We are the first side to deny Penybont all three points at home this season in what was one of the games of the season. We really should have come away with all 3 points but we gave away 3 sloppy goals. Penybont took the lead in the second minute when our throw in near the half way line was lost and a through ball for Luke Borrelli, one of 4 ex Lido players in their starting line up to run on to and place it wide of Rory McCreesh. We responded well to the early set back and Rhys Wilson in the Bont goal made at least 4 top class saves to deny Mark Jones and Jack Hurley but he was powerless to save Ben Thomas’ header from 10 yards following a Craig Jones free kick on 38 minutes. Kieran Howard was then sent off for second yellow card on the stroke of half time. Two minutes into the second half a great run by Sacha Walters led to him finding Mark Jones in the area, Mark turned to score with a left footed shot. The lead only lasted for 10 minutes when for some reason Rory McCreesh instead of diving on the ball attempted to tackle the Bont forward and conceded a penalty which Luke Borrelli scored. On 65 minutes we regained the lead when Alex Gammond headed in from a corner. Bont pushed forward at every opportunity and equalised with 7 minutes to go. Bont forwards were close to being offside several times and in the move that led to the equaliser there was a suspicion of offside but nothing was given. Despite having numbers back we were unable to get the ball away and it fell to Marcus Griffiths who hammered in the equaliser.
Author: Peter Reynolds
Lights out
Our youth match against Trefelin was abandoned early in the second half due to a floodlight failure. Heavy rain caused the problem and despite the lights coming back on 3 times once they blew again it left the referee no option but to abandon the game.
Haverfordwest continue good run
We were without the suspended midfield players Sacha Walters, Cai Owens and the ill Jack Hurley. The first two goals for Haverfordwest were from set pieces and the second two when their speedy forwards caught us out. Not a lot to shout about in this game and next week we are at top of the table Penybont looking for a response.
Youth draw the derby
A disappointing performance saw us draw 1-1 at Ynys Park. We went behind on 5 minutes when a long ball down the middle caught us out and they went through to score. We had numerous chances to level in the first half but we were unable to take them. Luke Evans with a long range shot equalised 15 minutes into the second half and at the end there was only one side looking for a winner. The best opportunity fell to Noah Daley whose shot a yard either side of the keeper would have won the game. We look to get back on winning ways in the return on Monday week.
Fine debut by Kieran Burridge
A first win at Goytre by an emphatic 4-1 scoreline. Young Kieran Burridge made his first team debut in goal and was impressive making a number of vital saves. The only down side to the result was we had yet another sending off, this time Cai Owens on 50 minutes with the score at 1-1.
Kieran Burridge made an early diving save to boost his confidence then in the fifth minute there was a terrible tackle on Sacha Walters which somehow only resulted in a yellow car. Kieran Burridge then held a header following a Goytre corner and quickly found Sacha Walters who made a fine run before cutting in and shooting but unfortunately it was straight at the keeper. On 14 minutes Craig Jones put an inviting cross into the area and it was headed behind for a corner. Mark Jones slightly off balance at the far post could only shoot over the bar from inside the 6 yard box with the goal gaping. Goytre could have taken the lead on 19 minutes but from a good position the player could only shoot wide. However two minutes later they took the lead when a left wing attack saw the player cut in and from 10 yards gave Kieran Burridge no chance. 3 minutes later it could have been 2-0 as they worked the ball left and Kieran was out quickly to deny the Goytre player blocking his shot. Another good Craig Jones cross saw Cai Owens head wide but two minutes later (31) we were level. We attacked down the right with Craig Jones and Sacha Walters combining well then from another Craig Jones cross Mark Jones was in position to head in the equaliser. Chris Hartland was unlucky on 33 minutes when he received the ball from a James Parry free kick, he turned and shot from the edge of the area but it was straight at the keeper. Sacha Walters then sped down the right, cut in and his shot was just wide of the target. As the half was coming to an end we continued to push forward and won a series of free kicks but we were unable to find a goal that our play deserved.
