jones, are back in the frame while Sean Isaac is now rated 50-50.

However, manager Neil Rees is still without Gavin Morris, Cerison Davies and Paul Jones while Steve Evans faces a long spell on the sidelines.

Morriston have signed centre-back Leon Dennis from Port Talbot Town ahead of their home game with Tredegar Town.

But, Dennis won't rush things, having broken a leg last season, and he might sit out the clash against John Lewis's side.

Assistant manager Dean Beniamous is likely to return from injury, but centre-back Carl James is set to miss the remainder of the season because of college studies.

Third-placed Garden Village will be without suspended Craig Blake for their showdown with Pontyclun at Ivor Park.

Blake sits out just one game and with Mark Lloyd also an absentee, manager Robert Lloyd has drafted in Philip John and Ceri Williams.

Goalkeeper Adrian Barnsley together Sean Lambert and Leighton Connor, who would have all missed the postponed match at Penrhiwceiber, all return to the fray for Seven Sisters against Caldicot.

Ironically, Seven fell foul of Penrhiwceiber playing things by the book, following the £250 fine that was imposed on them for calling off last month's home game with Garden Village.

On that occasion they failed to bring in a class A referee, but last Saturday they did and in mid-morning he deemed the pitch to be fit.

However, by the time Seven arrived at the Glassbrook the game had been called off.

In the third division, Cwmaman's fixture with league newcomers Penrhiwfer has been switched to Grenig Park.

Ystradgynlais boss Andrew Hopkins has to fill some gaps for their home game with Albion Rovers.

Striker Craig Hopkins has a one-match ban while injury problems rule out Daniel Jenkins and Jamie Williams.

Carl Evans faces an injury test while the futures of Richard Barness and Gareth Evans at Ynyscedwyn Road are unclear.

STUDENTS WELL AND TRULY CLOBBERED

25 October 2004

The weather struck for the first time this season and just two matches were completed in the entire programme. In the first division, UWIC slid into more trouble after losing 5-1 at Cyncoed against the surprise package of the season, Taffs Well.

The victory for the Rhiw Ddar side, their eighth in 10 league outings, jettisoned them to the top, two points clear of Grange Quins, who have two games in hand.

But a sixth defeat in eight starts for the students, who now only have Garw and Gwynfi Utd under them in the table, left them in a perilous state.

The Taffs Well hero was their blossoming striker Martin Rose, who registered a hat-trick.

Craig Williams and free-scoring Peter Cheeseman were also on target, while Gareth Watkins got a consolation goal for the students.

The only other result came in the second division where promotion-chasing Caldicot dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Aberaman at Jubilee Way.

A victory would have taken Caldicot into second place behind Pontardawe Town, but they fell behind to a Scott Williams strike right on half-time.

It wasn't until late on that they equalised, former Pontardawe striker Wayne Morley capitalising on a goalmouth melee.

Third-placed Caldicot are the only side this season to beat Pontardawe, who continue to head Newport YMCA by eight points from three more games played.

Barry Town and Neath launched the shortened programme on Friday evening with the Dragons taking the first division honours 2-1 at Jenner Park.

Barry took a seventh-minute lead when Gavin Beddard was left with a simple tap-in, but Neath deservedly equalised on the half-hour mark.

A patient build-up led to Paul Carpenter going in on goal and he shot past goalkeeper Marty Ellacott from the edge of the box.

The sides turned around on 1-1, and just when it seemed as if a stalemate was in the offing, Simon Heal struck an 88th-minute winner.

As a result Neath remain 11th, clear of immediate relegation trouble.

Meanwhile, second division Penrhiwceiber have become the first victims of the league's get-tough policy with clubs over the postponing of matches owing to waterlogged pitches.

The Cynon Valley club called off their intended home game with Garden Village on September 18 as they felt the Glassbrook was unplayable.

But they did so without consulting a grade A referee, and in falling foul of the new ruling they had a £250 fine slapped on them.

Garw have this week become the latest first division club to suffer a mid-season change of management.

The club's long-serving manager Drewe Phillips decided to stand down after being associated with the club for eight years.

Phillips became the second-longest serving manager in the first division behind Ton Pentre's Kevin Richards, and the Pontycymer-based side have been linked with ex-Port Talbot Town, Goytre Utd and Maesteg Park chief David Rees.

Rees is out of the country at the moment, but last summer he turned down a move to Garw's next-door neighbours Betws.

At the moment injured midfield player Mark Sage has taken over managerial responsibilities, and he faces the prospect of patching up a side that has some key faces missing.

The loss of Sage's younger brother Gareth, Rhys John, Ryan Thornton, Gareth Hughes and Rhodri Parry has brought recent successes at Blandy to an abrupt end.

Phillips's resignation came in the wake of Maesteg Park's director of football Brian Carpenter and manager Paul Evans calling time on the Llynfi Valley club last week.

Carpenter, however, is at pains to point out that his departure from Tudor Park had nothing to do with either results or a failure to find quality players.

''I relinquished my post at Maesteg Park as a matter of principle, owing to the fact there was a player in the side that faced UWIC who I wasn't aware of,'' explained Carpenter, the former Port Talbot Town chief who was in a second stint at Tudor Park.

''In fact, when I tendered my resignation last weekend I had no idea that Paul Evans had done the same.''

Carpenter has accepted a scouting position with a leading Barclays Premiership club.

FIRST MANAGER QUITS

23 October 2004

Maesteg Park this week became the first South West Wales side to part with their management team this term. Only a week ago, Maesteg's director of football Brian Carpenter pointed out there were far too many sides chasing too few players.

Ultimately, that led to him and manager Paul Evans standing down as they had been unable to attract the right calibre of player to Tudor Park.

Maesteg find themselves in a similar position to neighbours Garw, whose playing strength this season has been diluted for a variety of reasons.

And the problem isn't confined to the Bridgend area as there are plenty of teams in West Wales who are unable to find value for their money.

Things have almost been reduced to the law of the jungle, and some clubs have been accused of stockpiling players in order to prevent others from utilising their services.

Before Carpenter departed the Maesteg scene, he attempted to attract Garden Village striker Ben Brown to Tudor Park.

The move highlighted the point regarding a shortage of Welsh League-standard players as Brown had only switched from church football in Swansea parks to Garden Village on September 4.

He made a goal-scoring debut against Penrhiwceiber in the Shamrock Travel Cup, and has since scored five more goals in as many games.

So, a striker just a month into playing in the second division was attracting interest - and it is even rumoured that Welsh Premiership side Port Talbot Town are closely monitoring the situation.

Many a shrewd judge feel that Brown is a talent waiting to be tapped, but for him to attract so much attention after just six games in the second division almost beggars belief.

