A comprehensive win in the League Cup to progress to round 2. Liam McCreesh opened the scoring with a penalty after 10 minutes after Travis James was fouled in the area. Two minutes later Ben Keen doubled the lead when he headed in a corner. Lido controlled the game and it wasn’t until the thirty second minute that Pontardawe threatened when Oliver O’Brien broke free and shot but Steve Cann closed down the space and made the save. On 40 minutes Carlos Indjai rose highest from a corner but he couldn’t direct his header on target and it drifted wide.  Steve Cann again made a fine save on 42 minutes from Joseph Pelosi, his low shot was parried by Cann to again deny the visitors. Lido continued to dominate the game in the second half, Liam McCreesh was replaced on 63 minutes by Sacha Walters and within two minutes Lido made it 3-0 with a superb goal by Ioan Evans. Ioan raced onto a through ball and lobbed it over the onrushing keeper from the edge of the area. On 72 minutes Lido made a double substitution with young Ieuan Owen making his debut and Daniel Dima replacing Ioan Evans and Travis James  Two minutes later Sean Hanbury made it 4-0 with a brilliant free kick. That was the signal for Toby Link-Jones to replace Ben Keen and another newcomer Daniel Nagle to replace Carlos Indjai.  Lido safely saw out the game with no addition to the score, they now look forward to the draw for round 2.

A late penalty saw Briton Ferry retain their unbeaten record but it was a game that we should have picked up all three points from and yet we could have lost it at the end. Ferry had an early opportunity when a cross was played across the box but no attacker could get a touch on what was virtually an open goal. Lido responded well with Brad Flay picking up a Chris Jones pass and he drove into the box but couldn’t keep his shot down. Josh Webber on 17 minutes got on the end of a Jay Thomas cross but could only find the side netting. Both sides created and missed chances with Luke Bowen on 35 minutes being the pick. Somehow from a couple of yards with only Aaron Jones to beat he miss kicked with the ball going harmlessly wide. Just ahead of the interval Lido had a spate of bookings but safely saw out the final minutes to go in level. It was Ferry’s turn to see yellow with a couple of bookings before Lido were awarded a penalty for a foul on Brad Flay. Chris Jones took it and scored although the Ferry keeper got a hand to it. Stung by this reverse the Ferry made a couple of substitutions and changed their shape putting the Lido under pressure. Ferry went down to 10 men on 69 minutes but this seemed to inspire them and it took a fine save from Aaron Jones to preserve the lead. Liam McCreesh tried to lob the keeper with 10 minutes to go but his effort landed on the top of the net. The Ferry continued to press in search of an equaliser but so far the Lido were holding out, they made a couple of substitutions to try and break up the play but in added time the referee awarded a penalty which was scored. There was still time for a winner and the Ferry looked the more likely but Aaron Jones made a fine double save to ensure a share of the points

• Josh Webber netted his first hat trick in a 7-1 demolition of Swansea University. Their task was made more difficult on 22 minutes when their keeper was sent off for fouling Liam Griffiths and denying him the chance of a goal.  Lido had a great start when Webber opened the scoring on 6 minutes after the keeper fumbled the ball, Josh was on hand to stroke the ball home. Play was pretty even after this despite the University being down to 10 men but two goals in a minute around the thirty fifth minute settled the result. First Webber was again on hand to increase the lead and seconds later Liam Griffiths netted his first goal of the season. Disappointment for Griffiths though as he was forced to leave the field on 36 minutes with an injury, he was replaced by Owen Williams.  On 41 minutes Ben Keen got in on the act with his first senior goal.
• Keen made it five with a thirty yard shot on 47 minutes as now the University were looking for damage limitation. On 53 minutes Lido replaced Ben Keen with Brad Flay and Liam McCreesh with the returning (again!) Sacha Walters. Lido seemed to lose their way somewhat after the changes allowing the University to have a decent spell with the ball. On 65 minutes Josh Webber headed in his hat trick goal to much excitement around the ground. The University pulled a goal back on 71 minutes, they were awarded a penalty which Aaron Jones saved but Tom Johnston followed up his spot kick to net the rebound. Travis James, making his full debut at full back and Josh Webber were now replaced by Danny Dima and Luke McDonald. The final goal of the night was scored by Chris Jones who shot from just outside the area and it hit the inside of the post before settling in the back of the net giving the replacement keeper no chance.     

With a number of new signings making their debut at this level it was no surprise they lost to a very good Ammanford side. We did make a good start and Ioan Evans one of a couple of first team players having a run out did well to get to the byeline but the Ammanford keeper gathered his cross to remove any danger. Ammanford responded with an attack down the right but the long range shot went wide. Lido took the lead on 12 minutes when Ben Kenn headed in a long cross. Again, Ammanford attacked down the right but new keeper Will Lewis made a fine save. James Radford broke up another attack and set Jay Thomas in on goal but his long range shot was easily saved. Lido went two up on 35 minutes with a fine shot from Sean Hanbury giving the keeper no chance. Lido were good for their lead at this point but conceded on 43 minutes with the shot hitting the inside of the post before nestling in the back of the net. The early period of the second half belonged to Ammanford, they equalised on 49 minutes, went ahead on 52, made it 4-2 with a penalty on 54 and as Lido struggled, they increased their lead with two more goals on 60 and 61 minutes. To their credit the team dug deep at this point and despite having most of the game Ammanford did not score again until the 87th minute. In added on time Luke McDonald was unlucky not to score when his shot from the edge of the area went just over the bar. A massive learning curve tonight, hopefully lessons will be taken on board before the next game on Bank Holiday Monday.

There were several changes to last Saturday’s squad when we visited Ynysygerwn last night. As on Saturday we conceded an early goal when Ynys scored following a free kick. The lead only lasted 5 minutes before Josh Webber played the ball to Liam Griffiths to equalise on 11 minutes, his shot hit a defender and looped over the keeper. Josh Webber then made it 2-1 on 26 minutes when he seized on a defensive error to beat the keeper with a left footed shot. Another Liam Griffiths header made it 3-1 on 40 minutes before a mad spell before the interval saw another 3 goals. Griffiths netted with a powerful shot, almost straight from the restart then the keeper made a decent save only for Josh Webber to follow up and score. There was still time for Webber to net his hat trick making the score 6-1at the break. As usual there was a host of changes at half time and in terms of goals it was much quieter. Jay Thomas hit the post early on but there was no addition to the score until Jay scored in the 79th minute, straight from the kick off Ynys pulled back a goal to leave the final score 7-2

We visited Cymru Premier side. Cardiff Met for our first pre-season friendly. We lost 3-0 but there were some excellent performances by several players. The goals conceded were disappointing, the first after 6 minutes was a penalty given against Aaron Jones who appeared to dive on tbe ball. A Met player then appeared to go into him and the ref awarded a penalty. Play was fairly even until added on time at the end of the first half. A loose pass across the box was picked up by a Met player who scored. There were numerous changes by both sides in the second half. Met’s third goal was scored from a corner, Steve Cann collected the ball but the linesman indicated it had crossed the line, neither side could quite believe it. Our best chances fell to Chris Jones and a trialist, both attempts were well saved by the keeper. An encouraging display as we move on to a friendly with Ynysygerwn on Wednesday.

The girls ended their home campaign with an excellent 3-2 win over Caerphilly Castle. Catherine Jones opened the scoring on 15 minutes. Macca McLoughlin equalised for the visitors on 25 minutes but Georgia Thorne restored the lead on 32 minutes.  She added a second and Lido’s third on 74 minutes with Claire Bartlett scoring with two minutes to go to set up a nervy ending but they held on to secure an excellent win against one of the better sides in the league.