PREMIER DIVISION

KENFIG HILL ................. 0 FC PORTHCAWL ........... 6

LEADERS FC Porthcawl weren’t born the last time Kenfig Hill won a league game, writes Tony Poole.

But having been crowned South Wales Amateur League champions in both 2004 and 2011, the steady decline at Croft Goch has in recent times gradually accelerated.

They again prop up the table, and as a contest this clash with the mean Green Machine from Rest Bay lasted only a few minutes.

Having lost a key title clash against Cwmavon 1-0 the week before, Porthcawl benefited from a Joe McCarthy goal that was down to a fine ball from on-song James Brown. despite a heavy pitch, played some lovely football.

The hosts were awarded a penalty after a clever free kick routine saw playmaker Dan Jenkins brought down in the box.

He made no mistakes from 12 yards out to put Cefn ahead and go into the break a goal to the good.

The second half started slowly and Cefn looked to keep hold of the ball and shift it from left to right were also back in harness.

Basically, there was very little to choose between two teams who hover just above the relegation zone.

The best early chance fell to Cornelly when a punishing Cane dart down the right resulted in Callum Jones shooting wide.

But it was the Con men who took a 16th-minute lead after Joe Jones received an incredible booking for a mundane challenge.

Captain Jonny Prosser planted it into the box and with Cane only partially clearing his lines, it ran to Scott Bennett.

He decided to have a dip from just outside the penalty area, and the ball flashed past goalkeeper Barlow. at Cae Gof for a football match.

But Cornelly were found guilty of fielding players who failed to comply with a new seven-day ruling for eligibility ahead of a cup-tie.

However, the Meadow Street boys did seek advice, and also acted on information that was allegedly out of date on a website.

Different rules apply for league qualification to cup-ties, and it was because of this that Cornelly fell on their sword and were also fined £100.

The three other quarterfinal ties involve Brecon Corries v Garw, Llantwit Fardre v Cardiff Draconians and Ton & Gelli Boys Club v Ynyshir Albion.

A strike from Brown was then the first of six shots that entered the net only to be disallowed – and two penalties were missed.

Though Kenfig Hill looked dangerous on the counter attack, Porthcawl doubled the lead with a training paddock ploy that Karl Cornock finished with aplomb.

Joe McCarthy fluffed their first penalty in the run up to half time, and on the restart a Cornock banana shot bent him on when up steps youngster Ioan Clatworthy who beats his man and let go with a rasping shot from 20 yards out straight into the top corner to double the lead and score his first senior goal.

The home side were looking to put the visitors to the sword when a breakaway saw the visitors nick a goal with a lovely finish to get themselves back in the game.

Cefn calmed down

The response, however, from the Meadow Street boys was good and they looked more dangerous on the break.

And they levelled in the 31st minute from a Joe Jones throw in level with the penalty area.

The cultured head of exPenybont star Mark Evans helped it on and a dainty Cane header proved too good for Con goalkeeper Jonny Bowden.

Four minutes later Cornelly should have had the lead when Dale Smith found Mark Evans who crossed across the goalmouth for unmarked Callum Jones.

But the young Penybont starlet slipped at the moment of impact, and suddenly a great chance had slipped away. UNBEATEN Highadmit South Wales Alliance Division Two pacemakers Garw face their toughest assignment of the season on Saturday, writes Tony Poole.

While Ryan Blanche’s crack squad has peeled off 18 successive wins in an unbeaten start to their league campaign, they now go into the lion’s den at Brecon Corries seeking cup glory.

Up for grabs at The Rich Field is a place in the semi-finals of the league’s WJ Owen Open Cup.

And if the Blandy boys are to keep the dream alive of pulling off a league and cup double, then them must overcome the to the six-goal mark for the season.

Josh Matthews and Cornock then set up the next goal for Evan Jones, who chipped the goalkeeper in delightful fashion, ahead of the home side going down to 10 men.

Joe McCarthy rifled home a 14th goal of the season to make it 5-0 while soon after, Connor Jones missed another penalty.

But during dying embers, a pinpoint Ryan and looked dangerous from both flanks and were creating chances in the shape of Gordon Watt and youngster Ioan Clatworthy.

It wasn’t a surprise when Cefn scored again with goal poacher Adam James stroking the ball into the net.

The hosts made quick time to further their lead with a contender for goal of the season from young left back Ross Hooper who took

And the game was ultimately settled in the 42nd minute when Dan Davies appeared to receive the ball in an offside position.

However, Barry referee Joshua Taylor allowed play to continue, and Davies went around Barlow to fire into an empty net.

