Gardiner plots promotion to the top flight for STM

STM Sports travel to Risca United tonight in the Nathaniel Cars Welsh League Division Two, with the chance of going six points clear of the chasing pack.

Dale Gardiner has taken over the reins as manager at the St Mellonsbased club he has served as a player for the past decade.

It’s a great start for Gardiner in his first managerial post to have the chance, with fourteen games to go, to elevate STM to Division One for the first time in their history, which has been littered with promotions since Nigel Bircham started the club only eleven years ago on the Cardiff parks.

Gardiner has appointed ex-STM manager and Cardiff City player Nathan Cadette as his coach, and believes Cadette’s experience of the Welsh league can only bolster his team’s chances of winning promotion.

Risca’s home ground is at the Ystrad Mynach College with a 7.30pm kick off.

Pontypridd head west tomorrow and play Ammanford hoping to continue their promotion drive.

It’s been a couple of weeks since Dominic and Damien Broad’s team have played a league match and they will want to get back on track towards their main aim of the season which is promotion to Division One.

There is a local derby in the Vale of Glamorgan this weekend as Dinas Powys host Llantwit Major at their Murch Ground.

Llantwit continued their good form last Saturday, defeating Swansea West End 1-0. Dinas, on the other hand, were defeated 3-1 by second in the table Caldicot Town.

Dinas are currently eight points adrift of safety and will need to start picking up points at home if they are to have any chance of survival.

Aberdare Town travel to Croesyceiliog in a confident frame of mind after producing an excellent 2-1 home victory last Friday Pontadawe.

In the First Division, Afan Lido are the current form horses and they host Taffs Well in Aberavon this evening. The Lido have put themselves back in with a chance of challenging for the title and will prove a difficult hurdle for The Wellmen, who produced an entertaining encounter last Friday when they were held 2-2 at Rhiw Dda against Goytre United.

Centre forward Sam Johnson was again on target for Taffs Well and looks a decent goalscorer with a decent chance of progressing to higher leagues in the future.

Cambrian and Clydach welcome league leaders Haverfordwest to the Rhondda for what could be the division’s game of the day.

Penybont will be at their Kymco Stadium when they host Ton Pentre. The Bulldogs earned a welcome point last Friday in their derby against Cambrian which should give them confidence to collect something from Rhys Griffiths team.

Penybont will believe they dropped two points last week at bottom club Caerau Ely so they will want a maximum haul from Kevin Richards’ team.

Craig Sampson, Caerau Ely’s manager, would have been enthused by his team’s point against Penybont last week and will travel to Undy Athletic hoping to keep up the improved form in their bid to steer clear of relegation.

In the Third Division, Trethomas Bluebirds open up affairs for the weekend this evening at Newport City.

Graham Cummings and Ian Davies, the joint managers at Ely Rangers, saw their team beat bottom of the table Treowen last weekend 3-1, but things could be a lot more difficult tomorrow as the Rangers travel to Swansea University, evening against who are currently second.

Bridgend Street bagged half a dozen goals last Saturday when they overwhelmed Caerau by 6-1.

The Mission will hope for more of the same tomorrow away at Penrhiwceiber Rangers.

Pontyclun will wrap up the Welsh League action when they host Neudd Wenn at home.

The FAW Trophy reaches its quarter final stages tomorrow with Grange Albion and south Wales’ team of the season so far, Penydarren Boys and Girls club, both looking to progress to the semi-finals.

Penydarren, under the guidance of Ceri Mullins, are on a remarkable 23 game winning run and look favourites to progress with a home tie against Llangefni Town.

Grange Albion manager and coach Andrew Avery and Adam Greenslade have taken their club further than they have progressed for 25 years, but the draw wasn’t too keen to the black and whites and they will travel to current trophy favourites Conwy Borough.