Garden Village boss Robert Lloyd now faces a struggle to hang on to him, along with another front man who has regularly figured on their goal-scoring sheet this season, Steven Williams.

Skewen have placed a seven-day notice on the Llanelli Youth product, who netted 18 times on the third division circuit with Cwmaman last term.

While Lloyd is only too aware that some players look to better themselves and that his club in some instances recruits from lower leagues, the attention some of his players have been receiving is threatening to unsettle things.

"We have made a good start to the season and are aiming to have another go at life in the first division," said Lloyd.

"But with all these cheque-book Charlies coming out of the woodwork it is tending to unsettle things.''

On the field, Garden Village maintained a great start to the season in winning 3-2 against Merthyr Saints.

The Village people did the damage during the opening half with an own goal from Ian Benson sending them on their way.

Strikers Brown and Williams added to their reputations by scoring again as the Gorseinon side went in with a 3-1 lead.

Though the Saints pulled one back, and Williams fluffed a penalty, it was nevertheless Garden Village's day.

"We didn't play that well and there could be instances of us playing better in the future and losing," said manager Lloyd.

Lloyd introduced another young player from the club's flourishing nursery in right-back Craig Smith, who did all that was required of him.

Previously, Owen Williams had been introduced from the bench during the home defeat against Pontardawe.

Meanwhile, Porthcawl Town manager Chris Holmes was unhappy with an incident that led to Pontyclun securing an equaliser during their second division encounter at Ivor Park.

With the Seasiders leading on the back of a first-half strike from Paul Atkinson, centre-back Rhys Owen went down injured in the 73rd minute. But play was allowed to continue.

And with Owen taken out of the equation, Mike Flanagan conceded a penalty, which the home side converted.

Owen was eventually stretchered off the field and as far as Porthcawl were concerned, the incident left a nasty taste in the mouth.

"I was disgusted that Pontyclun didn't show any kind of sportsmanship in bringing play to a halt in order for Rhys Owen to receive medical attention," fumed Holmes, who is in his first season of management at Porthcawl.

"I hope for their sake that none of their players ever find themselves in the same kind of situation as I expect they would also bleat.

"Players at this level have to go to work on Monday, and as it is, Rhys Owen was seriously injured and will be out of the game for sometime.

"I know there is no written rule in the game concerning injuries, but this was a genuine case and Pontyclun certainly went down in our estimation.''

That wasn't the only setback Holmes received last week as he was still coming to terms with the loss of midfielder Shazhad Khaliq. He phoned his home to establish whether Khaliq was available for the trip to Pontyclun and was told that he had gone to study in Prague for four years.

However, the result that stood out was the 5-0 demise of Seven Sisters against visiting Aberaman.

Player-manager Paul Sullivan, who had previously given forthright views on team performances, felt Aberaman were a good side.

"Aberaman have brought in players over the last few weeks and if they don't continue in an upward direction then we are in real trouble," he said.

"We simply couldn't cope with former Carmarthen Town player Lee Thomas. If it hadn't been for goalkeeper Adrian Barnsley then we would have suffered an even heavier defeat.''

Leaders Pontardawe Town marched on, and in the process inflicted another blow to Bryntirion's fading promotion aspirations.

Ponty, beaten just once in 10 league starts ahead of today's home game with Llanwern, triumphed 3-0 thanks to goals from Jamie Bowen, Aled Rees and a Padraig Burke own goal.

"This was another good three points for us and was all the more pleasing as we introduced teenagers Luke Jenkins and Luke Harris," said Pontardawe general manager Jonathan Wilsher.

In the first division, Briton Ferry maintained a surge up the table via a 6-0 home win over struggling Garw.

Gavin Guy registered only a second hat-trick for the Old Road side, having previously achieved the feat during a League Cup tie at Caerau two seasons ago.

"We totally dominated the game with Gavin Guy's pace frequently unlocking the Garw defence," said Briton Ferry coach Morrys Scott.

A yardstick of the progress Ferry have made over the last month was on the cards at Goytre Utd this afternoon.

Skewen Athletic placed recent disappointments behind them in heaping more misery on bottom-placed Gwynfi Utd.

Skewen, who had lost their last four league and cup matches, bounced back with an 8-0 home win over the Cape side.

A line has been drawn under speculation regarding the future of captain Andy Hill.

Hill, one of the hottest properties in the Welsh League, had been linked with Welsh Premiership clubs Aberystwyth and Port Talbot.

"Andy is a contracted player and you cannot just sign contracts and then walk away," said Skewen manager Andrew Dyer. "He has been flattered by all the attention over the last month, but it has tended to unsettle him.

"However, things have been sorted and the player is happy to remain with Skewen.''

Hill struck twice against the Afan Valley side, making it 11 for the season, and his Skewen tally now stands on 54.

Third division newcomers Ystradgynlais got their long-awaited first league victory with a 2-0 success at home to Blaenrhondda.

Goals from Liam Soroka and Craig Hopkins, his seventh of the season, did the trick.

Outstanding in midfield were captain Dave Miller and his younger brother Andrew, who called the shots throughout.

"Hopefully this victory over Blaenrhondda will kick-start our season," said Ystradgynlais boss Andrew Hopkins.

TONY POOLE

BANNED DUO MISS OUT AS NEATH TRAVEL

22 October 2004

This weekend's Motaquote Welsh League programme gets under way tonight with Neath travelling to Barry Town in the first division. The Llandarcy Park side, who have beaten Skewen and drawn with Bridgend Town in their last two outings, have both Ashley Hopkins and Chris Thomas suspended.

Thomas was dismissed during the second half against Bridgend, and he starts an automatic three-match suspension.

Manager Nigel Stevenson has drafted both Paul Harvey and Andrew Shaw into his squad, and he also has an injury doubt-surrounding goalkeeper Andrew Sparkes.

In one of tomorrow's highlights, Goytre take on improving Briton Ferry in a derby clash at Glenhafod Park.

Goytre, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Betws last time out, have announced an unchanged squad, while Ferry will be without Lee Williams, who is serving a suspension.

Maesteg Park, buoyed by Wednesday's 5-0 home win over Garw, have home advantage over Skewen.

Once again, chairman Phil Davies and coach Dave Michael will select the Maesteg team in the wake of the departure of Paul Evans and Brian Carpenter.

Skewen last Saturday brought a four-match losing streak to an end with an 8-0 demolition of Gwynfi, and they Ian Vaughan back in their squad.

Gwynfi, like Garw, have yet to win in the league this season, and the Cape side hope to have Paul Rogers back for their home encounter with Bridgend.

