Chris Jones scoring from the penalty spot after Ioan Evans was fouled and Lido looked comfortable but once again were guilty of not taking the chances that they created. Then on 33 minutes Carlos was injured, which meant a reshuffle with midfielder Ben Keen dropping back alongside Jackson Hall and Sacha Walters replacing Ben in midfield. This allowed Ammanford a foothold in the game and a minute later they hit the post with a shot by Jordan Langley. Just before the interval it was Ammanford under the cosh and a Liam McCreesh shot following a corner was cleared off the line with the Lido players appealing for the goal. Ammanford came out for the second half in determined mood and equalised three minutes into the half. It actually followied a Lido corner which was cleared to Lee Trundle who played a great ball to Jordan Langley who spotted Steve Cann off his line and lobbed him from 30 yards. It was now going to be difficult for the Lido with Ammanford pushing forward but some resolute defending and good goalkeeping kept them out. With 20 minutes to go Jay Thomas replaced Liam McCreesh but initially it failed to stem the flow of Ammanford attacks and Callum Silcox tried a long range shot which Cann saved. Lido then came back into the game and Brad Flay tried his luck from outside the area, the ball took a slight deflection and was well saved by the Ammanford keeper. With 3 minutes to go Lido won a corner on the left, it went over everyone but Liam Griffiths beyond the far post made contact with the ball which somehow eluded everyone and ended up in the net. Ammanford threw on 4 substitutes, the match went into 5 minutes of added time but the Lido held on to win the three points. .

From failed favourites against Hakin United on Saturday to victors over Cymru Premier side Pontypridd in the Nathaniel Cup MG Cup on Tuesday. The side played with far more purpose and looked solid at the back. While accepting this was nowhere near Pontypridd’s strongest side, we made changes from Saturday and for most of the game we were comfortable. At half time it was difficult to see how we would score but two goals in a two minute spell early in the second half sealed the result. It was a cagey start by both sides, plenty of long balls being played to no real advantage with neither keeper being troubled. The opening goal when it came was from a poor defensive header intended for the keeper but it lacked power. Liam Griffiths latched on to the ball and with the keeper committed and in no mans land Liam lobbed him with the ball just dipping under the crossbar to give us the lead. Encouraged by this we again attacked and won a corner which Sacha Walters took and the ball ended up in the back of the net. Opinion was it went straight in giving Sacha the goal although some felt it was an own goal, but the goal counted which was all that mattered. Spurred on by these reverses Pontypridd pushed forward but some resolute defending kept them at bay. Steve Cann made probably one save during the game and was largely unemployed. With 20 minutes to go Lido replaced Michael McCalmon and Jay Thomas with Josh Webber and Ioan Evans, adding pace to both flanks. Inside the last 10 minutes Liam McCreesh replaced Ben Keen to add a little more experience for the final minutes.  

Hakin United can now be added to the list of clubs from the lower reaches that we have lost to in the Welsh Cup. They join Cwmbran Town and STM Sports who both beat us in Round 1 ties and last season Dinas Powys in Round 2. Yet again players are not available for cup matches and we fail to capitalise on what should be our strength. We dominated parts of the game but failed miserably in front of goal and paid the ultimate price. We started brightly and kept possession but failed to test the visiting keeper in the first twenty minutes. Nearest we got to a goal was a Sean Hanbury free kick which was just too high. After 25 minutes Hakin created their first chance and it took a fine save from Aaron Jones to deny them a shock lead. Lido responded almost immediately when Chris Jones fed Jay Thomas who beat his defender and from close range shot narrowly wide. On the half hour Hakin again attacked and fired in a shot that went over the bar. Having weathered the early Lido pressure Hakin were now looking to get a foothold in the game. They would have been the happier of the sides at half time going in all square. The second half saw Hakin start the better and they hit the crossbar on 50 minutes. They spotted Aaron Jones off his line but the lob from the edge of the area was just too high. Jay Thomas had another chance on the hour but couldn’t keep his shot from the edge of the area down. Hakin created another chance on 62 minutes but again Aaron Jones made a fine save. Lido had another opportunity on 64 minutes when Josh Webber met a cross but from a good position sliced his shot wide. On 67 minutes an altercation saw two players sent off, considering there hadn’t been a card of either colour this was something of a surprise but Ioan Evans for the Lido and Leon Luby were both red carded. With 10 minutes to go Hakin missed a golden chance to take the lead when Mark Jones headed wide from a  corner when it was almost easier to score. The Lido attacked and won a corner, Josh Webber fed Carlos Indjai who netted but the Lino flagged for an infringement much to the dismay of both players and the Lido support. Disappointingly Lido then went down to 9 men, Aaron Jones did well to punch clear a through ball but was caught by the studs of a Hakin player. No free kick was given and Aaron was down on the floor, the referee blew up when Hakin next attacked and came to check on Aaron who was understandably annoyed at the injury. From this Aaron ended up being sent off giving Hakin a huge advantage. We then needlessly gave away a free kick in a dangerous position and the ball was floated in and headed in giving our replacement keeper no chance. Hakin saw out time and once again we are left to rue the day.

The Reserves opened their account at the second time of asking with a 5-1 win over Carmarthen Town. A couple of first teamers had a runout after missing Friday’s game and 1 of them, Josh Webber opened the scoring on 14 minutes when he scored from the penalty spot. Encouraged by this the Reserves continued to take the game to Carmarthen and Ioan Evans sped down the left, crossed a great ball in for Michael McCalmon who somehow from a couple of yards put the ball wide. Stand-in keeper D’Arcy Mizen made a fine save on 20 minutes turning a Carmarthen free kick onto the post and away for a corner. The incoming corner caused a lot of confusion as players tried desperately to clear the ball before eventually it was dealt with safely. On 35 minutes Josh Webber won the ball beat a defender and his shot cum cross went wide with no-one in the area to finish it off. Lido eventually scored a second on the stroke of half time, a free kick was headed out but played back into the 6 yard box for Steve Morrisr on his first appearance this season bundling the ball over the line. Carmarthen had the first opportunity of the second half but shot wide from a good position. Lido’s third goal was scored on 50 minutes, a great cross into a dangerous area was unluckily directed into his own net by a Carmarthen defender. The Carmarthen keeper then made a fine save of a Josh Webber pile driver before Michael McCalmon finally got on the scoresheet after 59 minutes. He picked up a loose ball 35 yards out, beat a defender and with options either side took on the keeper to score with a right footed shot. On 64 minutes a Lido attack involving a number of players saw centre back Jack Howe’s shot well saved by the keeper. In a rare attack Carmarthen pulled back a goal with a fine shot giving Mizen no chance. Michael McCalmon however restored the four goal advantage with 10 minutes remaining. A good win and today they play the return fixture hoping for a repeat result.

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.