This was our best performance of the season and our biggest win. From the second minute free kick by Chris Jones to the final whistle we gave an assured performance and were clearly the better side. We took the lead in the second minute, Chris Jones with a 25 yard free kick lacked power but it completely deceived the Celtic keeper, hit the post and went in. Ben Keen should have made it 2-0 on 4 minutes when following a corner his left footed shot hit the crossbar. Celtic had a half chance on 14 minutes when they picked up a loose ball and crossed the ball to the far post but their attacker was unable to make contact. We went two up on 16 minutes, Liam Griffiths played the ball forward for Sean Hanbury on the left side of the area, he swivelled and shot over the keeper and into the net. Chris Jones made it 3-0 on 25 minutes from another free kick from a similar position to his first. This time he drove the ball hard and low past the wall and just inside the post. On 35 minutes Ioan Evans who was enjoying plenty of the ball and had the beating of his defender crossed the ball for Liam Griffiths but his header hit the crossbar and went out for a goal kick. Celtic’s only chance of getting back into the game was to score an early goal in the second half. They had an opportunity on 51 minutes when they shot from the penalty spot area only for Aaron Jones to make a fine save. We sealed the result on 57 minutes following a foul on Liam Griffiths. Chris Jones pinpoint free kick was nodded in by Liam from a couple of yards. He almost scored again on 67 minutes only for the keeper to make a fine diving save. Carlos Indjai netted his first goal since returning following a corner on 74 minutes. A corner was played short and then back to Chris Jones and one again his cross made it easy for Carlos to score. We used all five subs but we still had virtually total control for a vital three points.

The Ladies team beat Coed Duon 3-1 at the Marstons Stadium this afternoon. They went behind on 7 minutes and just before the interval Bryanna Demery missed a penalty. Georgia Thorne scored straight after half time, Megan Jones scored on 74 minutes to put them ahead and Zoe Parfitt secured the three points with a goal on 84 minutes

On a bitterly cold night the game ended at one a piece with two superb strikes for the goals. Lido had the first opportunity on 6 minutes when Sean Hanbury took a free kick from distance and forced keeper Cameron Clarke into a great save parrying the ball clear. It wasn’t long before Lido took the lead and what a goal it was from Chris Jones who picked up the ball from distance and fired a bullet into the bottom corner. On 25 minutes following a long throw in from the right Carlos Indjai hit the crossbar with an overhead kick. Lido continued to search for a second goal and on 33 minutes a Sean Hanbury cross found the head of Liam Griffiths but he couldn’t get the contact right and Clarke in goal collected. Approaching half time Cambrian pushed forward in search of the equaliser and Liam Reed cut inside and took a shot from distance but Aaron Jones clawed it comfortably away from danger

An early second half chance for Cambrian as Prosser met a deep free kick but again Aaron Jones got his body behind the ball to smother it. Cambrian eventually found an equaliser on 69 minutes as the Lido defence sat back and watched as Cameron Keetch picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired home. Approaching the last ten minutes neither side was creating any opportunities of note. With 5 minutes to go Lido had a chance to win it following a defensive error. Ioan Evans was released clear on goal but his shot was well saved by Cameron Clarke. Liam Griffiths picked up the rebound and lined up a shot but was challenged in the process and went down. Referee Nemes waved away Lido appeals for a penalty and the game petered out with the sides sharing the spoils.

The Reserves beat league leaders Carmarthen Town 3-1 last night to go to the top of the table. They went behind on 9 minutes when they failed to clear a free kick. For the rest of the first half they enjoyed a lot of possession but couldn’t find an equaliser. Cameron Harris with a clever header equalised on 56 minutes from a right wing cross by Sam Baker. They continued to push forward but were unable to find another breakthrough until Michael McCalmon fired home on 69 minutes for his ninth goal of the season. Taylor Evans made the game safe on 86 minutes with a shot which went in off the post. No game now until February 12th when they visit Llanelli Town.

