FAW WELSH CUP AND WELSH LEAGUE PREVIEW

30 September 2005

Newport YMCA have nosedived at the first hurdle in two cups already this season and manager Mark Coldrick wants to avoid a hat-trick of flops when they play in the Welsh Cup tomorrow.

But his side face a tough task at Welsh Premier League outfit Port Talbot Town in the second round of the national competition (kick-off 2.30pm).

YM, now in the top flight of the Macron Welsh League, went out to Goytre in the Gwent Senior Cup and last Saturday disappeared from the Shamrock Travel Cup – the league cup – providing Abertillery Excelsior with only their second success of the season.

Mark Coldrick, YM manager, said: “I think we are good enough to win Division One but we have already blown two cups so that leaves us with one to go.  We will not be going down there frightened of them. They tend to be pretty tight but they don’t score many.”

Port Talbot have played five league matches – all of them drawn. Their only success has been in the league cup, winning two games including beating Cwmbran Town 2-1.

Coldrick added: “We are looking forward to the game. We had a disappointing result at Abertillery last week, but this is going to be a big game for us.”

However, YM are boosted by the return of suspended pair Chris Egitto and Daniel Cueto while Gareth Lynch, unavailable last week, returns to the defence.

Croesyceiliog who have won their last seven league and cup matches, face arguably their most searching test although they have home advantage over league newcomers West End, the Swansea-based side who have won six league and cup matches on the bounce and conceded one goal.

Third Division Risca face a most daunting task, travelling to Welsh Premier League moneybags outfit Llanelli, now under the guidance of Peter Nicholas, former Newport County boss.

In the league, First Division Caerleon look to end a run of four successive defeats, including exits from the Welsh Cup and Shamrock Travel Cup, travelling to Neath.

David Griffiths, Caerleon manager, said: “After six games last season we had 11 points but this season it’s six from six. I wanted to turn the draws we kept getting last season into wins but it seems to be going the other way at the moment. I just think it is a lack of confidence but I don’t want to get into a situation where losing becomes a habit.”

Caerleon will probably have Glen Willis back in the squad, recovering from a calf injury, but Troy Quarterly, Chris Pritchard and Ryan Andrews are all unavailable while striker Chris Pearce remains under suspension.

Griffiths added: “We definitely need at least a point to get us back on track.”

Neath have drawn their last four league matches after winning opening matches against Taffs Well and AFC Llwydcoed.

WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

26 September 2005

WELSH League Division Two’s bottom club, Abertillery Excelsiors, produced one of the shocks of the day in the first round of the Shamrock Travel Cup, dumping Division One’s Newport YMCA 2-1.

Excelsiors, yet to win in the league,  weathered an early YM storm to gain a foothold on the match and took the lead after half an hour through Jamie Maher. And they cashed in on a dominant spell to double their lead before the break when Richard Langley fired home.

Disappointed YM, as expected, staged a second-half fightback but found it hard to get any joy against the Abertillery centre back pairing of Simon Lewis and Ryan Durham. But they did get a goal back from the spot with 15 minutes remaining to set up a nervy finish, although Jason Morgan’s men were able to hold on.

“I don’t think that many people expected us to progress,” said secretary Keith Williams. “But our league position does not really reflect the way we have been playing.

“Hopefully this win will be the springboard for us for the rest of the season.”

It was a similar story between Division Two side Croesyceiliog and Division One’s Caerleon as Croesy ran out 1-0 winners. 

Jodie Jenkins had an eventful afternoon, grabbing the goal and also being sent off in the second half for two bookable offences. But Croesy remained dominant even with ten men and comfortably sealed the win, and they will be hoping for a home tie in the next round – they haven’t lost on home turf for more than two seasons.

“It was a bit of a scrappy match but we are glad to get through,” said joint manager Chris Evans. “We played well, even with ten men, and could have had a few more.”

League new boys Cwmbran Celtic went out, though, going down with a fight 2-1 to Division Three leaders Cambrian and Clydach.

And there was heartache for Division Three side Risca as they took Division One’s Llwydcoed to penalty kicks after the sides couldn’t produce a goal in 90 minutes or in extra time. They eventually lost 3-1 in the shoot-out.

Caldicot’s impressive start to the season continued as they cruised into round two with a 5-1 demolition of Tredegar Town. Jason Pritchard’s side are banging in goals from all over the pitch, and central midfielder David Lloyd grabbed another two on Saturday.

That’s six goals from seven games for Lloyd, who only netted twice all last term. Lee Andrews was also on target, along with Gareth Culimore and Jason Thorne.

Caldicot will be hoping to keep the good form up next weekend when they host Premier side Cwmbran in the Welsh Cup.

Division Three’s Goytre faced a tough test against Pontardawe from the top division, and they went down 3-0.

There were other cup upsets elsewhere, with Division Two’s Troedyrhiw dumping Division One high-flyers Bryntirion 2-0 and Dinas Powys were thumped 4-1 at Ton Pentre.

Ammanford, Bettws, Blaenrhondda, Chepstow Town, Goytre United, Llanwern, Pentwyn Dynamo, Taffs Well, Treowen, and West End all had byes into round two.
 

WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

19 September 2005

NEWPORT YMCA drew a competitive Macron Welsh League Division One game at home to Neath Athletic on Saturday, conceding an equaliser in injury time.

YMCA went ahead near half-time through Farif Yafai, who scored from a corner after the ball rebounded.

YM missed some good chances early in the second half and then lost substitute striker Danny Cueto, who was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

Neath then pressed hard for the equaliser, which they got in injury time after the first effort struck the bar.

Caerleon fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Bettws, conceding the first goal five minutes from half-time and the second 15 minutes into the second half with a goal on the break.

Caerleon had a header cleared off the line, but Lee Morgan, signed last week from Port Talbot, was denied with two half-chances.

Croesyceiliog continue to set the pace in Division Two after their 2-1 win at Morriston Town, who were unbeaten at home, and Croesy had a few players missing. But they readjusted and are now three points ahead of Troedyrhiw. They went ahead with a goal by Jody Jenkins, an individual effort, and should have been more than one ahead at the interval. They paid the price when Morriston equalised from a free kick which took a deflection, but Creosy got the winner through Murana Waite with 15 minutes left.

Caldicot and Pontypridd Town, on the same number of points in third and fourth places, respectively, shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw, while Tredegar Town, joint bottom of the table, lost 3-0 at Ammanford.

Tredegar were a goal down at half-time, which could have been worse, and failed to convert a few chances in the second half and they conceded two more goals.

In Division Three Gwent rivals Goytre and Llanwern drew 1-1, Llanwern feeling they should have come away with the points after dominating the first 35 minutes.

They went ahead after 20 minutes when Richard Shire scored from a corner after missing two chances, but Goytre scored in first-half injury time when Mark Langford lobbed the ’keeper. Llanwern claimed it was offside, but at least they remain unbeaten.

Cwmbran Celtic earned a point at AFC Porth with a 2-2 draw, but Risca United were pipped 3-2 at Blaenrhondda. 

Celtic went a goal up after half an hour through Michael Archer after a good run and fine cross by Alex Pritchard, Archer heading home. That was how it stayed until eight minutes from the end, when Porth scored twice in a minute, both good goals, but in the last minute Niki Villars played a good one-two with fellow sub Daniel Rosser and scored off the near post for a deserved equaliser.

Bottom team Treowen were beaten 1-0 at home by Llantwit Fardre.