Goytre started the second half on the front foot and Kieran Burridge was quickly out to punch a dangerous ball away. Then he held a header from a corner before the game changed on 50 minutes, Cai Owens went in to challenge a Goytre player near the half way line and was deemed to have stamped on him and he received a straight red. Compared to the early Goytre challenge it didn’t seem as bad but perhaps the Goytre player got away with it as it was so early in the game. From the resultant free kick which was played deep into our penalty area Kieran Burridge made a great save diving to his let to turn a close range shot around the post. In their next attack, for once Lewis Holmes missed the ball and Kieran was again out to force the Goytre player wide, Jack Hurley, another who was having a good game was back to clear. Then on the hour we appealed for a penalty for hand ball which wasn’t given but we won the ball back and our next shot was again handled and this time the penalty was awarded and Mark Jones put us in front. Almost immediately he could have made it three but he dragged his shot just wide of the post. Despite being a man down we were in control of the game but it nearly changed on 73 minutes when Goytre were awarded a penalty for hand ball. However the spot kick was sent wide of the post with Kieran guessing correctly. 3 minutes later Chris Hartland made it 3-1, he took the ball off a Goytre midfield player 40 yards from goal. He sped towards the Goytre goal with the defence back tracking, once he got to the edge of the area he shot and scored. This completely deflated the home side who ran out of ideas and the icing on the cake came in the 89th minute with Ben Thomas scoring. He doesn’t score many, but this is his second at Goytre. From a Lido free kick in the centre circle the ball was played to Mark Jones he and Chris Hartland then played a 1-2 before Mark played it wide for Ben Thomas who took aim and drilled in a low shot to seal a fine win.
Kieran Burridge 2 Craig Jones 3 James Parry 4 Alex Gammond 5 Lewis Holmes 6 Cai Owens 7 Chris Hartland 8 Jack Hurley 9 Mark Jones 10 Jack Todd 11 Sacha Walters
Subs 12 Noah Daley – 14 Jack Fleming for James Parry 87 – 15 Ben Thomas for Jack Todd 55 – 16 Luke Evans – 17 Gareth Couch
Referee the centre of attention
An excellent first half which we edged by a terrific goal from Jack Hurley had everyone hoping for more of the same in the second half. Unfortunately, a poor performance by the referee which resulted in Liam McCreesh being sent off for two yellow cards in the space of 3 minutes followed by a spate of yellow cards for both sides. Worst of all was the failure to penalise Joe Evans for pulling Mark Jones back just outside the Cambrian area which should have been a red card as he was the last man. To add insult to injury it was Joe Evans who got the equaliser on 67 minutes when everyone he shouldn’t have been on the field.
After the game everyone was talking about the decisions made and how it had spoilt the spectator’s enjoyment of what had been a good top of the table clash which fizzled out into a damp squib as the game wore on. We all have a responsibility to try and make the games attractive and that includes the officials.
The first half was nip and tuck, young Luke Evans showed up well in midfield and forced a good save from Dan Bradley in the Cambrian goal with a free kick from just outside the area. Several times we found Sacha Walters in space down the left but most of his crosses were poor, rarely beating a defender or the keeper. Our goal on 39 minutes was reward for a period of pressure when we had a couple of shots blocked by good defending but the was nothing Cambrian could do when Mark Jones chested the ball into the path of Jack Hurley who shot hard and low past Bradley.
Cambrian started the second half on the front foot and it took us some time to get into the game. Liam McCreesh was booked for a sliding challenge on 54 minutes and the 3 minutes later tangled with a Cambrian player. I thought we were getting the free kick but maybe Liam’s reputation swung the decision and he was off. This changed the complexion of the game but 7 minutes later Mark Jones was clearly fouled and that should have evened things up with us still leading 1-0. However the incident was ignored and Cambrian came back even stronger with Joe Evans equalising when he should have been in the changing rooms. Cambrian went ahead on 75 minutes and we then were awarded a free kick which was played into the box, Lewis Holmes was sent sprawling but again the foul was ignored and a penalty chance for us wasn’t given. With changes being made to try and get back into the game we conceded a third 9 minutes from time but to be honest by then even I had lost interest as it seemed obvious we weren’t going to get from the officials.
Rory McCreesh 2 Craig Jones 3 James Parry 4 Alex Gammond 5 Lewis Holmes 6 Luke Evans 7 Liam McCreesh – 8 Jack Hurley 9 Mark Jones 10 Chris Hartland 11 Sacha Walters
Subs 12 Jack Todd for Sacha Walters 77 – 14 Noah Daley for Chris Hartland 69 – 15 Jack Underwood for Luke Evans 84 – 16 Jack Fleming – 17 Lewis Clement
Derby win for the youth
The youth beat Port Talbot 5-1 in last night’s game. We went behind on 14 minutes before Morgan Freeman equalised on 26 minutes. Noah Daley gave us the lead on 44 minutes slotting the ball past the keeper after a 30 yard run. Luke Evans made it 3-1 from a free kick on 62 minutes then Noah Daley headed in a Jack Fleming corner 66 minutes for his second of the game. Luke Evans made it 5 with his second on 83 minutes to complete an outstanding display.