Cornelly continued to look the better side on the restart, but crucially they failed to work goalkeeper Bowden.

And as time dragged on, so players got bogged down in the mud and during the closing stages it was akin to walking football.

A timely 65th-minute block from Cornelly electric sweeper Matt Davies prevented Davies making it 3-1. Premier Division aristocrats from Mid Wales.

Though Brecon are not enjoying the best of seasons, they are an established force in the top tier.

Last Saturday while Garw put their feet up and watched the rugby, Brecon went down 6-5 in a league thriller against Canton Liberal Club in the capital.

Currently, Brecon lie two places and two points above a relegation area occupied by Betws, Llantwit Fardre and AFC Butetown.

One Brecon player who would have been relishing the cup-tie is playmaker Damian Daniels, who 10 years ago was on the books of Bridgend Town.

But Daniels will sit out the Garw tie, owing to a Coward cross was converted by Connor Jones for a first club goal.

With this proving the only league game to go ahead, Porthcawl now head Cwmavon by eight points – but significantly the defending champions have three games in hand.

Porthcawl visit Bryn Rockets in the league on Saturday, looking to zoom to a double after taking the Rest Bay meeting 6-0 back in September. the ball and let go with a shot from 30 yards out to fly into the top corner.

Carnetown were done and Cefn’s fitness showed when Adam James completed a brace of goals with the visiting keeper having no chance of stopping the shot from five yards out.

Cefn would like to thank the home support and also Mr Conor McCluskey of CM Utilities for sponsoring the game.

But in the 80th minute, Cornelly almost had an equaliser when a Cane free kick travelled just wide of goal.

And six minutes later a Joe Jones thunderbolt clattered the crossbar and ricocheted into the path of Evans.

His shot was blocked and following a seemingly endless bout of penalty area pinball, the ball was scrambled to safety.

That proved the final chance for Cornelly to salvage a point and they slid to an 11th league defeat of the season.

Next up for Cornelly is an away league fixture on Saturday with Tonyrefail, who will be looking to recover from a 4-1 loss last weekend at Porthcawl Town Athletic. three-match suspension.

However, the burning question and one that will give an insight into future prospects at Blandy surrounds whether Garw are good enough to compete with Premier Division clubs.

It’s one thing to knock down moderate opponents in Division Two but something quite different against teams operating at a much higher level week in week out.

So, in many ways the trip to Brecon on Saturday is a test of how far Ryan Blanche’s team have evolved.

Garw will resume league duties on March 11 in the capital against relegation-threatened Cardiff Hibernian. CAERAU surrendered second spot to Llantwit Major in Nathaniel Cars Welsh League Division Three after Saturday’s home clash with Cwm Welfare was postponed, writes Tony Poole.

In one of the more predictable scenarios of the season, the Riverboaters called it off owing to the wet state of the ground.

And, incredibly, it’s now left them without a home game until Llantwit Major visit the Riverboat on April 5.

Before then, Caerau face four successive away matches that to all intents and purposes will define their season.

They go to Caerleon on Saturday ahead of a blank weekend.

The resumption is at Chepstow Town on March 18, and seven days later the Riverboaters steam in to the Bridge Field – the home of Bedwas RFC - to challenge Trethomas Bluebirds.

Llantwit Major is the next port of call for the Riverboaters and no-one will be fooling in saying the April 1 showdown might prove key.

And just four days later the Riverboaters face the Windmillers in a swift Llynfi Valley rematch.

One thing’s for sure, if Caerau are to remain promotion candidates then they will have to shed brittle away form, and seize a healthy supply of points from the four away games.

On paper the least demanding of these four consecutive trips is Caerleon at Cold Bath Road on Saturday.

The Romans lie just one place and one point above a drop zone occupied by Tredegar Town, Cwm Welfare and Treowen Stars.

During the reverse fixture back in October, Caerau beat Caerleon 4-2 courtesy of a Chay Davies hat-trick and a Tom Walters strike.

Longstanding pals Chay Davies and Tom Walters between them are responsible for over 60 per cent of the 50 team goals that Caerau have scored this term.

Tom Walters on 16 goals heads Chay Davies by one while next best Dale Price has a mere four goals.

Ryan Morgan has hit the target three times with two apiece for Rhys Dyke, fox in the box Joel Joseph and Dylan Llewellyn.

Single strikes have come from Gregory Davies, Shaun James, Adam Jenkins, Jack Page and Robbie Walters along with an owngoal from Tom Edwards (Trefelin Boys Club).