Baah vows to turn it around for lowly Ely
IT’S been a tough start to the Nathaniel Cars Welsh League Division One season for Nana Baah’s Caerau Ely.
Ely have harvested just one point from five games played and are hoping for an upturn in form and fortunes when they entertain Cwmbran Celtic tomorrow.
This has been Baah’s worst start in his six seasons in charge but he is confident he will turn the season around.
The Cardiff schoolteacher has done a wonderful job at the Ely club including a title winning season in his third year in the job, and that was a first title for a Cardiff club for 40 years in the division.
In his first season in charge he won promotion from Division Two and his teams have not finished outside of the top-seven during his time in charge.
Jerome Maynard, Huw Corne, Scott James and Lewis Hydes are the only players left from the title-winning squad with the bulk of them joining other clubs for financial gains or higher standards of football.
“We struggle to compete with the top teams when it comes to money,” admitted Baah.
“But we keep producing quality players and we have a good name for giving youngsters a chance to play at Division One level.
“Sam Cawley came into our team this season from our youth set up and has been our best player so far.
“We should have got something last weekend at Briton Ferry where we lost 4-3 in the 90th minute but that’s the way it’s going at the moment.
“The chairman has been fantastic and encourages myself and my coach Craig Sampson to keep doing what were good at.
“A mid-table finish this season might be a better achievement that when we won the title and I believe in the group we have.
“With an addition of one or two more and we’ll be okay.”
Penybont have had a couple of defeats in a row for the first time in 12 months and will want to get back to winning ways at home tomorrow against Taffs Well.
Lee Bridgeman’s ‘Wellmen’ have secured two 4-0 wins in their last two outings and will be a decent match for Rhys Griffiths’ team.
Ton Pentre went 3-0 down last weekend at Llanelli and face another of the division’s fancied teams when they host Goytre Gwent at Ynys Park tomorrow.
Port Talbot Town have scored 11 goals in their last two outings and host Monmouth tomorrow.
The league leaders Llanelli travel to Haverfordwest for the league’s game of the day at the Bridge Meadow Stadium.
An improving Afan Lido host Undy Athletic and Cambrian and Clydach host Briton Ferry.
In Division Two, Pontypridd Town travel to Llywdcoed and Dinas Powys head west to Ammanford.
Llantwit Major have two wins from two and head to Abergavenny trying to make it three in a row. In the Third Division, Pontyclun host Treharris Athletic.