We recovered from the shock of conceding an early goal to win 3-1 with all the goals coming in the first half. With Steve Cann still injured Gareth Couch continued in goal.

We went behind after 3 minutes, an attack down the Monmouth right saw the ball crossed in low for Sam Oxley to turn it in from close range. The pace and movement of the Monmouth forward line was causing us problems early on. While not out of the game we were struggling to find an end product in front of goal, Kaid Mohamed picked up a loose ball and drove at the Monmouth goal but with only the keeper to beat he shot straight at him. That however stirred us into action and Noah Daley had a powerful shot tipped over for a corner with Lewis Holmes heading wide amid calls for a hand ball by the Monmouth defence. Kaid Mohamed was again in on goal but the keeper tipped his shot away for a corner, Sacha Walters beat a couple of defenders but could only shoot at the keeper. With pressure building on the visitor’s defence we drew level, Noah Daley beat his marker and shot, the ball hit the post and rebounded to Sacha Walters who made no mistake from close range. We won the ball from the restart, Noah Daley again went down the left, crossed the ball into the area but no-one could turn it in to the net. Ben Symons played a great ball wide to Noah Daley, again he easily beat his marker, his shot hit the post and rebounded to the keeper. With 5 minutes to half time we could have gone behind, we over played it at the back, lost possession but Gareth Couch made a fine save. We were guilty of this a couple of times before the interval but each time Couchie saved us. He made a terrific double save when the odds were on a Monmouth goal, we played the ball forward and Liam McCreesh played the ball in for Noah Daley to score. So, from looking at a 2-1 down less than a minute later we were 2-1. Just to make it worse for Monmouth Brad Flay scored his first goal for the club to make it 3-1 at the interval.

There was a quiet start to the second half but Gareth Couch again saved on 51 minutes. On 64 Minutes Monmouth cleared a Lido corner and broke quickly but once again Gareth Couch foiled the visitor’s attack. They now dominated possession for a period of time but failed to hit the target with any meaningful shots. With 15 minutes to go Kaid Mohamed played a square ball for Sacha Walters but his shot went over the bar. Monmouth responded with an attack but again shot over the bar. Noah Daley beat his marker and played a low ball across the box for Bradley Flay who got a touch with the goal at his mercy but the ball was cleared. Patrick Finneral played the ball wide for Kaid Mohamed who also crossed the into the 6 yard area, this time Liam McCreesh failed to turn the ball into the net. In added on time Kaid Mohamed went in on goal, rounded the keeper but was tackled deep in the area with the referee waving away appeals for a penalty. A good cup tie played in a good spirit with Monmouth by no means overawed.

Lack of fire power on both sides ensured a low scoring draw. Kaid Mohamed returned to the side after his holiday but he started on the bench while Gareth Couch deputised for the injured Steve Cann.

Neither side could gain the initiative and on 12 minutes Liam McCreesh played the ball wide for Sacha Walters who won a corner on the right. Noah Daley couldn’t get over the cross and only succeeded in heading over the bar. Celtic responded with a through ball for full back Richard Crees but Gareth Couch was out to claim the ball just ahead of him. Kieran Parsons and Sacha Walters combined to set up a shooting chance for Parsons but his shot from 12 yards was held by Scott James in the Celtic goal. Celtic attacked again but Zach Osborne could only head a cross over the bar. Lido lost possession from their free kick Alex Gammond got back to pass it back to Gareth Couch but he under hit it, luckily Couch managed to clear the danger. Further Celtic pressure resulted in a shot going over the bar from the edge of the box. Sacha Walters went on a good run beating a couple of defenders who had both tried to foul him with the ref playing advantage. However, Sacha then fouled when in a promising position and the chance was lost. Some sloppy defending by the Lido saw Louis Feeley in on goal but his shot was wells saved by Gareth Couch. Then virtually on half time Celtic took the lead, another long ball saw Gareth Couch come out to the edge of the area with no obvious danger about. Somehow, he dropped the ball at the feet of Chris Ham who gratefully shoots into the empty net.

