Gavin’s Premier dream is gathering momentum
BARRY Town are perched at the top of the Nathaniel Cars Welsh League Division One after securing a smart 3-1 away win at Caldicot last weekend.
Gavin Chesterfield has already stated that his club’s main ambition is to bring Welsh Premier football back to Jenner Park – and his dream is gaining a positive momentum with the Linnets sitting top on 35 points with a game in hand on second-placed Goytre.
Goytre were halted in their tracks by Caerau Ely, who produced a marvellous display to secure a 4-1 home win at Cwrt Y Ala last Saturday.
Chesterfield’s team has reached top spot largely due to having the meanest defence in the league, his back four and regular No.1 Mike Lewis only conceding 12 goals in 17 league games.
“We have worked hard to get to the top and once we are there everyone will want to beat us, there are no easy games in this league,” said Chesterfield, and that could be correct tomorrow as Barry travel to Risca United, who are bottom of the league but certainly no cannon fodder.
There is a top-six thriller in prospect at Cambrian and Clydach tomorrow as Cam host Taffs Well.
Craig Hughes’ team were involved in a six-goal cracker last Saturday when they drew 3-3 with a fastimproving Goytre United.
Jason Bertorrelli with a brace and Jacob Matthews were the scorers for the Rhondda team.
Hughes is enjoying his first full season as a boss and still believes his young squad will be involved in the shake-up at the end of the season. The Wellmen, meanwhile, won an end-toend game last Saturday against Port Talbot.
Tim Parker gave the home team the lead before Johnathan Hood equalised for the Steelmen.
Ex-Cardiff City midfielder Tom Burridge then produced a bullet-like finish to secure the spoils for Lee Bridgeman’s team, with the help of three fine saves in the last five minutes from goalkeeper Wyn Walters.
The attendance at Rhiw Dda wasn’t great for two clubs with great traditions, and a spokesman for the home team said a Friday evening fixture would have seen at least another 100 spectators through the gate.
Clubs at this level must surely try to help each other in sorting out the best way possible to attract larger crowds.
The Bulldogs of Ton Pentre were back on the winning track last Saturday when they defeated Risca 4-1.
Lee Phillips’ team will do well to secure another win tomorrow as they travel to a wounded Goytre, who were soundly beaten at Caerau Ely.
The defeat saw Lee Relish’s team slip to second in the table and Ton will do well to return to the Rhondda with a point.
Penybont have taken one point from their last six and will definitely want three at Bryntirion tomorrow when they host Cwmbran Celtic.
Caerau Ely travel to Port Talbot in good shape and on-loan striker Curtis Hutson will look to get among the goals against a club he represented at youth level and Welsh Premier League.
Lee John’s Goytre United begin Division One affairs this evening at Glanford Park in Port Talbot when they entertain Haverfordwest who produced a fine 3-1 away win last Saturday at Penybont.
Paul Giles and Dinas Powys will look to make it a hat-trick of wins when they return to the Murch tomorrow to host Gareth Morgan’s Porth.
Pontypridd Town are at Ynysangharad Park for the second time in four days after defeating Porth 2-1 on Wednesday.
Pontardawe Town are Ponty’s visitors tomorrow and Dominic Broad’s men will start as favourites to make it six points out of six.
In Division Three, Trethomas Bluebirds manager Gareth Kedwood will be looking for an away victory at Panteg to stay in the hunt for promotion,
The Bluebirds have been inactive for the last fortnight and will hope to reproduce the form they showed in December when they won club of the month and Kedwood won the manager of the month.
Vice-chairman Barry Hughes is hoping for the team to kick-start their promotion drive again tomorrow with a three-point return which could be a tough task against fifth-placed Panteg.
Craig Dale’s Bridgend Street are on away soil at Tredegar Town, while runaway leaders STM Sports travel to Caerleon.
Llantwit Major are on the road to Treowen Stars and it is Friday night action at Station Road where Ely Rangers host Chepstow Town looking for a win to help them climb the table.