Sportsline

LAMPETER CHASING THE SWALLOWS

Costcutter Match Day Preview

Division 1.

Lampeter have an excellent chance to close the gap at the top of the table to only three points when they take on New Quay at Parc Arthur this afternoon .

Luke Lovell and his men ran out comfortable winners in a league cup fixture last weekend against the greens and a similar result will put them within touching distance of leaders Llandysul who are not playing today.

The north road men who are unbeaten since they lost the season opener against the Swallows

are almost at full strength and welcome back defender Gareth Williams, winger Jason Jones and striker Gethin Hunter. Arwel Thomas is still missing though as he is serving a ban and experienced centre back Paul Simmons is unavailable.

Crannog, boosted by a big win away at Llanddewi Brefi last time out will no doubt fancy their chances of adding another scalp to their list this afternoon in the form of Bargod Rangers although Gethin Davies and his men are sure to make it hard for the visitors. The Parc Puw outfit are yet to secure a win in eight outings but they are going to get one soon and could this be their afternoon?

Cilgerran will be without talisman and captain Gary Evans who suffered a serious facial injury last week against Bargod but he has had a successful operation and is on the mend and we wish him well. Goalkeeping brother Barry Evans is rumoured to have stepped down and manager Neil Morgan will have to find replacements for these key men. Felinfach had been playing some decent football until a few weeks ago and have been on the receiving end of a couple of stuffings recently including a 7-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Llandysul last week but they will be a lot more competitive today.

Division 2

There is only one game taking place in division two and this is at Maes Radley where Maesglas take on the students of Lampeter. It is a long time since SDUC were a force in the Cardiganshire League and one has to go back many years since they were serious title contenders and nothing has really changed but they have been both valuable and amiable opposition nonetheless, over many years. They will have their hands full this afternoon against a Blues side who have ambitions of getting back into the top flight and it would be a major surprise if the students came away with a result.

South Cards Cup

Llanboidy entertain Aberporth in the second division cup this afternoon and neither side have ever been in the final of this competition. Both teams have struggled to find any sort of form this season although Liam Griffiths and his Aberporth team have in all fairness done well to get a team together .

The Cae Dandre side have suffered probably their most disappointing start to a season for many years and this friendly club with such a great spirit will be looking to put this right over the next few weeks, starting this afternoon against the airmen.

Reserves Cup

In the Reserves Cup leaders Llandysul  are without a fixture and this offers second place Lampeter Town a perfect opportunity to overtake them at the top if they can overcome Llanboidy Reserves.

Local rivals Newcastle Emlyn entertain Bargod Rangers and a win for one of these would also put them within touching distance of the current leaders.

Cardigan Town Reserves make the journey up the coast to Crannog and Felinfach host their Ffostrasol counterparts.

Easter Monday Cup

Two very interesting games today in the League Cup which could well provide shock wins for a team in a lower division.

Division two outfit Pencader entertain Cardigan Town, winners of this Easter Monday showdown two years ago and the reigning league champions and a side on the slide.

The Magpies had their feathers ruffled last weekend away at Parc Emlyn and these are difficult days for the King George men who have lost so many key players from last season. They were an angry bunch when they arrived for their game last Saturday with players having dropped out of their squad for their top of the table clash with Newcastle Emlyn and it will be a real test of character for them today against Kevin Evans and his men at Pencader Park. Evans and co are certainly good enough to sneak a win here if at full strength.

Another upset could be on the cards at Parc Troedrhiw, Ffostrasol where Dewi Stars are the visitors. John Jones and his newly promoted team who last won this competition back in the year 2000 have struggled to cope with division one football and will have their hands full against a second division side playing with plenty of confidence.

Newcastle Emlyn who impressed many last weekend with some of their flowing football did not impress joint manager Owain Thomas in midweek when only six turned up for training and he will no doubt have something to say about that before kick off. However the reds have a very strong squad and should be too strong for Aberaeron Reserves at Cae Sgwar.