In the second division, leaders Pontardawe are relieved that Steve Devonald has turned down overtures from Welsh Premiership side Port Talbot Town.

Devonald is included in the Ponty squad for their home game with Llanwern along with Ian Morgan, who is now free from suspension, but they still have injury doubts surrounding both Layton Thomas and Lee Jones.

The Swansea Valley side will be bidding for a quickfire double over the Steelmen, who they earlier in the month beat 1-0 at Spytty Park.

Garden Village, who rose to third following the 3-2 win at Merthyr Saints, have experienced campaigners Nicholas Romanello and Dave Rimmer back from injury for their home game with Newport YMCA.

Unbeaten second-placed Newport YMCA will form a major test for Garden Village in their quest for promotion.

But, Ammanford have a long-injury list ahead of their clash with Merthyr Saints at Rice Road.

Manager Neil Rees has eight players ruled out, and he is hoping to entice back former Sussex and Glamorgan cricketer Anthony Cottey.

The absentees are Craig Morris, Steve Evans, Gavin Morris, Nathan Jones, Cerison Davies, Paul Jones, Gavin Porter and Sean Isaac.

Rob Thomas is likely to deputise for Craig Morris in goal, and the only bright spot is provided by the return of Rob Griffiths.

Morriston's Michael Ellery is another manager facing a game of musical chairs, because players are unavailable.

Ruled out are centre-back Carl James and defender Jules Parry along with midfield operator Adrian Blake (calf), but teenager Dave Thomas has recovered from a bout of flu, and Dean Beniamous is set to resume following a two-month absence owing to a groin strain.

Seven Sisters challenge Penrhiwceiber at the Glassbrook, and the Dulais Valley side are also looking to plug gaps.

Goalkeeper Adrian Barnsley and Shaun Lambert are both away while Andrew Collins is forced to miss the game with continued calf problems.

Rated 50/50 is defender Leighton Connor, who is getting over a broken nose.

Cwmaman will be looking to get back to winning ways when they welcome Caerau Ely to Grenig Park in the third division.

Last Saturday the Carmarthenshire side felt that the scoreline - in a 4-0 loss at leaders Chepstow Town - did not do them any favours.

Ystradgynlais will be keen to build on last Saturday's first league win of the season against Blaenrhondda when they face Treharris Athletic at their compact Athletic Ground.

However, Ystrad manager Andrew Hopkins is resigned to being without left-back Ioan King, who has a hamstring problem

MAESTEG ON UP

21 October 2004

Despite having parted company with their management team of Paul Evans and Brian Carpenter, Maesteg Park gained an emphatic 5-0 win over Garw in the Motaquote Welsh League division one last night. Evans and Carpenter, who only took over from Wayne Goodridge in late summer, decided to stand down following Saturday's 5-1 defeat against UWIC at Cyncoed.

The Llynfi Valley side have endured one of their poorest starts to the season for many years, and the pair found it difficult in attracting players to the club.

Chairman Phil Davies and coach Dave Michael selected a team against Garw, and they built momentum on the back of an early goal from Gareth Phillips.

Atif Bashir made it 2-0 before the break, and two minutes into the second half Lee O'Brien was on target.

Pinpoint crosses from Ian Shepherd then set up a second goal for Phillips along with a Lee Michael strike.

This formed a third league win of the season for Maesteg, and as a result they moved up one place to 13th.

TONY POOLE

GOALS GALORE AS FERRY AND SKEWEN HIT FORM

18 October 2004

Briton Ferry and Skewen both went on the rampage as the first division experienced a goal glut. Briton Ferry defeated Garw 6-0, while Skewen accounted for another struggling side, Gwynfi Utd, 8-0.

An own-goal from Mark Sage sent Ferry on their way, and late in the half both Derek Jenkins and Gavin Guy were on target.

Guy struck again in the 63rd minute, and they completed an emphatic victory with further goals from 16-year-old Robert Cann and Guy's hat-trick effort.

Skewen, who had lost their last four league and cup engagements, didn't have to be at their best to return to winning ways against the Cape side.

In the opening half the Tennant Park club's marksmen were Andy Hill (2), Nigel Rogers and Carl Mainwaring.

Skewen boss Andrew Dyer then made a tactical substitution at half-time, replacing captain Hill with Ashley Richards, and Richards responded by netting twice.

Steven Pockett and Peter Sheath completed the goal avalanche as Skewen clung on to seventh spot.

There were also plenty of goals at Cyncoed as UWIC beat Maesteg Park 5-1.

The students came into the game without a league victory in six starts, but they were on the scoresheet first through Tom Billings.

Dean South headed the Llynfi Valley side back on terms, but an own-goal from Lee Michael provided UWIC with a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Park held sway during the early second-half exchanges without scoring, and the students punished them with goals from Liam Walsh, Ryan Jenkins and Daniel Marshall.

The goals theme didn't spill over to Llandarcy Park as Neath and Bridgend Town played out a goalless draw.

Bridgend carved out more in the way of significant chances, but neither Scott Lanyon nor Ben Bannon could make them count.

And near the end, Neath almost made them pay but Paul Carpenter just failed to nail a good chance.

Goytre Utd could only force a 1-1 draw at Betws despite dominating the game for long periods.

The Port Talbot village side went up the Betws slope and into the wind in the opening half, and things seemed to be falling into place when Mark Dunford headed them ahead after 20 minutes.

But two minutes later a Gavin Thomas corner got carried on the wind and Betws were back on terms.

Good chances fell to Goytre's Carl Evans and David Brown during the second period but it wasn't to be.

In the second division, leaders Pontardawe march on after defeating Bryntirion Athletic 3-0 at the Recreation Ground.

The Bridgend side were at their best early on, and only some great saves from Craig Mansell prevented Jonathan Cuss and Brian Burke from making the breakthrough.

However, Ponty, who had hit the woodwork via Jamie Bowen, went ahead two minutes before the break.

Jamie Rickard and Steve Devonald set up a seventh goal of the season for Bowen, while Aled Rees made it 2-0 on the resumption.

That goal turned the course of the game, and Ponty signed off with an 88th-minute own-goal from Padraig Burke on the end of a Rickard driven cross.

Paul Hughes netted for Ammanford as they went down 2-1 against Cardiff Corries at the Riverside, but Garden Village's fine run continued against Merthyr Saints in Pant.

Beaten just once in their last nine league and cup matches, the Gorseinon side marched to a 3-2 win over the Saints.

Robert Lloyd's side did the damage in the opening half when they profited from a bizarre own-goal along with strikes from Ben Brown and Steven Williams.

Ahead 3-1 at the break, Saints pulled another goal back and although Williams missed an 85th-minute penalty, Village clung on and retained third spot.

