Port Talbot actually started well and created the first chance of the game on 6 minutes. It fell to Adam Llewellyn who hit a volley off a well worked cross but Cirotto got behind it and held the ball.

A minute later the Lido took the lead, Patrick Finneral made inroads down the right and his low cross evaded the home defence and Ioan Evans tucked it into the empty net from a couple of yards.

Lido created another chance on 15 minutes when Jack Underwood shot from just outside the area and though his shot is on target, it was well held by the keeper. Lido were now getting well on top and the chances were flying thick and fast. Jay Thomas tried his luck with a curling shot that narrowly missed the far post. On the half hour Jack Underwood with a pinpoint cross found the head of Jay Thomas and he headed goalwards. The keeper made an excellent save to keep it out and parry it wide.  On 39 minutes Whalley went into the book for Port Talbot for a foul on the edge of the box. Jay Thomas lined up the free kick, he hit the target but the keeper smothered it well. A minute later Lido created another chance as Ioan Evans was released on goal but a pitch bobble beat him and he fired over the bar. The second goal which had been threatening arrived on 44 minutes from the penalty spot. Jay Thomas was fouled by the keeper, he got up and tucked it away.

Lido caught Port Talbot cold at the start of the second half scoring after only 25 seconds. Again, Patrick Finneral crossed low for Jay Thomas to slide it home.  Home keeper Wilson made an exceptional double save from Underwood, firstly pushing away a right footed shot which rebounded back onto the head of Underwood but Wilson collected. Jay Thomas completed his hat trick with a superb shot into the top corner following a throw in on the right. Then on 61 minutes he netted his fourth, a thirty yard shot which squirmed underneath the keeper. Lido made a double substitution after this with Jordan Edwards and Josh Webber replacing Underwood and Finneral. Almost immediately Edwards turned his defender and got his shot away but Wilson again did well to keep it out. Ioan Evans then won a header and it rattled the crossbar before Wilson collected. Wilson was again in action as Edwards raced clear and took a shot at goal which Wilson tipped over the bar. On 75 minutes Port Talbot changed keepers and within a minute Jordan Edwards met a cross with his head and tucked it away. Ioan Evans broke free and took a shot at goal which Hopkins parried clear into the path of Edwards but his follow up shot was blocked. Lido continued attacking and Edwards was clear on goal and released a shot away which Hopkins was forced to parry wide.

Lido should have been ahead in the first minute when Jay Thomas released Jordan Edwards with a long ball. He bore down on goal and was one on one with the keeper but he shot wide. That was a chance to settle some early nerves. However, we didn’t have to wait long for the opener, Josh Webber was through on goal and lifted his shot over the keeper into the empty net on 5 minutes to give the Lido a deserved lead. Jay Thomas was unlucky, he turned and shot from distance and he just missed the near post. Lido are completely dominating this game so far, creating all of the chances and keeping any Undy attack subdued. On 26 minutes Lido deservedly went two up, a short free kick was played to Jay Thomas who chipped the keeper from the edge of the box for his first league goal. Typically, two minutes later Undy reduced the arrears, Sam Thomas tucking it away from close range. Undy brightened up after the goal and started to regain territory in the Lido half. It was turning into a more open game. Lido restored their two goal advantage in the forty first minute, it followed a period of possession down the left and the ball was fed into the near post where Jordan Edwards met the cross and despite being under some heavy pressure, he poked home from close range. Just before the interval Ben Keen was unlucky when his free kick deflected just wide.

Undy were fired up in the early stages of the second half and were helped by a penalty in the 49th minute. Keeper Louie Cirotto claimed the ball but a defender was adjudged to have pushed an Undy striker. This fired up Undy and they were causing some problems for Lido in the middle of the park but Lido’s wide play continued to trouble the visiting defence. On 61 minutes there was an incredible double save from Cirotto to deny a certain equaliser, firstly from Cullimore with his hands and then secondly with an ankle stop from the rebound. Undy were piling on the pressure now and had a series of corners which troubled the home defence. On 67 minutes Lido made a  double substitution, Ioan Evans and Jack Underwood replaced Josh Webber and Jordan Edwards and the substitution paid off as Ioan Evans played the ball to Jay Thomas who slotted Evans back through and he coolly half volleyed it home to again restore the two goal advantage. Late on Undy pushed forward looking to reduce the deficit  without success. Lido can be thankful for a dominant first half display and add a fourth through Ioan Evans to seal three points in the face of some stern Undy resistance.

