16-year-old Noah Daley grabbed the headlines with his two goals and all round play but fellow youngsters, Jack Hurley, Callum Lewis, Taylor Evans and Jamie Karnsang all impressed, certainly in the second half. For our first goal Noah closed down Dan Bradley in the Cambrian goal and he only succeeded in passing the ball to Jack Hurley. Jack drove into the penalty area showed great awareness by squaring the ball back to Noah for him to shoot into the empty net. The second goal was all about Noah as he  received a throw in on the left side 30 yards from goal. He turned beat the defender and sped into the penalty area. He drew the keeper and slid it past him into the far side of the goal for a superb second.

Owen Williams dropped back to right back and Cai Owens returned and there was a first league start for Callum Lewis at left back. Cambrian carved out the first chance of the afternoon on 6 minutes when they played the ball across the face of the goal but none of their strikers had gambled so the chance was lost. Midway through the first half saw our best move involving several players with Jack Hurley playing it wide for Noah Daley but he hadn’t anticipated the pass and the move broke down just outside the Cambrian area. On 25 minutes we were almost caught out by a through ball but Craig Jones managed to slow the attacker down and we cleared from inside our area. Noah Daley then ran 60 yards down the right, he crossed the ball in to the near post but Cai Owens was unable to turn it in. We were now putting some nice moves together and Noah Daley and Jack Hurley set up a chance for Liam McCreesh but his shot from the edge of the area went over the bar. From the goal kick Noah Daley won the ball crossed the ball to Cai Owens at the far post but Cai’s header went just wide. Play in the final stages swung from end to end with the defences generally on top.

Teenager Jamie Karnsang replaced the injured Liam McCreesh for the second half and Cambrian started the second half the better of the sides. Lewis Holmes did well to clear after we played ourselves into trouble then Cambrian hit the crossbar with a close range shot. We soon settled and we played Sacha Walters in on the left but from a good position he shot over the bar. On 56 minutes Cambrian from only a couple of yards forced a good save off Rory McCreesh, the ball rebounded to another Cambrian player who shot against the post, another rebound fell to us and we cleared the danger. We went behind on the hour, Craig Jones was off the field after being injured in the previous incident. We had won a corner but couldn’t create a chance, the ball was cleared and Cambrian took advantage of the extra man to score. From the kick off Jack Hurley played the ball to Jamie Karnsang who tried his luck from 30 yards, the ball going just wide. Taylor Evans now replaced Sacha Walters to give us three teenagers in midfield. It looked as though Taylor Evans was going to level matters on 68 minutes, he received the ball inside the area but his shot hit the inside of the post and came back out. Three minutes later we were level, Noah Daley closed down Dan Bradley in the Cambrian goal and his clearance went straight to Jack Hurley, Jack got in the area, drew a couple of players and squared it for Noah to sweep the ball home for his first senior goal. On 76 minutes some great passing and movement by us saw the ball played wide right for Taylor Evans, he beat his defender and his cross was headed over the bar by Cai Owens. Cambrian’s defence now was being carved open almost at will and Jack Hurley’s 25 free kick was on target but saved by Bradley. On 81 minutes we scored what proved to be the winner. Noah Daley received the ball from a throw, turned his man raced into the penalty area and calmly slotted it past Bradley. With 5 minutes to go Jack Hurley set up a shooting chance for Cai Owens but the keeper got behind it to save. Just short of the 90 minutes Cambrian won a series of corners which we defended well before winning a free kick. Well into added on time Jamie Karnsang and Noah Daley combined to keep the ball in the Cambrian corner before the final whistle sounded on an excellent win inspired by the youngsters in the team

Lido side

Rory McCreesh  2 Owen Williams  3 Callum Lewis  4 Craig Jones  5 Lewis Holmes  6 Josh Doyle  7 Liam McCreesh  8 Cai Owens  9 Noah Daley  10 Jack Hurley  11 Sacha Walters

Subs  12 Kieran Parsons  14 Taylor Evans for Sacha Walters 64  15 Morgan Freeman  16 Jamie Karnsang for Liam McCreesh 46  GK Gareth Couch

We bowed out of the Welsh Premier League Cup at the first time of asking at Goytre United. In some ways a much better performance than Saturday, we moved the ball a lot quicker and we were unlucky on several occasions not to score.  Goytre took the lead on 5 minutes when a through ball beat our defence allowing a striker in on goal and he made no mistake. Noah Daley was unlucky on 10 minutes when he was played clear and from the edge of the area he lobbed the keeper only for the ball to hit the crossbar and go out for a goal kick. On 14 minutes we were awarded a free kick wide left, not for the first time this season and on more than one occasion tonight we failed to beat the first man! We built up a series of attacks and Taylor Evans was unlucky after picking up a loose ball he shot from 30 yards but the ball went just wide. Luke Evans then forced the Goytre keeper into a diving save. Goytre attacked down their left and somehow failed to convert an inviting cross, the ball going out for a corner.  We cleared it but Goytre then attacked down the right and from a couple of yards shot over the bar. Goytre doubled their lead on 43 minutes, they had a throw on the left near half way and several of our players switched off, the ball was played down the left and Luke Evans was adjudged to have handled the cross giving Goytre a penalty.

Noah Daley again was denied by a fine save by the Goytre keeper and on 67 minutes Goytre made the game safe when a low cross was turned in from a couple of yards. We continued to look for some consolation out of the game and Jack Hurley had a shot saved and then following a good build up Noah Daley was in on goal but shot over the bar. On 82 minutes we were awarded a penalty which Liam McCreesh netted for his third goal of the season. We were unable to put further pressure on Goytre and they now move into round 2.