But there was no joy for Seven Sisters, who hit the bottom after losing 5-0 at home against rejuvenated Aberaman.

The Dingle encounter between Morriston and Caldicot was called off as the Gwent team's coach broke down in Bridgend and replacement transport wasn't forthcoming.

Meanwhile, Porthcawl Town got a good point in a 1-1 draw with Pontyclun at Ivor Park.

The Seasiders took an 18th-minute lead on the back of Paul Atkinson's first goal of the season.

But Porthcawl boss Chris Holmes was disappointed that the home equalising penalty stemmed from a move in which centre-back Rhys Owen was on the ground injured.

In the third division, it was celebration time at Ystradgynlais, who beat Blaenrhondda 2-0 at Ynyscedwyn Road to record a first league win.

It looked as if the Swansea Valley side's luck was once more out, but that all changed in the 76th minute when a Liam Soroka cross was deflected into the goal.

And a seventh goal of the campaign from Craig Hopkins made things safe, and in the process reversed a 3-2 Welsh Cup defeat at Blaenrhondda on September 11.

But Cwmaman's topsy-turvy form continued when they lost 4-0 at table-topping Chepstow Town.

CARPENTER HAMMERS STATE OF WELSH GAME

16 October 2004

Things have changed considerably on the circuit since Maesteg Park director of football Brian Carpenter last had dealings with the Welsh League. Carpenter finished with Port Talbot at the end of the 1994-95 season and didn't resurface until last summer.

His return to Tudor Park, where he had previously enjoyed great success as manager, came about because Wayne Goodridge had done a U-turn and walked away from a player-manager role.

Carpenter brought in former Port Talbot coach Paul Evans as manager, but as yet Maesteg have failed to hit the heights this season, winning just two of their six league matches.

They are finding it difficult to recruit the right kind of player, and Carpenter feels that loyalty has been confined to the past.

''The Welsh League is spiralling out of control - and the Welsh Premiership is even worse - and the main cause is money,'' said the league's elder statesman, who lives in Cwmafan.

''I shudder to think what current leaders Grange Quins must be forking out each week, but whether they can sustain it remains to be seen.

''But what I have noticed most in recent times is that a lot of clubs are headed by individuals, a lot of them successful businessmen.

''That means clubs can rise and fall with the company's balance sheet, a bit like Bridgend Town and Everwarm back in the 1970s.''

But Carpenter's main gripe is with modern-day players, who expect the world and give little in return.

''Since returning to the game, I have found that the passion and pride that players had bags of years ago is now missing.

''Last week we were interested in a player, and he promised to turn up for our midweek game with Taffs Well.

''But not only didn't he show up, to make it worse there wasn't even a courtesy telephone call to explain the situation.''

Carpenter is alarmed that most players are only interested in the money, and if they have a poor game then nothing must be said.

''When I was last manager at Maesteg our coach Philip Holme would have the team in thenext day to train if they had performed badly.

''And if a player said he was unavailable on Sunday morning then Phil would inform them to turn up in the afternoon.

''If you suggested Sunday training to this generation of player then they would laugh in your face.''

Maesteg Park owner Phil Davies brought about his return to the game last summer, and he had second thoughts before accepting.

''I knew the game wouldn't be the same as when I left it, but it was the chance of being involved with something good that attracted me back,'' he continued.

''Maesteg gave me a posh title of director of football, but at the end of the day I just see the job as assisting Paul (Evans).

''They felt with my contacts in the game that I could bring about change at Maesteg.

''During my absence from the Welsh League scene I did some scouting for Barclays Premiership clubs, but nowadays I go out and see what is available for Maesteg.

''In essence there isn't the talent about that there was even 10 years ago, and it is definitely a case of too many clubs chasing too few players.

''But I like to do things right and it annoyed me last week that I made the right approach to Garden Village regarding their striker Ben Brown.

''However, before the seven-day approach had expired the club felt it was their duty to put in print that the player wasn't interested.

''At the end of the day, all I wanted to do was to speak to the player and put my offer to him - surely that isn't too much to ask.

''If the player doesn't want to come to Maesteg fair enough, but let him make the decision.''

Maesteg were due to visit UWIC this afternoon, and at the start of the season you wouldn't have necessarily expected that the students would be without a win after six league outings.

Their latest setback came at Briton Ferry a week yesterday, the Old Road side winning 4-2.

Though UWIC scored first, goals from Lee Williams and Martyn James made it 2-1 at the break.

The students went on to square matters before a further goal from Williams and another supplied by Derek Jenkins wrapped up a third league victory.

Morrys Scott was a delighted coach at the final whistle, the victory more than making amends for the Welsh Cup exit at the hands of Garden Village the week before.

''We were back to our best against UWIC, and the result was all the more pleasing as they fielded their strongest side for the first time this season,'' said Scott.

''As is the norm, the students were a fast and well organised side, and our heads didn't drop when we fell behind early on or when they equalised.

''Our side is still raw and is on a learning curve, but because they are young then they are willing to learn.

''I know this young side will suffer more defeats - and I don't wish to get carried away by one win - but it was an exceptional performance.''

Ferry were anticipating different kinds of problems this afternoon during a visit from gritty Pontycymer-based side Garw.

Last week's other top-flight matches threw up a 1-1 stalemate between Ton Pentre and Bridgend Town at Ynys Park.

The Coychurch Road side haven't won at the ground since April 5, 1989 when goal braces from Robert Caldwell and Paul Stephens earned them a memorable 4-3 success over the Bulldogs.

But on their latest visit, Bridgend went close to bringing the barren run to an end.

The sides had already played out a 3-3 stalemate at Coychurch Road this term, 10-man Town battling back from 3-1 down after just 20 minutes.

The rematch also produced plenty in the way of action, with the Bulldogs showing their teeth during the opening half.

But it took a dreadful goalkeeping error from Town's Ross Hooper-Nash to send Ton ahead via Lee Brown in the 65th minute.

But towards the end Ton's John Howe was the busier goalkeeper, and he earned his spurs in dealing with a variety of shots, the coup de grace being a fantastic effort to keep out a Matthew Driscoll header.

That seemed to be that for Bridgend until they won a corner 30 seconds from time, which Damian Daniels swung over.

A goalmouth melee developed and Scott Lanyon, a newcomer from Mountain Ash, fired home from close range.

''It looked as if it was another case of nothing going right for us at Ton Pentre, especially as they played so well during the opening half,'' said Bridgend Town manager Francis Ford, the former Briton Ferry striker.

''But after we gifted them a goal, the boys mounted a superb finish.

''The referee told me there was just 30 seconds to go when we won the corner, so it was definitely a case of us saving the best for last.''