Lido conceded an early and late goal to once again end up with a defeat. Lido went behind on 8 minutes following a defensive error which allowed Ricky Kerr to pounce on the ball and he only had  Steffan Rogers to beat to put the visitors ahead. They went close again on 12 minutes when Gavin Jones picked up the ball on half way and with a searing run down the right before unleashing a shot from a tight angle which rippled the side netting. He had plenty of support in the box but thankfully for the Lido he chose the wrong option. As the game developed there were relatively few chances for either side since the goal. Lido were starting to probe but with no breakthrough while Llanelli – and Gavin Jones in particular – look threatening on the break. On the half hour Lido had their first real opportunity, Cai Owens took a free kick but couldn’t keep his shot on target. Llanelli responded with a long range shot from Sam Parsons which forced a save from Steffan Rogers. Jay Thomas then tried his luck with a Lido free kick from just outside the box but his effort drifted wide. Thomas then tried a shot which the Llanelli keeper turned behind for a corner.

The first major incident of the second half saw Sam Parsons narrowly missing the target when he tried an audacious shot from way out after spotting Rogers off his line. It was still all to play for but neither side were able to create any clear chances. Then with 13 minutes to go Cai Owens headed in from a corner to level the score. Spurred on by this Lido pushed forward looking for a second and created a few chances but Llanelli defended in numbers protecting their goal. With the game seemingly heading for a draw Kyle Copp was brought down in the area and James Loveridge sent Steffan Rogers the wrong way to restore Llanelli’s lead. Lido pushed forward in the remaining minutes but Evan Price’s header was easily held by Dimonkene in the Llanelli goal and the visitors saw out the game to win the three points.

This was the first ever meeting of the two sides. Football was suspended on the day we were due to play each other in the 2019-20 season.

Swansea Uni wasted no time in taking the lead, scoring with their first chance of the game in the third minute. Cam Langan nodded a free header past Steffan Rogers with the defence standing watching. The Uni looked dangerous on every attack and on 7 minutes wasted a second chance when the ball bounced to Huddart in the box who unmarked, couldn’t keep his shot down and it flew high and wide. Referee Ben Williams then produced his first yellow card of the game as Jackson Hall went into the book for a challenge. Hyden lined up the free kick from distance and narrowly missed the target with a powerful strike. At last, there was some positive play from Lido as they attempted to wrangle dominance from the visitors with some surging runs, in particular from Jay Thomas. On 20 minutes another good run, this time from Ioan Evans down the right who beat his full back but his shooting angle was narrowed and his shot was collected by Martin. Within a minute there was a good chance for Lido. John Hall swung a cross in from deep which found the head of Jordan Edwards who connected well but directed his header just wide. Edwards was played in on goal but brought down resulting in a yellow for the Uni player and a free kick in a good position. Disappointingly Jay Thomas took the resulting free kick which sailed over the bar. Uni attacked again and missed a great chance from a corner which evaded the entire Lido defence to find Orme crouched at the back post but, with the goal gaping, he could only direct his header wide. They however continue to look dangerous from set pieces. Rogers was forced to punch behind under pressure from the visitors from yet another set piece.

On 41 minutes there was a chance for Lido. Jordan Edwards collected a low cross from Jay Thomas in the box. He turned and laid off to Harrison but he couldn’t keep his shot down and it flew over the crossbar. Lido created another chance before the break when Edwards beat the last man and the offside trap and squeezed a shot on goal which evaded Martin to force a last ditch goal line clearance.

