NATHANIEL CARS
CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH ....................... 0 PENYBONT .................... 1
A FIFTH goal of the season from Kieran Howard got Penybont back to winning ways courtesy of the Cambrian & Clydach mat, writes Tony Poole.
Following a surprise pre-Christmas loss at Undy Athletic and three successive New Year draws, a first win in five for the Bridgend super club lifted them into fourth spot in the table.
It was achieved without Bont boss Rhys Griffiths – who was sitting out the last game in a threematch ban – but they did have mid-season recruit Dave Allen back from suspension in the heart of defence.
Having lost the reverse fixture 0-2 back in October, Bont went close early on from two Kane Owen corners.
Cam had a little flurry before Bont front man Josef Hopkins found Adam Carpenter, who saw his shot screw wide off a defender.
Tyler Roche brought out the best in home goalkeeper Dan Bradley on 32 minutes while at the opposite end Corey Sheppard forced Rhys Wilson into making a hurried stop.
And with a 0-0 half-time scoreline beckoning, Bont got a 44th-minute goal that settled the destination of the points.
A delightful Roche cross bisected the defence and Howard latched on to it and drilled an unstoppable shot past ex-Barry Town man Bradley.
Into the second half and Cam man Sheppard soon shepherded a free kick into the box that goalie Wilson did well to deal with.
And in what was turning into a Cam purple patch, Bridgend College student Cameron Keetch and exBridgend Town star Mark U11 captain Ethan Dewar presented club captain Shaun Duffy with a pennant.
“We wanted to mark the occasion at Penybont FC, as they are a glowing example of what can happen when you get your act together,” said Mark Dewar, a member of the Cornelly United management team along with Ryan Blanche, Jason Bekker and Steve Jones.
“We are building to make Cornelly United stronger as a club, and the merger of the senior and junior section is significant.
“We want senior players to interact with the juniors so that youngsters feel they are being recognised and made welcome.’’ cawl Town back in August – brought a 12-match unbeaten sequence to an end.
And it also left them just one point in front of FC Cwmaman, who now have a game in hand.
But the Cornelly success story under Ryan Blanche keeps on getting better with each passing week.
The Meadow Street Wasps are now unbeaten in 11 league matches – dating back to early September – and they have become genuine promotion candidates.
A crowd of around 175 backed a Cornelly decision to take this important clash to the Bridgend super club carpet.
In misty conditions that necessitated the floodlights being switched on Crutch both went close to restoring parity.
Bont rode out the storm and on the hour Hopkins drove a ball across the face of goal – but Cornelly boy Roche failed to get a touch for 2-0.
The introduction of Timmy Georgievsky in the 64th minute almost led
The senior team donned new wasp-coloured shirts against Cefn Cribwr sponsored by Megasave Superstore in North Cornelly while the juniors have Centregreat to thank for their kit.
“Cornelly United are grateful to both Megasave Superstore and Centregreat for new kit, as both teams now really look the part,” he concluded.
As the Penybont 3G pitch was available, Cornelly displayed vision in booking it to host Cefn Cribwr in the big local derby.
And it paid rich dividends as a crowd of around 175 paying customers turned up to enjoy a lively encounter.
The Bont bar was so from the word go, the Wasps settled first.
The midfield trio of Jason James, Aaron Jefferies and Joe Jones frequently combined sweetly for Dale Smith and Carl Owen to stretch the Riders.
And they deservedly went ahead when Joe Jones sent club chairman Smith haring into a wide channel down the left flank.
Cefn goalkeeper Richard Jones was unable to cut out his driven cross, and unmarked James at the back post swept the ball in.
A minute later an important block accounted for a Jefferies effort being diverted over the cross bar, and soon after Gordon Watt did likewise with a Smith header.
A rare Cefn raid led to to him making an instant impact with a goal.
It was the turn of goalkeeper Wilson to save the Bont bacon in the 73rd minute when he denied substitute Josh Maximovic with a wonder save.
Soon after Richard French almost scored against one of his numer- busy that extra staff had to be brought in to collect glasses and serve thirsty fans. Ioan Clatworthy firing wide while at the other end, on-fire Owen teed up Joe Jones only for this dainty lob to end up on the roof of the net.
Just before the break, the woodwork rescued Cefn after Jefferies produced a shot cum cross.
The interval arrived with lethargic Cefn lucky to be only a goal down – and more to the point still very much in contention.
But with rust – brought about by just one game in six weeks – duly brushed off courtesy of pearls of wisdom from manager Scott Dryden, the Riders started to pedal pell-mell.
However, before they built any momentum the Cornelly duo of Joe Jones and Dann Jones were just wide with decent efforts. ous former clubs and with it went the final Cam chance of salvaging a point.
And close to time Cam were reduced to 10 men when Keetch was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Penybont remain on the road this Saturday, and this occasion they head for relegation-threatened former Welsh League champions Caerau Ely.
When the sides met in the reverse league game at the Kymco Stadium back in October, Bont triumphed 2-1 courtesy of goals from joint-top scorers Marcus Griffiths and Josef Hopkins. gend Street on Saturday for another league fixture.
One of the sides hardest hit by a wet January and fixture list vagaries are second-division Llantwit Major.
The Windmillers were due to travel to Ammanford last Saturday, but the Rice Roaders called it off in early morning due to the wet state of the Recreation Centre pitch.
This Saturday, Llantwit – whose lone January outing resulted in a 2-1 win at Croesyceiliog – are home to 2013 Welsh League champions West End.
This will form a first league meeting between the clubs, as the Pryderi Park meeting between the clubs was postponed back in the autumn. through the second half, but the ensuing Curtis Grant free kick hit the great wall of Cornelly and went over the top.
And during the final move of another invigorating derby – that ultimately could have gone either way – a header from Cefn centre-half Jonny Tiffin travelled over the cross bar.
But at the end of another well-contested derby – strangers might even have thought Penybont were in Welsh League Division One action – Cornelly just about deserved the win.
A third successive derby clash awaits them on Saturday – away to Porthcawl Town – while the Riders will look to get back up on to the bike at home to lowly Llantwit Fardre.