This afternoon Bridgend were due to visit Neath, who were probably still talking about last week's incredible 1-0 home win over hapless Skewen Athletic.

During the first half the Tennant Park club created 10 chances to one by Neath, but the trouble was Skewen just couldn't buy a goal.

Half-time arrived with a blank scoreline, and the game seemed all up for the Llandarcy Park side once Ashley Hopkins was red-carded on the hour.

But after that Skewen went right off the boil, and you sensed that 10-man Neath could get something out of the game.

Whether it was going to be three points was debatable, but when Skewen goalkeeper Mark Snell fumbled the ball in the 85th minute in attempting to save time and keep a Kristian James shot in play, the unlikely did unfold.

The loose ball fell at the grateful feet of unmarked substitute Richard Howell, who duly planted it into the empty net.

For commitment in the face of adversity it was hard to fault Neath's performance, but Skewen must be still wondering how they tossed the game away.

Sunday's three matches all had South West Wales involvement, and for once this season there was an upbeat mood in all three camps at the final whistle.

Pride of place went to second division leaders Pontardawe, who gained a 1-0 victory over Llanwern at Spytty Park.

There wasn't much to choose between the sides but in the end an 80th-minute strike from in-form Geza Hajgato swayed the issue.

''There was a possibility of the game fizzling out in scoreless draw, but the boys stuck at it and in the end deserved victory,'' said Neil Frederickson, a member of the Pontardawe Town management team.

However, the scoreline that really raised a few eyebrows was the thumping 6-0 success that Garden Village achieved over Cardiff Corries at Stafford Common.

Corries, relegated from the top tier at the end of last season, were expected to challenge hard in order to make an immediate return to the top.

But they fell away badly in the second half as Garden Village put on their Sunday best.

Another two goals from striker Ben Brown lifted his tally for the club to five, while manager Robert Lloyd, who celebrated accordingly in the clubhouse afterwards, was delighted to welcome back from injury another striker.

Former Cwmaman front man Steven Williams made a goal-scoring return, and their other goal went to Craig Blake.

It turned out to be a real family affair, with Lloyd's nephew, Mark Lloyd, also netting twice, while the manager's son, goalkeeper Stuart, kept out a 70th-minute penalty.

The third Sunday win was achieved by third division Cwmaman, who came from two goals behind to beat Fields Park Pontllanfraith 3-2 at Grenig Park.

The fightback was launched on the back of a 62nd-minute goal from Lee Jenkins, with further goals from Nathan Davies and Aneurin Evans (his sixth of the campaign) seeing the promotion-seeking Carmarthenshire side home.

''This wasn't one of our better performances of the season but the win kept us heading in the right direction,'' said Cwmaman secretary Alun Rees.

TONY POOLE

KEAVENY DOUBLES UP WITH SKEWEN SIGNING

15 October 2004

Skewen have brought in former Swansea City striker Jonathan Keaveny on dual registration from Welsh Premiership club Haverfordwest. Keaveny recently switched from Carmarthen to Bridge Meadow, and is expected to be in the Haverfordwest squad for tomorrow's home game with Connah's Quay.

Skewen face bottom-placed Gwynfi in the Motaquote Welsh League tomorrow and the transfer speculation surrounding the future of Andy Hill at Tennant Park has gone quiet.

Hill is included in manager Andrew Dyer' s squad. Andrew Birch is available after suspension, but Ian Vaughan is an absentee.

Like Skewen, another first division side, Goytre, will be looking to get back to winning ways when they visit former champions Betws.

Managers Craig Duggan and Andrew Radford have Carl Evans back from suspension and have added young striker Chris Nordoff to their squad, following some impressive displays in the reserves.

Maesteg Park are still being linked with Garden Village striker Ben Brown ahead of their showdown with Uwic in Cyncoed.

Club director of football Brian Carpenter spoke to the player this week, and a decision regarding a move to the Llynfi Valley is expected over the weekend.

Robert Folland, who missed last week's 3-1 home defeat against high-flying Taffs Well, is back in the Maesteg squad, but Gareth Phillips is suspended while Dean South will have a fitness test on an injured ankle.

Neath, who challenge Bridgend Town at Llandarcy Park, have Ashley Taylor unavailable for selection while Ashley Hopkins is suspended following his dismissal in last week's 1-0 home win over Skewen.

Briton Ferry host Garw, and will be without Lee Brown, who is missing through family commitments.

Steve Cox, who came off after a quarter of an hour in last week's 4-2 home win over Uwic, is rated only 50-50 owing to a groin strain.

In the second division, Pontardawe start a run of 11 out of 13 home matches in the league with a visit from Bryntirion.

In order to get home games out of the way, ahead of the cricket season in the spring, the Swansea Valley side are looking to make hay in the run to Christmas.

Andrew Wright will be missing for the next fortnight but Ian Morgan has completed a suspension and is available.

Pontardawe will run a fitness test on striker Layton Thomas, who came off with a calf strain after just 10 minutes during Sunday's 1-0 victory in Llanwern.

Ammanford look to get back on track against Cardiff Corries at the Riverside, and improving Garden Village head for Merthyr Saints.

Morriston boss Michael Ellery is hoping the return of some key personnel will improve their chances against Caldicot.

Returning to duty, following the 3-0 defeat at Seven Sisters last time out, will be Adrian Blake, Paul Edwards, Steve Sinnock and Julian Parry.

Assistant manager Dean Beniamous has recovered from a serious groin injury and is drafted into the squad.

Seven Sisters, who host bottom-placed Aberaman, welcome back Chris Herdman, who has missed recent games owing to work commitments.

Also back on the Welfare Ground scene is manager Chris Pugh, who has been forced to take a low profile this season because of work.

In the third division, Cwmaman welcome back Paul Pugh to squad duty at Chepstow while Ystradgynlais will be keen to kick-start their a season with a first league success at the expense of visiting Blaenrhondda.

VILLAGE CUP MASTERS EARN A TRIP TO BARRY

09 October 2004

Only Garden Village will have any local interest in the third round of the Welsh Cup - with a trip to fallen giants Barry Town. In fact, the Gorseinon-based club were the first to go into the hat, having won 2-1 under the Briton Ferry floodlights last Friday night.

But the two other Welsh League survivors in the second round from the area, Goytre Utd and Skewen Athletic, went the same way as the others.

The situation this season is one of the poorest for many years and reflects poorly on the standards currently prevailing at our clubs.

Of course, not all clubs even bothered to enter and some of those who did weren't fully committed in case it detracted from their league positions.

But Garden Village boss Robert Lloyd has always been one of those managers who believes that success breeds success.