Kaid Mohamed replaced the injured Kieran Parsons for the start of the second half and he was immediately in the action combining with Brad Flay and winning a corner which we headed wide. In the early stages of the second half Lido were playing some good football but couldn’t find a killer touch in the area. Too often crosses or through balls found the opposition rather than a red jersey. Then on the hour a through ball saw Kaid Mohamed run on to it and from inside the box scored with the ball going in off the post. A couple of minutes later Mohamed is again in on goal but his shot sees James dive to his right to turn the ball behind for a corner. The corner taken short saw Sacha Walters shoot, again forcing a save from James. The third corner however was too close to the keeper and he had no problem collecting the cross to relieve the pressure. As the half wore on it became more scrappy with numerous free kicks spoiling the flow of the play. One free kick from 25 yards out in front of goal saw Sacha Walters fire over the crossbar. Sean Hanbury had a shot which hit a defender and rebounded to the keeper and then from a Lido corner Celtic broke at pace. Ben Symons held up the attacker until Lido regathered but Celtic still managed to get a shot away but it went over the bar. Two minutes from time Sacha Walters found Kaid Mohamed he laid the ball off for Liam McCreesh who forced a smart save out of James in goal.

The Youth cup tie against Caldicot Town was won in the first 18 minutes when Jay Thomas netted our fourth goal. Patrick Finneral had opened the scoring with goals in the 10th and 11th minutes with Morgan Freeman adding a third on 13. Caldicot had actually started quite well forcing us into a couple of defensive mistakes but once the goals started flowing there was no doubting the winner. Several chances went begging before on 45 minutes full back Myles Perkins crossed from the left touchline, the Caldicot keeper misjudged it and it sailed into the back of the net for his first goal at this level.

Toby Link-Jones bundled in a corner on 51 minutes to make it 6-0 and Morgan Freeman made it seven with a right footed shot from just inside the area. There were no more goals but we kept a clean sheet and introduced some more players to this level of football.

The Reserves beat Llantwit Major by the only goal of the game scored by Adam Llewellyn for their first home win of the season.

A win against the odds at STM Sports with everyone playing their part in the performance. We had a dreadful start, Steve Cann went down having collected the ball from a corner after 2 minutes and dislocated his shoulder. There was a 25 minute delay while he was being attended to and eventually he was able to walk to a dugout. Gareth Couch took over between the sticks. STM Officials phoned for an ambulance but as it wasn’t deemed life threatening an ambulance wasn’t sent.

When the game restarted Jack Hurley won the ball and played a good through ball for Noah Daley but a defender just beat Noah to the ball and clear the danger. Brad Flay won the ball on the byeline and we played the ball wide to Sean Hanbury but his cross went over the crossbar but there were encouraging signs that the team had settled. STM were awarded a free kick 25 yards out, they took a short one and fired in a shot which Gareth Couch confidently held. STM took the lead on 35 minutes when we were clearing our lines but the ball was not controlled and it was played back into the box. Gareth Couch made the initial save but we couldn’t clear the ball and in the resulting goal mouth scramble an STM player forced the ball over the line. We didn’t deserve to be behind and 5 minutes later we were back on level terms. Following a good build up Sean Hanbury passed the ball forward for Noah Daley wide left. Noah took on his defender and beat him got into the penalty area and shot past the keeper giving him no chance. Sacha Walters then picked up a loose ball and tried a shot which went just wide. Gareth Couch again held a STM free kick and on the stroke of half time Alex Gammond put his body on the line and brilliantly blocked an incoming cross.

STM started the second half looking to regain the lead but could only head a corner over the bar. Sean Hanbury then set up a chance for Noah Daley but his shot was saved by the keeper, Sean then went on a fine 30 yard run got into the box but again the keeper saved his shot. We took the lead on 56 minutes after their keeper had again made a save off Sacha Walters turning the ball behind for a corner. We took the corner short crossed it in low for Sean Hanbury to turn the ball in from 8 yards. Liam McCreesh showed great composure just after the hour when he calmly headed a STM free kick back to Gareth Couch. It just showed the confidence that we were now playing with. Ben Symons having had a few knocks was replaced on 65 minutes by Patrick Finneral with Sacha Walters filling in at full back. STM now had a lot of possession but lacked a finishing touch, some of their finishing left a lot to be desired. On 70 minutes Gareth Couch made another save turning the ball away for a corner which was again headed wide.  Brad Flay was unlucky not to make it 3-1 on 76 minutes, he picked up a loose ball and fired in a great shot but again the STM keeper dived full length to his left to turn the ball away for a corner. The corner found its way to Noah Daley and his shot was tipped onto the crossbar and out for another corner by the keeper. STM again pushed forward looking for an equaliser but they were unable to find a way through the defence with Gareth Couch standing firm. In added time having weathered the STM storm we pushed forward and passed the ball around keeping possession for some time. Eventually Patrick Finneral shot and again the keeper saved only this time Liam McCreesh followed up and turned the ball into the net from a couple of yards with the keeper still on the ground. We comfortably saw out the closing minutes to earn 3 valuable points.