There was an early chance for Lido in the second half as Edwards took a shot at the advancing Martin and forced the keeper to parry behind. It’s been a bit blood and thunder so far, both teams increasing the tempo in search of an opening with Lido having come out looking a lot brighter. Uni are still one up but it’s a close game. However on 59 minutes the Uni doubled their lead, from a free kick Jones had stolen in front of his defender and it took a reaction save from Rogers to keep it out. From the corner, Osario collected a deflected clearance, turned and fired home from the edge of the box.

Minutes later they trebled the advantage when Cam Langan wrong footed his defender and fired home.  Lido then made a double substitution with Lewis Butler and Harry Davies replacing Taylor Evans and Patrick Finneral. The two goal salvo by the Uni has been a sucker punch for Lido who were just starting to edge the second half. Uni now dictated terms as Lido failed to find any space in the visitors half. With just over 10 minutes remaining there was a chance for Toms whose initial shot was cleared but rebounded directly into his path. He couldn’t compose himself quickly enough and the resulting shot was collected easily by Rogers in the Lido goal. Lido didn’t give up and with 5 minutes to go Connor Harris had a half chance as he tried his luck from distance after a series of corners but Martin comfortably held his shot.

We took the lead on 4 minutes following a free kick. It was awarded 35 yards out in a central position and was played wide of the goal to Cai Owens. He headed the ball across the face of the goa. All the Risca players stood allowing the ball to reach John Hall at the far post and he poked it home from a couple of yards on his Lido league debut.

It got even better on 9 minutes, Jay Thomas intercepted possession to play Pat Finneral through on goal. His goalbound shot was parried well by Dibble in the Risca goal  but only into the path of Ioan Evans who drilled his shot home.

Risca created their first chance on 13 minutes as Jordan Thomas teed up a shot from outside the box but he couldn’t find the target and it flew wide

Risca were now getting their game together and getting a foothold in the game with some bright spells of possession in the middle of the park but they couldn’t penetrate the Lido defensive line.

Lido relieved the pressure to win a corner which Cai Owens flicked on but the Risca defence cleared the danger. Back came Risca as Jordan Thomas picked up a long ball out wide, brought it down with his first touch and drilled the ball goalwards but it just missed the far post.

Risca reduced the deficit with a goal on 32 minutes, a long ball over the top of the Lido defence was met by Ryan Wheeler who lobbed the advancing Steffan Rogers.  A minute later and it could have been all square. Leon Thomas was presented with an open goal from distance after a misplaced pass but Rogers scrambled to keep it out. Risca continued to push forward in pursuit of the equaliser and they had another opportunity when Gameson tried a shot from distance with Rogers out of position but he narrowly missed the target. More pressure from Risca saw Jordan Thomas pick the ball up on the edge of the box and take a speculative shot at goal which forced Rogers into a great save low to his left to keep it out. The Cuckoos were well on top and it was no surprise when they equalised.  They took a short corner and changed the angle of the delivery. Lido blocked the cross but in the ensuing scramble Ryan Wheeler poked home from close range. The chances were coming thick and fast for Risca, Taylor Marsh lined up a shot but he couldn’t keep his effort down. Just before the interval Risca hit the post, Wheeler twisted and turned through the Lido defence before unleashing a shot from a tight angle that rattled the woodwork. Lido have done well in the latter stages of the half to go in all square.

Risca came out firing and were camped out in the Lido half. Ben Keen was injured and replaced by Steve Morris on 53 minutes and two minutes later we regained the lead. Ioan Evans pounced on a misplaced back pass, carried the ball forward and from just outside the box fired home past the keeper.

Risca continued probing the Lido defence but so far they held strong.  On 68minutes Leon Thomas got on the right side of the Lido defence and, with the goal gaping, tried to lob the advancing Steffan Rogers and it took a great save to stop the equaliser

We then created a couple of half chances, substitute Jordan Edwards took a shot on goal but he was crowded out by the defence and his shot was collected easily by Dibble, Then another chance for Lido as Jay Thomas picked up a loose clearance from a corner at the back post but he couldn’t keep his shot down and it sailed over the bar. With 10 minutes to go Risca had a goal disallowed, Palmer nodded down into the path of Wheeler after some frenetic defending from Lido. Wheeler drove the ball home but the assistant referee flagged for offside. With 3 minutes to go a deep cross from the left found Arthur Furness at the far post but, unmarked, he couldn’t direct his header and the chance goes wide. There was four minutes of added time and somehow Lido have won, a frenetic half of football, marked by some significant Risca pressure and some resolute Lido defending sees a classic smash and grab.