They set up victory over Ferry and a November 6 trip to Jenner Park in the last 32 on the back of a two-goal contribution from new striker Ben Brown.

Brown shot them ahead in the 12th minute, and although the Old Road side equalised via Steve Griffiths early in the second half, Brown popped up to knock in a 72nd-minute winner.

Brown was recently spotted playing church football in Swansea parks, and manager Lloyd is now hoping that his prayers for a proven scorer have been answered.

And if Brown can keep on scoring, no doubt some bigger clubs will confess to chasing him.

Garden Village return to league action tomorrow afternoon with a home game against Cardiff Corries (3pm).

But joy at Garden Village was in stark contrast to the gloom that descended over both Goytre Utd and Skewen.

The fortunes of both clubs have been mirrored over the last few games, with the pair losing three on the trot.

The 1-0 downfall of Goytre against AFC Llwydcoed was even more surprising when you consider the newly promoted Cynon Valley side had Ryan Barry dismissed after just three minutes.

The Port Talbot village outfit turned in one of their best displays of the season during the first half - but it was something else when it came to scoring.

"We should have scored a hatful of goals during the first half, just like at Ammanford in the previous round when it was almost a case of us scoring for fun," said Goytre Utd assistant manager Andrew Radford.

"But our second-half performance was clueless, and the players needed to take a look at themselves after having lost to 10 men.''

Rumours even swept the area that manager Craig Duggan had stepped down.

This was flatly denied, but the hurt Duggan and Radford must have felt would have been enormous.

He continued: "In this game you have to take the ups with the downs - nine goals in the last round and then we couldn't get one against a side playing with 10 men for 87 minutes.

"Strikers at any level of the game are treated as the glamour boys, but if these glamour boys don't put the ball in the back of the net then pressure mounts on the remainder of the team.

"When you don't score, basic errors are highlighted and that is just what happened to us against Llwydcoed.

"You could almost sense that we would fall for a sucker punch.

"And even though they only had two shots on goal during the entire 90 minutes, one of them went in. And that is end of story."

The demise of Skewen, who lost 2-0 against league leaders Grange Quins, also left manager Andrew Dyer scratching his head.

It was goalless until late on when goals from ex-Cardiff City player Kurt Nogan and Tony Evans saw the mighty Quins home.

"We simply couldn't break Quins down at the back, and on this form it isn't hard to see why they had only conceded three goals in seven league matches," said Dyer, who also saw his side suffer a 1-0 league defeat at Neath in midweek.

With this weekend's league programme curtailed, owing to this afternoon's World Cup qualifier between England and Wales at Old Trafford, it has given some clubs time to reflect.

Second division Seven Sisters were relieved to pick up three welcome points last Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Morriston.

But Seven player-manager Paul Sullivan still felt flat at the final whistle as his side were only marginally better during a drab derby encounter.

First-half goals from Nigel Westall and Barry Herdman, along with a 70th-minute strike from talented Leon Thomas, brought the Dulais Valley side only a second win in eight league outings.

"At times only fine goalkeeping from Adrian Barnsley kept us in the game, and shall we say we were the better of two very ordinary sides," said Sullivan, whose brother Lee had a solid game in midfield. "Our two opening goals had a degree of luck attached to them, but that said, those are the kind of goals that we have been conceding all season.

"But it's still early days, and I am confident that there is enough talent in the squad for us to finish in mid-table."

Still going great guns at the top of the table are Pontardawe Town, who eventually put Ammanford away to the tune of 6-2.

At half-time the sides were locked at 1-1, an Ammanford goal from Paul Hughes cancelled out by a Geza Hajgato strike.

But Ponty went through the gears during the second half and it became a case of one-way traffic, with further goals added by Layton Thomas, Jamie Rickard, Paul Davey, Jamie Bowen and Aled Rees.

However, it was the second Ammanford goal from Hughes that proved a talking point in the clubhouse afterwards.

At 6-1 up Ponty were awarded a penalty, and it was decided to give it to goalkeeper Craig Mansell.

However, opposite number Craig Morris saved his spot kick, and the ball was hoofed downfield. And before Mansell could get back into his goal, Hughes had lifted the ball into the unprotected net.

"We were poor during the opening half, but full credit to the management team (Robert Cooke, Neil Frederickson and David Bowen), they got things right at half-time," said Pontardawe general manager Jonathan Wilsher. "We had a 20-minute spell in the second half when we were quality.''

At the moment Pontardawe, who travel to Llanwern tomorrow afternoon in the league, are proving one of the few success stories on a lacklustre South West Wales scene. This is in stark contrast to last season, when in the first division Ponty had to wait until Christmas in order to pick up their first league point.

Newly-promoted Bryntirion Athletic are finding the going tough at the moment, and it has led to a downturn in the belief that they are good enough to win successive promotions.

The Bridgend side are showing inconsistent form which was highlighted by last Saturday's 2-1 loss at Llanwern.

But the game was one of many in the second tier this term which wasn't patrolled by assistant referees, leading to a debatable decision.

Bryntirion led on the strength of a Brian Burke strike, but they felt the equaliser from Marcus Power came from a clear-cut offside.

The problems the league are currently experiencing with a shortage of referees has spilled over into the second division and matches are often taking place without approved linesmen.

But at the end of the day, it seems as if the chickens are coming home to roost as some of the verbal abuse officials take off some managers and fans is unacceptable.

Most games throw up 50-50 incidents, but perhaps if managers and supporters lived with the thought that everyone in life makes mistakes, it might help to cut down on the levels of abuse - and ease the burden on recruitment.

Finally, Cwmaman lifted themselves back into fifth place in the third division when they beat Albion Rovers 4-2 at Grenig Park.

While Treowen rule the roost at present, having lost just one of their seven engagements, the promotion issue looks wide open.

What the Amman Valley side need to do is piece together some consistent form, which would lead to an unbeaten sequence.

Against Albion, the pace of Roy Tomlinson unlocked the Gwent side's defence and he scored twice during the opening half.

Their third went to new boy Martin Goldsmith, who was signed on special registration on the day of the game.

Goldsmith, from Gorslas near Cross Hands, showed up well but with 20 minutes left the score stood at 3-2 and the outcome still in doubt.

But Tomlinson, who should have wrapped up a hat-trick, was fouled in the penalty box and Aneurin Evans converted the penalty to move on to the five-goal mark for the season.

Cwmaman are in league action tomorrow afternoon, hosting former first division giants Fields Park Pontllanfraith (3pm).

