The Youth began their season with a hard fought win over a spirited Briton Ferry side. Morgan Freeman opened the scoring in the 8th minute when he tapped the ball into an empty net from a couple of yards. The Ferry equalised on 13 minutes with a shot that bounced in front of the diving Jack Davies who was making his debut. On 17 minutes the Ferry went 2-1 up only for Toby Link-Jones to equalise from a free kick three minutes later. Both sides were trying to play football in the torrential rain and the Ferry again went ahead on the half hour a lead they held until half time.

Noah Daley cut inside and set up Morgan Freeman who shot from just inside the area to level the scores again on 49 minutes. Lido started getting on top as the half progressed and the Ferry keeper made a fine save from Morgan Freeman on 65 minutes. A minute later Noah Daley drove into the penalty area again and the keeper did well to turn his shot away for a corner. The Lido took the lead on 78 minutes when a 25 yard shot from Jay Thomas hit the inside of the post before nestling in the back of the net. On the second half performance it was a deserved lead. With 3 minutes to go a Jay Thomas free kick bounced awkwardly in front of the keeper and he was unable to gather the ball. Morgan Freeman reacted quickest and he guided the ball into the net from a couple of yards to complete his hat trick. Finally three minutes into added time Noah Daley got the goal he has been striving for when he cut in from the left and slotted the ball past the keeper.

A 3-2 win for the Reserves the first of the season at Garden Village. They led 3-0 until the 78th minute and Garden Village pulled a second goal back with two minutes to go. From somewhere the referee added 8 minutes on but despite late pressure we held on for the win.

We had a great start we were two up inside 11 minutes, the ref we thought played a great advantage for the first but as the game wore on it was obvious we weren’t getting many decisions so it wasn’t really an advantage. The ball fell to Adam Llewellyn just inside the box and his shot gave the keeper no chance. The second on 11 minutes followed an excellent build up involving several players and Adam Llewellyn this time on the left side curled a shot inside the far post, again giving the keeper no chance. Garden Village must have had a record number of free kicks in this game as every time one of them went down they got a free kick. They also had a penalty on 21 minutes when a forward backed into our defender went down and was awarded a penalty. Gareth Couch diving to his right however brought off a terrific save. On the half hour following a Lido corner Village broke quickly won yet another free kick which was headed against Gareth Couch and  a Village player hit the rebound over the bar from a couple of yards. Morgan Freeman could have made it  3-0 on 35 minutes when he picked up a clearance beat several players drew the keeper and shot but the keeper saved it.

We should have had a penalty on 48 minutes, firstly Morgan Gardner was pushed in the back but stayed on his feet, then he was hacked down amazingly it drew no reaction from the referee. Morgan Freeman did make it 3-0 on 53 minutes when he latched on to a clearance, sped away from the defence and lobbed the keeper from 25 yards. Village then had many free kicks but were unable to make them count but on 78 minutes one of their subs went on a run beating several defenders, drew Gareth Couch and slotted it past him. Spurred on by this they poured forward looking for a second but generally the defence held firm. Morgan Freeman had a chance to finish off the game but shot at the keeper then with two minutes to go the Village pressure finally told and they pulled back a second. In the fifth minute of added time Morgan Freeman shot inches wide but we finished the game keeping the ball in the Village half to ensure a first win.

It could only happen on Friday the 13th!  Our bus was involved in an accident so we had to travel by car to Haverfordwest. We started ok with an early attack which the Haverfordwest defence cleared. Then for a period of time they held the ball and knocked it around but they didn’t make any inroads on our goal. They took the lead on 17 minutes when an attack down the right saw the ball crossed in and headed against the crossbar, their player reacted quickest and scored with a close range shot. On 22 minutes Noah Daley had a shot blocked and Haverfordwest broke quickly but the shot went straight to Steve Cann. Alex Gammond headed a corner wide on the half hour, to this point it was our best chance. Haverfordwest went two up on 35 minutes, they played the ball down their left and Steve Cann raced out of the area but a Haverfordwest player got to it first and crossed the ball into the goalmouth where it was put into the net. Jack Hurley was unlucky with a shot from the edge of the area which went inches wide. But we reduced the arrears on 39 minutes from a corner. It was met perfectly by Alex Gammond and his header gave the defence no chance of clearing. On the stroke of half time we had a chance to draw level from a free kick 25 yards out in a central position but Alex Gammond’s free kick went over the crossbar.

