SEVEN UP SAINTS

Ceredigion League and Cup round up

League Cup round 1.

St Dogmaels 7 Newcastle Emlyn 3

Ten goals, a red card and several yellows helped to serve up an entertaining battle at the School Field, St Dogmaels where the cup holders were knocked out in the opening round. Writes Andrew Clarke.

The hosts who were the eventually winners, fully deserved their passage into the next round but don’t be fooled by the score line as this was a very competitive fixture with little between the teams with fifteen minutes to go and the Saints leading 4-3.

However, a freak of a goal put the hosts in a very strong position at 5-3 and two late goals after the reds had been reduced to ten men, killed the game off.

It was the visitors who looked to have drawn first blood when front runner Cory Davies fired home in the opening quarter but his effort was ruled out for offside and the hosts came flying back with Chris Morgan just missing the target. The deadlock was eventually broken when from a howler of a mistake in defence Saints striker Louis Harding was presented with a simple chance to tap the ball into the empty net with 37 minutes gone. Emlyn responded within a minute when substitute Robbie Jenkins latched on to a great ball from Huw Jonah Jones to fire home but St Dogmaels regained their lead soon afterwards when Jack Thomas hit the target with a fierce shot at the near post.

Jenkins added his second just after the break with a fantastic overhead shot that looped over keeper Justin Smith to level at 2-2 and the reds through Jones and Craig Gordon played some of their best football of the game and the match was delicately poised. However Saints hit back with a header from Peter Almond that took a deflection off team mate Rhys Jones before hitting the net and a header from Chris Morgan put the Saints in the ascendency at 4-2. Back came Emlyn through Jenkins as he completed a superb hat trick and Gordon went close to levelling matters soon after with a deft header and it was all to play for.

The game though was turned on its head when an attempted clearance from the visiting keeper bounced against the body of Thomas and back into the empty net for a bizzare goal to make it 5-3. Minutes later defender Steve Hicks was sent for an early bath for a reckless challenge and Harding slotted home from the spot to put his time almost out of sight. The scoring was completed late on when midfielder Adam Williams capped a fine game with goal number seven.

This was a cracking cup tie and both teams played some sparkling football at times. The biggest difference was the standard of defending with the reds committing a few howlers and conceding a couple of very daft goals. However striker Jenkins will probably never score a hat trick of such quality with his second goal a real corker with his back to goal.

The highlight for this observer was the battle in midfield in the second half between Craig Gordon and Huw Jonah Jones for the reds and Rhys Jones and Adam Williams for the saints. They were the players who consistently put their foot on the ball and passed with confidence despite the heavy conditions and all four of them were outstanding.

Ceredigion Costcutter League

Division One

Crannog closed the gap at the top of division one to just four points following a comfortable win over Ffostrasol although leaders St Dogmaels are sitting comfortably in the box seat as they have games in hand.

The Llangrannog based side who have only lost two league games in eleven, struggled to make the most of their possession in the opening half but eventually went ahead with a goal from front runner Robbie Evans before the Wanderers went close at the other end with an effort that hit the woodwork. Crannog pulled away after the break with three goals within twenty minutes with George Colven bagging a brace and midfielder Mark Davies grabbing a single to make it 4-0. Ffostrasol enjoyed several decent chances and finally found the net late on with a consolation goal.

Lampeter Town enjoyed another convincing win over neighbours Llandysul with none better for them than two goal hero Christy Gale who was outstanding in midfield. The Swallows who were missing several key players struggled for long periods as Town dominated possession through the likes of player manager Terry Witts, Richard Thomas and man of the match Gale.

Talented front runner Jason Jones opened the Lampeter account midway through the opening half and Gale added two goals in quick succession to put his team in a very strong position at 3-0. Llandysul worked hard to find a way back into the game but they were met by some resilient defending from Marc Evans and Gareth Williams and the game was put to bed when young substitute Bryn Jones made it 4-0 following good work from Luke Lovell.

The match between Llanboidy and Cardigan Town was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

In division two Aberporth raced five points clear at the top following a 4-2 success away at New Quay where midfielder Mathew Smith poached a brace. Also on the scoresheet were Dan Nicholl and Dafydd Owens. For the seasiders Oliver Evans and Ollie Edwards were on target.

Dewi Stars overtook Maesglas to move into the runners up slot after they accounted for Newcastle Emlyn Reserves by 4-1 thanks to goals from Marc Jones, Siencyn Jones, Tomos Jones and an own goal. In the only other game played the honours were shared between Llandysul Reserves and St Dogmaels Reserves.