TONY POOLE

FERRY AIM TO FORGET ABOUT CUP EXIT

08 October 2004

Briton Ferry get a shortened programme underway tonight when they challenge Uwic under the Old Road floodlights (7.15pm). Ferry will be looking to bounce back following the disappointing 2-1 Welsh Cup defeat against Garden Village at the ground a week earlier.

Coach Morrys Scott, who played up front with Steve Cox against the Village people, is likely to drop down to the bench while Derek Jenkins and Philip Miles will be in the shake-up for selection.

Jenkins and Miles were both introduced from the bench during the cup loss, but still missing is the suspended Sam Brown.

However, there is every chance of Martyn James returning to the side following a late holiday.

Uwic, who have been chasing league honours over the past two seasons, have yet to win in the league this term, and have just one point from five league starts.

"Our form during September was good, and it made it all the more disappointing to bow out to Garden Village in the cup last Friday," said Scott.

"Hopefully, we can get back on track against Uwic, and maintain a climb up the table."

Three matches are scheduled for Sunday with second division leaders Pontardawe Town on Llanwern at Spytty Park.

The Swansea Valley side are unbeaten in the last six meetings with the Steelmen, and last season during the festive season it was at Llanwern that they picked up a first league point at the 13th attempt.

Things have since changed, and this time around Pontardawe have lost just one of their eight league games.

Jamie Rickard is line to start at Llanwern, having returned as a substitute in Saturday's 6-2 home win over Ammanford, but ankle injuries are likely to rule out both Steve Stone and Lee Jones.

But the game at Llanwern will represent a final suspension for defender Ian Morgan, who was dismissed last month in acrimonious circumstances against Tredegar.

Pontardawe will go into the game with a five-point lead over nearest challengers Newport YMCA, who have two games in hand.

Garden Village, who have been paired with Barry at Jenner Park in the third round of the Welsh Cup on November 6, have home advantage over Cardiff Corries.

The Riverside men, relegated from the top tier at the end of last season, could form dangerous opponents as they have won just once in the league this term, and currently lie next to bottom.

Manger Robert Lloyd is hoping to have ex-Cwmaman striker Steven back from injury, and he also has Philip John and Chris Morgan pushing for returns.

The Gorseinon side, beaten just twice in six league meetings this season, have informed Maesteg Park that striker Ben Brown is not interested in a move to the Llynfi Valley.

Park had placed a seven-day order of intent on Brown, who has shown promising form since switching from church football in Swansea parks last month.

Finally, Cwmaman entertain former first division club Fields Park, and will be looking for a repeat of the form that swept them to a 5-1 win at Pontllanfraith last term.

However, the Grenig Park men then lost the rematch, 1-0, and this kind of inconsistent form has also surfaced this season.

Having beaten Albion Rovers, 4-2, last time out, promotion-seeking Cwmaman will be looking to match strides with the early season pacemakers.

NEATH MOVE UP TO TENTH

07 October 2004

Neath defeated Skewen 1-0 at Llandarcy Park last night to lift themselves into 10th place in the Motaquote Welsh League division one. Skewen dominated the first half without being able to capitalise on a host of openings.

However, things changed at the restart, and Neath got better as a lacklustre derby clash unfolded only to have defender Ashley Hopkins sent off on the hour for verbal abuse of an assistant referee.

But the Tennant Park club failed to make the extra man count, and the game was all up for them in the 85th minute.

Goalkeeper Mark Snell - in attempting to keep a Kristian James shot in play - fumbled it and substitute Richard Howell rolled it into the empty net.

It meant a fourth straight defeat for Skewen whose early season sparkle has faded.

Meanwhile, Maesteg Park remain in the lower reaches of the table after losing 3-1 at home against Taffs Well. It was a sixth league win from eight starts for Taffs and they went second, one point behind Grange Quins, who have played one fewer game.

A 10th-minute shot from Leanne Jeanne eluded home goalkeeper Lee Williams, and Dan Hooper followed up to score.

James Passmore made it 2-0 in the 47th minute and although Steve Conaty soon pulled a goal back, Taffs Well sealed victory on the back of a Martin Rose strike on 75 minutes.

TONY POOLE

IS EAST TAKING CONTROL FROM CLUBS IN WEST?

02 October 2004

Most managers at this time of year will suggest it is too early to make rash decisions regarding the issues that matter. But if the opening weeks of the season are anything to go by then there looks as if there is a change in the powerbase in the first division.

While west has been best in the last few seasons with the likes of Goytre Utd, Neath and Llanelli all reaching for the stars - in the form of the first-division championship and the Welsh Premiership - it looks as if the east has not only caught up but overtaken some of our local clubs.

Leaders Grange Quins have so far carried all before them with six victories and a draw from seven starts.

The only other side still unbeaten are former champions Ton Pentre, whose seven outings have yielded five wins and two draws.

Just two points separate the leading two clubs while a further two points back come the two real surprise packages - newly promoted clubs Taffs Well and AFC Llwydcoed.

At the moment the Cynon Valley side just seem to keep on winning, having lost their two opening games back in August against Caerleon and Neath.

Five straight wins - including last Saturday's slender 1-0 home victory over fifth- placed Bridgend Town - have jettisoned them up the table.

The rise of Taffs Well is equally surprising, but whether they will be able to live with the hurly-burly world that is the first division is still open to question.

In the past Llwydcoed have faded once the heavy mid-winter pitches kick in, and it remains to be seen whether it is once again a case of them getting stuck in the mud.

And of course the newly crowned sleeping giants of Welsh football, Barry Town, cannot be ruled out of anyone's predictions.

They almost became the jokers in the pack having lost back-to-back matches against Briton Ferry and Betws towards the end of August.

Since then they seem to have regained their poise, and underlined the point last Saturday in winning 1-0 at Goytre Utd.

A nucleus of players that helped Llanelli win last year's title have found their way to Jenner Park.

Ex-Llanelli player-manager Neil O'Brien together with fellow defenders Marc Otten and Gary Davies, striker Paul Fowler and midfield player Lee Pratt are all strutting their stuff by the seaside.

It was Barry's set-piece presence that caused Goytre the most problems a week ago, and their winning goal on the hour stemmed from a corner.

Goytre failed to clear their lines properly and Mark Evans centred for much-travelled Adam Moore to knock in the winner.

However, the Goytre management team of Craig Duggan and Andrew Radford are adamant that the referee settled the issue.

Barry's Jonathan Wile allegedly elbowed new-signing Mark Dunford in the face, and Goytre followers were surprised when ex-Maesteg Park man Dunford was also given his marching orders - the club's fourth in five games.

It brought a telling reaction from Radford, who said: "Goytre lost a good player; Barry lost a player."

And Goytre's disapproval seems to have been warranted after the referee reconsidered the dismissal this week and reduced the red card to a yellow.