Lido side

Rory McCreesh  2 Luke Evans  3 Jack Fleming  4 Craig Jones  5 Lewis Holmes  6 Josh Doyle  7 Liam McCreesh  8 Taylor Evans  9 Noah Daley  10 Jack Hurley  11 Sacha Walters

Subs  12 Owen Williams for Jack Fleming 46  14 Jamie Karnsang  15 Jack Underwood for Taylor Evans 57  16 Callum Lewis  17 Morgan Freeman  GK Gareth Couch

We progressed to round 2 of the league cup with late goals from Liam McCreesh and a first senior goal for Jamie Karnsang. We had the bulk of possession but most of it was in defence or midfield with Trethomas content to sit back and try and catch us on the break. If they had their shooting boots on they could in fact have been out of sight before we took the lead. Several relatively easy chances were missed coming back to haunt them at the end. We were without Sacha Walters and the injured Cai Owens with Callum Lewis making a first start.

We had an early warning when in the third minute a long ball from the Trethomas keeper went over everyone allowing a striker in on goal but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. After a period of Lido possession Liam McCreesh chipped the ball into the area but the keeper was out to gather just ahead of our attackers. Jack Fleming beat a couple of defenders going down the left, Liam McCreesh met his cross cut inside but turned his shot wide. Trethomas took the lead on 15 minutes when Liam McCreesh in trying a first time pass forward only succeeded in playing it straight to Tom Neville the Trethomas 10, he had a clear run in on goal, drew Rory McCreesh out and shot across him into the net. Trethomas were now more than happy to defend in depth allowing us all the possession but our play was slow making it easy for them to close any gaps that we might have created. Finally, on 29 minutes we picked up the pace and Liam McCreesh had a shot blocked, the ball rebounded to him and he placed his shot giving the keeper no chance. Minutes later McCreesh again cut in and shot but the keeper saved at his near post. Trethomas should have retaken the lead on 38 minutes when following a long throw the striker only had Rory McCreesh to beat but shot straight at him then with no defenders reacting to the danger somehow he headed the rebound over the bar.

Liam McCreesh sent a 47th minute free kick just over the bar as we started the second half at a quicker pace. Following a Lido free kick for an offside the ball was played to Jack Hurley, he played a 1-2 and went into the box and appeared to be fouled but the referee waved our protests away. On 55 minutes Trethomas broke and had a 1 on 1 with Rory McCreesh, Rory came out to narrow the angle and the forward took an early shot but only managed to hit Rory with the ball going for a corner. We cleared the corner but some poor defending allowed a Trethomas player into the area but although well placed he shot wide. Into the last 20 minutes and a Jack Hurley corner flashed across the face of the goal with no-one getting a touch. We finally took the lead on 82 minutes when Jack Hurley found substitute Jack Underwood, he raced forward and found Jack Fleming on the left, his cross was met by Liam McCreesh almost under the crossbar and he only had to touch it over the line amid calls from Trethomas for offside. 2 minutes later and it was 3-1, again Jack Underwood was involved and again he ran into the box, drew a couple of players and the keeper and squared the ball to Jamie Karnsang who shot into the empty net. There was still time for Trethomas to hit a post in an effort to get back into the game but we successfully saw out the remaining minutes to earn a trip to Pontyclun on September 8th.

Lido side

Rory McCreesh  2 Josh Doyle  3 Jack Fleming  4 Craig Jones  5 Lewis Holmes  6 Taylor Evans  7 Liam McCreesh  8 Owen Williams  9 Noah Daley  10 Jack Hurley  11 Callum Lewis

Subs  12 Morgan Freeman for Taylor Evans 90  14 Jamie Karnsang for Owen Williams 74  15 Toby Link-Jones  16 Jack Underwood for Callum Lewis 79  17 Tom Owen

Once again the weather played a big part in this game. The wind off the sea blowing straight down the pitch posed both sides problems. Numerous passes on the wind were overhit resulting in goal kicks galore. We played with the wind at our backs in the first half and struggled to get any pattern into our game, Ammanford created the better chances but they failed to score with a couple of golden opportunities. Rory McCreesh made a great save on 9 minutes from an Ammanford free kick diving to his left to keep out the shot however the ball went straight to an Ammanford player who headed the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. On 20 minutes we were awarded a free kick the ball into the box was headed out to Cai Owens, he shot first time the ball taking a deflection and going out for a corner. Lewis Holmes met the corner with a powerful header but a defender headed the ball off the line with the keeper in no man’s land. Cai Owens saw his header off a Craig Jones free kick held by the keeper. On 37 minutes from yet another Lido free kick Craig Jones shot over the crossbar. Just before the interval Lewis Holmes headed wide from a Craig Jones cross.

Ammanford with the elements in their favour also found it difficult not to overhit through balls and but on 56 minutes they almost took the lead. Following a drop ball they knocked the ball wide right and played a low cross into the box, Craig Jones facing his own goal almost put the ball into the net, luckily for us it hit Rory McCreesh rebounded and hit an Ammanford player before going out for a goal kick. On the hour Sacha Walters tried his luck with a free kick but once again the shot was way over the crossbar. Neither side looked like scoring and this was highlighted on 66 minutes when a cross from the Ammanford left went across the face of the goal with no attacking player able to get a touch.  Not a great game with few scoring opportunities spoilt once again by the elements.

Lido side

Rory McCreesh  2 Cai Owens  3 Josh Doyle  4 Craig Jones  5 Lewis Holmes  6 Jamie Karnsang  7 Liam McCreesh  8 Owen Williams  9 Noah Daley  10 Taylor Evans  11 Sacha Walters

Subs  12 Jack Fleming for Cai Owens 67  14 Jack Hurley for Taylor Evans 48 15 Gareth Couch  16 Callum Lewis  17 Morgan Freeman