We went out of the league cup at the first time of asking after missing a number of chances but fell ultimately short with some wasteful defending.

Afan Lido created some early half chances as we started brightly. Cwmbran striker Tom Meechan picked up the loose ball but was brought down in the box, He lined up the spot kick but debutant keeper Louie Cirotto guessed right and parried it clear.  Lido responded well with some concerted pressure on the home defence. Taylor Evans went close with a long range effort but it deflected and rolled comfortably for Cwmbran keeper Larcombe to collect. Cwmbran took the lead on 15 minutes, a low cross was drilled powerfully across goal and was turned home from close range by Lewis Iles at the near post.

On 23 minutes Lido broke well through Samm Harrison following some excellent passing play through the midfield Jay Thomas picked up the ball and drove for goal from outside the box and it took a good save from Larcombe to keep it out. A minute later a great chance for Lido, Jay Thomas spotted the early run of Taylor Evans who bore down on goal but Larcombe spotted the danger and came out to smother well.

Cwmbran Celtic broke quickly from a Lido attack and scored their second. Meechan raced clear of the defence and lofted it over Cirotto to double the home side’s lead. On the half hour there was another chance for Lido as Harris was released free out wide. He tried a shot from distance which was held by Larcombe. On 38 minutes Lido went close again, Jay Thomas released Ross Daniels with a sumptuous through ball on the edge of the box. His low cross was met by Samm Harrison who, with Larcombe bearing down couldn’t guide it home and he narrowly missed the target. Three minutes later Cwmbran netted their third.

Brown intercepted a misplaced pass from out wide. His low cross is guided into the path of Iles who flicked on to Meechan at the far post for him to steer home. Just before half time there was another chance for the Lido after keeper Larcombe scuffed a clearance straight to Jay Thomas who with the keeper off his line, tried a speculative shot from distance which narrowly missed the crossbar

The half time discussion was about a tale of clinical finishing from Cwmbran Celtic and poor defending from Lido. Lido had had their fair share of opportunities but Tom Meechan had put the Lido defence to the sword..

The second half started badly with Taylor Evans going straight into the book for a foul on the halfway line but the side were probing around the home penalty area and forcing a few last ditch clearances. Ioan Evans laid the ball of to Samm Harrison

outside the box but his fizzing shot narrowly missed the far post. We then had a bad 5 minutes with Conor Harris booked for a late challenge and a minute later Jay Thomas for a foul. Worse was to come as Sam Harrison was given a straight red card for a challenge on the edge of the Cwmbran Celtic box. Lido were down to ten men for the remaining 25 minutes. A tall order in the searing temperatures.

Cwmbran Celtic rampaged through the Lido defence, the ball landing up at the feet of Iles who tried to lift the ball over Cirotto in goal  but ended up missing the target from close range. Another booking for Lido Ioan Evans went into the book for a challenge.

Celtic should have made it four on 72 minutes but they hit the crossbar. A deep cross was met by the head of Iles who rattled the bar before the assistant adjudged him to have been offside

Celtic created another good chance with 10 minutes to go, Brown twisted and turned through the Lido defence before unleashing a low shot towards goal which only just missed the far post Just before full time Jay Thomas again went close for Lido, unleashing a shot from distance which beat the keeper but also narrowly evaded the net

 

We lost our final warm up match ahead of the new season when we went down to the only goal of the game against Briton Ferry Llansawel at Llandarcy last night.

It was an encouraging performance with the goal being scored late on. We begin the season on Saturday away to Cwmbran Celtic in the Nathaniel Cars League Cup.