This formed a second successive defeat for Goytre, having gone down 2-1 the week before at Bridgend.

However, Goytre, who hosted AFC Llwydcoed in the Welsh Cup this afternoon, still look as if they will form the main western threat for the title along with the third of this year's new boys - Skewen Athletic.

The Tennant Park club were going great guns until their crossed swords on September 18 with team-of-the-moment, AFC Llwydcoed, and went down 1-0.

Last Saturday they were involved in an amazing game with ex-champions Ton Pentre at Ynys Park, losing 3-2.

Perplexed Skewen boss Andrew Dyer summed the situation up perfectly.

He said: "We conceded a goal after just seven seconds; leaked another 10 minutes into first-half injury time, and gift-wrapped Ton an eventual winner.

It was also a day of mixed emotions for Ton's Shaun Thackrell, who must have scored the quickest goal in league history.

Straight from the kick off, Thackrell aimed for goal from the edge of the centre circle, and a swirling shot deceived Mark Snell in the Skewen goal.

However, Thackrell then turned villain amongst Ton fans after being shown a red card before the interval.

Skewen went 2-1 up after half an hour, courtesy of goals from Nigel Rogers and Andy Hill (penalty), only to be pulled back to 2-2 during first-half injury time.

And Skewen's woe was compounded when a back pass from ex-Garden Village defender Steve Evans sold goalkeeper Snell short and Lyndon Williams knocked in the winner.

Another major test faced Skewen at Tennant Park this afternoon in the form of Grange Quins in the Welsh Cup.

The situation at the bottom is also attracting interest, as it seems as if none of the promoted clubs are likely to be involved in the shake-up.

While Gwynfi Utd are looking prime candidates for the drop, you cannot say the same about the other club who last month were fined and docked three points for the non-fulfilment of a fixture - Garw.

The Blandy club hit the headlines for the wrong reasons last week when teletext pages carried news of them calling off a league game at Skewen back in August through a stag weekend in Blackpool.

But it wasn't only the party-seekers who were responsible, but a crippling list of injuries and work commitments.

Yet to appear this season is talented striker Rhodri Parry, who has been on the shopping-list of many West Wales clubs.

Gareth Sage, brother of club technical adviser Mark, has been seen in action just once, as has defender Ryan Thornton, while Darren Lyons suffered more injury problems during Saturday's 4-0 home loss against Grange Quins.

Lyons came out second best during a clash of heads, and was forced to seek hospital attention after a lump - the size of an orange - appeared on his forehead.

It seems as if everything has conspired against their popular manager Drewe Phillips, who has been forced to include himself in the starting line-up for most of the season.

Last week Garw signed two players, striker Ben Perryman and midfield operator Owen Roberts, from Tondu Robins.

Older followers will recall that the Robins were an integral part of the Welsh League scene for many years until being relegated under the pyramid system in the early 1990's, following the likes of Tynte Rovers from the Cynon Valley and Newport side Lovells Athletic into the abyss.

Their demise was both remarkable and swift, taking many by surprise in the process.

Having battled their way back from parks standard in the Bridgend League to the first division of the Regal Travel South Wales Amateur League, last season the Robins headed the table until the turn of the year.

They eventually missed out to Kenfig Hill and Caerau for the title, but this time around they suffered a series of heavy early season defeats and decided to call it a day at Amateur League level, although the club will maintain its team in the Bridgend League.

Meanwhile, former Garw manager Kevin Day, the father of snooker star Ryan and Wales under-21 centre-back Rhys, has just opened a plush new snooker club in Pontycymer, called the Vetz, which has become the Blandy club's base.

And he has organised a sell-out dinner at the club with all proceeds going to Garw.

When Ryan Day, now back in the top-64 on the professional circuit, isn't involved with snooker he often plays up front for Garw, and has even deputised for Mark Elliott in goal.

However, that isn't always the wisest choice for a top-class snooker player as stray boots and powerful shots can easily damage a goalkeeper's hands.

But all things considered if you write off the Blandy club at this early stage of the season you are doing so at your peril.

A few miles away in the Llynfi Valley it was celebration time for Maesteg Park last Saturday as they got their first points of the season via a 1-0 home win over Neath.

It has surprised many to see Park struggling this season, but like Garw they are finding difficulty in attracting the right kind of players.

This is becoming a serious problem on the South-West Wales scene at the moment - too many clubs chasing too few players.

There is a definite player shortage at Welsh League level compared to even 10 years ago.

Teenagers these days are much more selective when it comes down to their leisure pursuits - and football is no longer king.

All in all it's a worrying trend, and some other clubs will go to the wall unless a solution is found.

TONY POOLE

JENKINS, TRIGGS BACK FOR FERRY

01 October 2004

Briton Ferry throw down the gauntlet to Garden Village at Old Road tonight (7.15pm). Though Ferry will be without both Sam Brown and Martyn James, two long-term absentees - Derek Jenkins and Daniel Triggs - return to their squad.

Also pushing for selection are Ynysygerwn cricketer Nicky Maggs, who has shown up well in midfield for the reserve team, and striker Philip Miles.

Garden Village welcome back Dave Evans, and manager Robert Lloyd will run fitness tests on both Philip John and Ceri Williams.

Tomorrow sees Goytre challenge first division colleagues AFC Llwydcoed, and include Mark Dunford.

Dunford, signed last month from Maesteg Park, was controversially sent off last Saturday in the 1-0 home league defeat against Barry Town, but the card has since turned colour from red to yellow, which makes him available.

Carl Evans returns from a one-match suspension, and managers Craig Duggan and Andrew Radford are hoping striker Jonathan Owen makes the long journey down from Liverpool.

Skewen still have defender Andrew Birch suspended for their home tie with first division leaders Grange.

So, manager Andrew Dyer sticks to the same 14-man squad that narrowly lost out, 3-2, at Ton Pentre in the league last Saturday.

Meanwhile, only one match goes ahead in the first division of the Motaquote Welsh League with Maesteg Park entertaining Gwynfi in a local derby.

Maesteg include Rob Folland, who is back at Tudor Park from Aberystwyth, while Daniel Platt has returned from holiday.

Gwynfi have recently signed brothers Chris and Steve Boydell along with Mark Jenkins from Tondu, who have pulled out of the South Wales Amateur League.

In the second division, leaders Pontardawe take on an Ammanford side that have hit a poor patch of form.

The Swansea side have an injury doubt surrounding Lee Jones, who injured a foot in the recent victory over Tredegar, but Jamie Rickard is now available for selection.

There is also a derby clash in the Dulais Valley with Seven Sisters going head to head against Morriston.

Established

1904

[includes/breakout2.htm]