The women’s team defeated Cardiff Bluebells 13-0 in a league cup tie this afternoon. Zoe Parfitt with 5 goals led the way followed by Bryanna Demery with 4. Georgia Thorne with 2, Catherine Jones and Lowri Wareham completed the scoring.

The Reserves included several new signings for their derby match at Port Talbot. Lido took the lead on 4 minutes when Toby Link-Jones got on the end of a free kick to head in and he doubled the lead on 23 minutes when another free kick was headed across the face of the goal for Toby to head in from close range. Michael McCalmon extended the lead on 31 minutes following a right wing attack. The ball was squared into the area and Michael had the easy task of slotting the ball in. Luke McDonald made it 4-0 on 35 minutes when he picked up a long clearance from Gareth Couch wide left, he cut in and fired into an empty net. In added time another right wing attack saw Michael McCalmon draw the keeper and square the ball for Cameron Harris to sidefoot into the empty net.

Port Talbot were awarded a penalty in the 50^th minute but once again Gareth Couch guessed correctly and saved it. Lido went down the other end and Luke McDonald created space in the area but from 15 yards blazed the ball over the bar. The sixth goal wasn’t long in coming and it was a hat trick goal for Toby Link-Jones. A couple of Lido corners were cleared before the ball was played wide right. The ball was crossed beyond the far post for Elis Newport to head back to Toby Link-Jones to score. Port Talbot then created a series of attacks but Gareth Couch made several excellent saves before being beaten on 67 minutes. Highlight of the closing minutes was the return of Ethan Frankland for his first outing for quite some time, it was nice to see him back on the pitch.

A last gasp equaliser by Goytre United saw the points shared. Lido started well and created the first chance on 8 minutes as a clearance out wide ricocheted off the pressing Ioan Evans and beat the keeper but also evaded the far post. Lido had a goal disallowed on 12 minutes, a brilliant cross from out wide was met by the head of Liam Griffiths and looped into the top corner only to get ruled out for an adjudged push in the box by the Lido forward. This was turning into a typical derby affair with neither side giving much, forcing a battle in the middle of the park but Lido had created the chances so far. Goytre finally settled into the game and tried to get their eye in with a flurry of half chances from distance. On 20 minutes some concerted pressure from Lido saw Indjai and Griffiths win their aerial battles in the box, the ball eventually fell to Hanbury on the edge who placed a shot into the hands of Coughlan

On the half hour there was a chance for Goytre as a long ball found Thomas on his own in space. He teed up the shot and forced a great close range save from Jones in the Lido goal. Minutes later Lido cleared the ball off the line, Goytre forced a breakaway down the left. The ball was fed inside to Thomas who shot for goal and his effort escaped Jones but was cleared off the line by Conor Harris.  Lido took the lead on 40 minutes, Conor Harris cut inside, took the ball into the box at the edge of the area out wide and fired into the far corner.

Disappointingly from a Lido perspective Goytre equalised with their first chance of the second half, a defensive error allowed a counter attack which landed at the feet of Thomas to volley home. Around the hour mark Lido started to reassert their authority on the game regaining a swathe of territory in the Goytre half but were unable to capitalise following some surging runs from Ioan Evans. Liam Griffiths was unlucky on 64 minutes when he met a Conor Harris cross from deep but he directed his header narrowly wide

Lido regained the lead on 77 minutes and again Connor Harris was involved. His cross evaded the Goytre defence and Liam Griffiths nodded in. Four minutes later Ioan Evans was unlucky he twisted and turned in the box and took a shot at goal which Coughlan deflected onto the bar with a fingertip save from point blank range.  Lido again almost extended their lead on 87 minutes when Liam Griffiths played Harry Davies in on goal with a sumptuous through ball and it took a great block from Coughlan to keep it out That proved costly as well into added time Goytre equalised, a misplaced defensive header was seized on and a cross landed at the feet of Cronin to fire home.