STM Sports out to build on giant killing success

IT’S back to Nathaniel Cars League action this weekend and a host of clubs will have a spring in their step after securing JD Welsh Cup upsets last Saturday.

It was definitely a good day for Division Two clubs as STM Sports, Llantwit Major and Pontypridd Town all succeeded in defeating clubs from the First Division.

STM produced the result of the round, securing a comfortable 5-2 home victory at Llanrumney University against former finalists Afan Lido.

Gareth Morgan’s St Mellons-based team were inspired by a special Lamin Conteh hat-trick, plus goals from Kallum Hadgeto and Curtis Scotto to secure an away tie in round two against Penydarren BC.

STM chairman Geza Hadgeto would have been proud of his players and elated that one of the goal-scorers was his 18-year-old son.

Morgan will hope his team can reproduce their form of last week when they travel to Abergavenny Town tomorrow.

Pontypridd Town under the guidance of Dominic Broad upset Craig Hughes’ Cambrian and Clydach 2-1 to one to earn a second round tie against Pencoed Athletic from the South Wales Alliance League.

Broad’s side are currently second in Division Two with four out of five league wins and host Aberbargoed Buds tomorrow.

Llantwit Major’s 3-2 home victory against Taffs Well last Saturday would be regarded as one of their clubs best ever results.

A brace from Robert Jones and a Josh Morgan strike secured victory over Lee Bridgeman’s First Division team.

Bridgend Street, from Division Three, also enjoyed Welsh Cup success last Saturday defeating Machen 4-3.

Jeff White’s 94th-minute goal saw the Mission through to the next round.

A Callum Smith brace and another strike from White gives the Splott team a second round tie at Cwmamman United.

Craig Dale’s team host tomorrow at the Willows.

Also in Division Three Pontyclun travel to Chepstow and Ely Rangers are on the road to Treharris Athletic.

Dinas Powys visit top-of-the-table Pontardawe in Division Two.

In the First Division, Caerau Ely are at Cwrt y Ala hosting Monmouth.

Penybont welcome Cambrian and Clydach to the Clemco Stadium while Port Talbot will look to put Welsh Cup disappointment behind them when they play at home to Cwmamman United.

Kevin Richards is back in the Ton Pentre hot-seat and will hope to turn around a poor start made by the Bulldogs when his team host Britton Ferry tomorrow.

Richards had a wonderful first spell at Ton, leading them to five Welsh League First Division titles and two League Cup wins.

Richards also had a great playing career with the Bulldogs and represented them in the Intertoto Cup as well as playing for Inter Cardiff against Celtic in the Uefa Cup.

In the Welsh Premier League Barry Town host Cefn Druids at Jenner Park tomorrow.

Both teams played out goalless draws last weekend and this could well be an equally tight encounter.

Gavin Chesterfield’s team have been among the goals in their last two Panteg games at Jenner Park, scoring three against Carmarthen in the league and four against Afan Lido in MG Cup action

But they will have to do without the league’s player of the month for September Kane McLaggon, who pulled a hamstring in the stalemate at Aberystwyth last weekend.

Cardiff Met travel to Bangor for the match of the day.

Bangor are currently top of the league on 18 points with the Cyncoed students only two points behind them in third place.

A Chris Baker goal was enough to give the Archers a three-point haul on home territory last Sunday against Llandudno, which should encourage Christian Edwards’ team for their biggest challenge of the season so far.