LOCAL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
UNBEATEN Pencoed Athletic will go into 2020 as the table-topping club in Highadmit South Wales Alliance Premier Division, writes Tony Poole.
Though the Felindre Road boys last Saturday saw the big derby clash with Cefn Cribwr at Cae Gof called off, due to a waterlogged pitch, they remained top on goaldifference, 24-17, over Porthcawl Town.
The Seasiders levelled on 32 points with Pencoed (from two more games played) on the back of a thumping 6-2 success over Merthyr Saints at a windswept Lock’s Lane.
The game attracted a lot of attention on social media through new Merthyr fan Amy Rose, who was expected to attend the game.
During the opening half, a crowd boosted by most matches in the area having been called off, witnessed a cagey affair and Porthcawl only went in with a tenuous 3-2 advantage.
Ultimately, it was just as well she gave the game a wide berth, as during the second half Porthcawl stiffened resolve to run out convincing winners.
And once more the goal-scoring hero for the Seasiders was Ben Keen, who scored twice back in January on debut from Penybont in a 5-4 W J Owen League Cup win at Aberfan.
He followed it up earlier this month with both goals in a slender 2-1 home win over Ely Rangers, and went one better a week later against Merthyr Saints via a first hat-trick for the club.
Karl Cornock got his first goals since switching back from FC Porthcawl – he netted twice – while powerhouse midfielder Hayden Lau completed the goal-scoring chart with his third strike of the campaign.
This was the final weekend of league action ahead of a festive season break and when fixtures resume on January 4, pride of place will go to the visit of Porthcawl Town to third-placed Cardiff Draconians.
Leaders Pencoed host Caerphilly Ath while the other unbeaten side on the Premier Division circuit, fifth-placed Baglan Dragons, take on Sully Sports in Swanbridge.
In the only other league match in the area that dodged the waterlogged pitch syndrome, for a second successive week a game was abandoned following an injury to a goalkeeper.
Penybont stopper Rhys Wilson suffered a head injury the week before during the early stages of extra-time in a J D Welsh Cymru clash against visitors Porthmadog that ended 2-2.
However, the late arrival of an ambulance led to the referee abandoning the tie, and last Saturday the South Wales Alliance Division Two encounter between Maesteg Park and Tata Steel United at Tudor Park suffered a similar fate.
In this game Park goalkeeper Thomas Whelan was injured after just two minutes, and the referee opted to draw a line under proceedings.
But with the entire Division Two programme a washout, the Park
Arabs continue to lead the way on goal-difference, 41-28, over Canton Rangers, who have also completed one more fixture.
Maesteg Park resume activity on January 4 away to Llantwit Fardre while third-placed Vale United with games in hand will welcome Canton Rangers to leafy Corntown for a first time.
Meanwhile, with the season now at the halfway point, Pencoed star striker Darren Townsend (pictured) continues to head the local goal-scoring chart.
The ex-Sully Sports man has hit the target 18 times to head Danny Woolfenden (Cefn Cribwr) and Steff Roberts (Maesteg Park) by two goals.
Ashton White (Maesteg Park) has 11 goals against his name; Nico Evans (Cornelly Utd) and Danny Hanson (Vale Utd) are on the 10mark while dynamite Jack Delve (Pencoed Ath) is a further goal further back.
Three players have scored eight goals – Dan Jenkins (Cefn Cribwr), Joe McCarthy (Porthcawl Town) and Jake Roche (Garw) – to head by one goal Jorge Crofts of Cefn Cribwr, who scored five times for Porthcawl Town.
They are followed by six-goal contributors Lewis Kingdon (Maesteg Park), Simon Lock (Llangeinor) and Matthew Symons (Cefn Cribwr).
And the chart with players who have scored five or more goals is completed by 10 players – Thomas Davies (Caerau), Ellis Horrigan, Luke Howells (both Maesteg Park), Ben Keen (Porthcawl Town), Richie Lewis (Pencoed Ath), Scott South (Llangynwyd Rangers), Rob Symons (Cefn Cribwr), Jordan Tremlett (Maesteg Park), Nathan Fletcher-Williams (Pencoed Ath) and Adam Worner (Llangeinor),
Finally, the SDM Glass Stadium will again stage the annual Charity Match between Bryntirion Ath and West House FC on Boxing Day (12.30pm).
Once more the Gareth Morgan Memorial Cup will be up for grabs between these old rivals along with the Dean Stephenson man-of-thematch award.
This year’s chosen charities are the Stroke Association and Parkinsons UK, and funds are set to be boosted afterwards via a clubhouse auction and raffle.
Tom Sutch and Matt Wilson will provide live music under the guidance of D-Jax in what is set to be another lively Boxing Day at Bryntirion both on and off the field.