WELSH LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
CWMAMMAN UTD ....... 1 ABERDARE TOWN ........ 1
AFTER two successive wins against promotion fancies Pontypridd and Porth, Aberdare made their first ever journey to Grenig Park in the Amman Valley, in confident mood, to meet yet another of the chasing pack in sixth-placed Cwmamman United.
The game was a thriller from start to finish with both teams producing excellent football and at the final whistle a draw a fair result.
On this showing Cwmamman, with games in hand on those around, look a good bet for successive promotions.
Aberdare welcomed back John Phillips to the starting 11 and he with all other players produced a wholehearted performance well appreciated by a good travelling support.
Cwmamman took an early lead with a 20-yard effort from Colin Harris in an end-to-end encounter with Town’s Rob Blatchford going close and Dan Richards bringing out a fine save by Cwm keeper Mark Snell. Blatchford and Richards then combined well only to see the latter’s effort strike the post. Luke Jones and Tom Billings also went close as Town continued to dominate. One attack caused controversy as a cross appeared to strike a defender’s hand but experienced referee Wayne Tregonning waved away Town protests.
It was not all one-way traffic though and Town keeper Clint Forbes pulled off a fine save from the always dangerous Ashley Curtis. Tom Billings, who with Jordan Coles were forming a solid central defensive partnership, was booked late on with Town trooping back to the dressing rooms at halftime ruing the unconverted chances.
But with only five minutes gone in the second period, Town equalised with a long Josh Powell throw being flicked on by Billings into the path of Blatchford who made no mistake from five yards.
Town now had the upper hand with Elliot Morris and Jason Henley showing well but Richards, Phillips and Ross Daniels missed opportunities to snatch the lead with Snell producing some fine stops but as the game entered the final period it was Cwm who began to create the best opportunities with a striong appeal for a penalty turned down as Forbes dived at the feet of a marauding forward.
Several further good chances fell to the hosts with Man of the Match Josh Powell Aberdare’s saviour as he somehow prevented what otherwise would have been a certain goal with a superb defensive block minutes from the end.
There was still time for a final Cwmamman salvo with Forbes bringing off a fabulous save to add to his catalogue of keeping exploits throughout the season. With the final whistle both teams were warmly applauded back to the dressing rooms after a game unanimously regarded by the locals as the best seen at Grenig Park this season.
Aberdare maintain fifth spot in the division but with games running out it would seem only a minimum of six wins out of the remaining eight will be good enough to clinch a place in the top flight and that with other resuts going their way.