DISTRICT LEAGUE
ABERCREGAN UTD ...... 0 FC PORTHCAWL ........... 2
FC PORTHCAWL were last night praying for a miracle from bottom club Kenfig Hill against reigning champions Cwmavon, writes Tony Poole.
The mean Green Machine from Rest Bay brought the curtain down on an inaugural season with a double over Abercregan.
It left them two points ahead of Cwmavon, who last night (Tuesday) were due to complete their season at bottom club Kenfig Hill
Realistically, Porthcawl are destined to finish runners-up, as it will form a major shock if Cwmavon lost at Croft Goch.
Early Green Machine pressure came via Evan Jones and Ben Bryant with Joe McCarthy in an unaccustomed midfield role.
And at the back, Adam Jones, Dave Richards and Dewi Owen coped with a plethora of Abercregan possession.
But just before the break both sides were reduced to 10 men following a flashpoint with Porthcawl’s Sam McCarthy and Luke Howells the men to see red.
The scoreline, however, remained blank until early in the second half when Andrew Bowden was felled in the box.
Joe McCarthy converted the subsequent penalty, moving on to 18 goals for the season, and another goal wasn’t far behind. recent return from suspension of Lewis Kingdon giving them a fillip.
Inside 10 minutes, a piercing run from Morgan Thomas led to Kingdon finding the net on the back of a bullet header.
His goal separated the sides at the changeover and early in the secondhalf, Ton went down to 10 men after their goalie took out Kingdon.
But instead of the Llan Siro boys making the extra man count they were pegged back to 1-1 on the hour.
However, that was the cue from them to up the ante and Lloyd Ham beefed things up with a tasty cross.
Though an initial shot was cleared, Kingdon was in the right place at the right time to collect an eighth goal of the season.
More importantly it gave Llan back the lead
More telling midfield play from star man Joe McCarthy and Karl Cornock led to Ben Bryant getting a 12th goal this term.
Cornock, who had played in every minute of their league campaign, was then substituted to technical area applause.
During the closing stages, on-song James Brown fired just wide while Adam Jones went close with a header.
But with their inaugural season now reduced to history, the spotlight now turns on Annual Presentation Night at the Fairways Hotel on May 19.
It’s followed by a trip to Newbury races while plans are being formalised to also make a Halloween Ball a galloping success. and there were definite signs that the 10 men were running out of puff
That was the case in the 80th minute when goal poacher Morgan Thomas slotted home a 10th goal of the campaign to make it 3-1.
And in a rousing finish which improved goaldifference, Sion Lewis scored in the 85th minute to round off a decent display.
Llan now face another possible cup final on Saturday when Baglan come knocking on the Llan Siro door.
However, a lot hinged on last night (Tuesday) when Butetown hosted Pencoed – and Llan were hoping for a Pencoed favour.
Butetown, however, have one other match – away on Saturday to second-placed Penydarren Boys Club.