SATURDAY MORNING FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Division One
The match of the day in the Costcutters is the one taking place at Parc Emlyn between the reds and reigning division one champions Cardigan Town and this promises to be an entertaining affair.
The Magpies are still flying high in second place despite all the early season disruptions to players and management but this lofty position may not be a true reflection of their worth as they have not played any of the top teams yet and they may well start slipping down the table.
Today will be the first true gauge as to whether Iestyn Evans and his team have what it takes to maintain a long term title bid with their small first team squad.
Emlyn have gone about their business quietly under the management duo of Gethin Davies and Owain Thomas and have only lost the one game and they certainly possess a squad strong enough to be there at the business end of the season.
Former player manager Steve Hicks is back today after his triathlon adventures and there will be no doubting his fitness level. He will bring a bit more steel and big match experience to this team and a harder edge all round and will expect everyone around him to roll up their sleeves just as he does.
Picking the starting line up is going to be tough as so many players have their hands up for a place and there are going to be some long faces at kick off time.
Cardigan in contrast never quite know what team they are going to put out from one week to the next as some of their key players like midfielder James Evans and Emlyn George can’t commit every week. When at full strength they play some lovely football through the likes of skipper Evans whose distribution skills are arguably the best in the league.
Cardigan rely heavily on him especially as Steve Blackford is not playing these days and that is a major problem and if Evans doesn’t perform the Magpies are in trouble. They do though have some quality in the likes of Lee Burrows, Ewan Jones and Tomos Toft and they have to deliver today.
A good match for the neutral to go and watch but it is the reds that are likely to come out of this game smiling as they are have more strength in depth across the park.
Leaders Llandysul entertain Felinfach at Parc Tir Y Dref and swallows manager Chris ‘Coco’ Davies is fortunate that apart from Andrew Evans he has a full squad to choose from. His ambition this afternoon he says is to just ‘keep the winning mentality’ and his team should make it seven from seven today.
Dewi Stars will be confident of beating an unpredictable Crannog outfit this afternoon at Llanddewi Brefi following some decent performances over the past few weeks and at Parc Y Dre, Cilgerran Rovers will be looking to get their season back on track now that manager Neil ‘Mogs’ Morgan is out of hospital following a hip operation and they may well do this against a Bargod Rangers team that were heavily beaten last time out.
In division two the match of the day is the fixture at Pencader Park where Maesglas are the visitors. Blues manager Paul Jones has Kieran Harman and Billy Myers missing through injury and knows he will have his work cut out this afternoon, although Pencader are missing key players in top goal scorers Ashley Summers and Craig Gordon and this should be a tight contest.
Title rivals Ffostrasol face a tough game against a Llanboidy side who also have ambitions of going up this season and this is a very important match for both teams. The Wanderers have played some sparkling football at times with non better for them than talented teen Dion Phillips and he and his men should sneak through in this one.
League Cup-Round One
Lampeter Town are missing a handful of players for this afternoon’s trip to New Quay with defender Gareth Williams, winger Jason Jones and striker Gethin Hunter all spending a day at the races and skipper Luke Lovell will be hoping that he still has enough in his squad to get past the seasiders. Midfielder Arwel Thomas is also out as he is serving a ban.
New Quay are doing remarkably well just to keep going as they are struggling for players and they face another major test this afternoon and expect Lovell and co to emerge comfortable winners.
St Dogmaels have managed to rescue their season with some new signings and things are looking a bit more positive for Chris Thomas and his team and that’s good news for the division.
The Saints have an excellent record in this competition and they are capable of beating any side on their day although they face a tricky hurdle this afternoon at Aberporth as they have a few missing from last week. However they should be strong enough to get through as the airmen, who played well last weekend are only just managing to get a side out.