From the restart we attacked and Jack Hurley shot at the keeper. Steve Cann again came out of the area and failed to clear the ball, this time however the shot went wide. Kaid Mohamed tried his luck with a long range effort which forced a good save by Steve Hall in goal. We went 3-1 down on 55 minutes, Haverfordwest attacked down our left where there was a huge space they took the ball into the area but the shot was blocked, however it fell kindly to one of the midfield players who was following up and he sent an unstoppable shot into the net. Again Haverfordwest attacked down their right where there was oceans of space but this time we managed to clear the danger. Jack Hurley then won the ball in midfield and found Kaid Mohamed he made ground and passed to Brad Flay but his shot went wide. Haverfordwest’s fourth goal came following a Lido free kick. We pushed forward looking to get back into then game but the kick was cleared and a long ball forward found us wanting at the back and they scored to settle the result. Kaid Mohamed’s luck was out as a header beat Steve Hall in goal but he instinctively stuck out a hand to make the save. The fifth was scored in similar fashion a couple of minutes from time. A result to reflect on, Haverfordwest on the night played very well but we need to respond to this and get ourselves up the table.

Kaid Mohamed scored in the 94th minute to give us the three points. Both sides missed several good opportunities before Kaid’s shot gave the keeper no chance.

We won an early corner following a good run by Ben Symons, the cross was headed on but the Llantwit keeper saved. A sweeping move down the left saw Sacha Walters cross the ball in for Kaid Mohamed but he directed his header the wrong side of the post. Llantwit responded with an attack of their own but the forward’s shot went over the bar. Llantwit were awarded a free kick which we cleared for a throw. We then cleared the throw but a midfield player picked up the ball 25 yards out and shot first time but again it was over the bar. We went behind on 17 minutes, we lost the ball when attacking down the right and Llantwit moved the ball quickly to set up and take the scoring chance. Ben Symons was again doing well on the right making 40 yards before being crowded out by a couple of defenders. Steve Morris was booked for a nothing challenge, the ref saying it was the number of fouls he had committed. On the half hour following a Llantwit free kick they should have doubled their lead but could only direct their header at Steve Cann. After 38 minutes a Lido free kick was punched away by the keeper and a Kaid Mohammed shot was blocked and cleared. Just before the interval Llantwit again wasted an opportunity somehow twice hitting Steve Cann in goal, the second time he crucially held on to the ball. Right on half time a Ben Symons cross was narrowly headed wide by Kaid Mohamed.

We took the game to Llantwit in the early stages of the second half and they persisted in keeping 10 men behind the ball in an effort to protect their lead. We had an early chance to draw level when Kaid Mohamed headed a Ben Symons free kick on to Alex Gammond but he couldn’t keep his shot down and it went out for a goal kick. The referee called back Llantwit for a free kick not allowing advantage. Luckily for him the shot that went in as he blew the whistle hit the post rather than the back of the net! The resultant free kick was cleared. Just before the hour a good turn and run by Noah Daley set up a chance for Sean Hanbury but he shot over the bar. We continued to put pressure on the home team and finally after 67 minutes it paid off. Sacha Walters drove into the home penalty area and was tripped, Kaid Mohamed netted the resultant penalty. From the kick off Llantwit went into our box and somehow missed an open goal. Kaid Mohammed was fouled 25 yards out in a central position but Sean Hanbury’s strike went just over the bar. Kaid Mohamed headed clear a Llantwit corner which then saw Lido break quickly winning a corner. Somehow Alex Gammond failed to hit the target with his header from a couple of yards. With 2 minutes to go Jack Hurley played the ball wide to Noah Daley just inside the box, his shot hit a defender and then the crossbar before being cleared. Llantwit then attacked and again from only a couple of yards the ball was headed wide of an open goal. In the fourth minute of added time we finally scored the winner, Noah Daley in the area back heeled the ball into the path of Kaid Mohamed and he drilled the ball past the keeper to send the Lido supporters wild with excitement.