Goals aplenty as Caerau are hit for twenty in cup
WELSH football minnows Caerau hit the headlines last season when former England and Arsenal star Paul Merson made a guest appearance for them in the league.
They are back in the limelight, only this time for different reasons, after being involved in a record-breaking 20-0 home defeat (yes that is TWENTY) which League officials are probing.
The Maesteg-based side were the wrong end of the unprecedented scoreline in a Welsh League Cup clash against Cardiff team S.T.M. Sports.
No fewer than five players bagged hat-tricks in the game. League officials say they can never remember anything remotely resembling the score, nor the number of hat-tricks in any football match, and want an explanation about why it happened.
Ironically, there could yet be a positive twist for Caerau. Merson was in touch with them about the hammering, refusing at first to believe it was for real, but then accepting it was.
He has agreed in principle to play again for Caerau in the Welsh League this season and may make his first appearance against Trefelin. Previously Merson played in a 3-2 win over Pontyclun, although the game was cut short because of a floodlight issue.
In the record-breaking game St Mellons hot-shots Lamin Konteh, Josh Graham, Hishi Lama and Chris Worsley each scored hat-tricks. Ben Ahmun then came on as a 70th minute substitute and helped himself to four goals.
Caerau secretary David Hooper said: “When I told Merse the score he was mortified. I don’t think he believed me, to be honest.
“But I’m hoping to have his signature on the forms in the post soon so he can play for us again this season. He’s keen and says he will be down when his TV commitments permit.”
Of the horror 20-0 scoreline, Hooper said: “At 12.45pm I left the clubhouse, went into the changing room and discovered we had just three players. Another two who had been working that morning were on their way, so that made it five firstteamers. Others who were meant to be there were not.
“So I rang the second team manager and he had to bring the youngsters to the ground so we could just field a team. We cancelled the second team match so we could fulfil the first team fixture to avoid heavy punishment.
“The players did their utmost. We were seven down at half-time, had two injuries. We had two more injuries in the second-half, only had ten men on the pitch and they got the other 13 goals.
“It wasn’t fun telling Merse the score afterwards. He was shocked by it.”
S.T.M. Sports official Nigel Bircham said: “We as a club can gain no satisfaction from any game like this which was over after about 10 minutes when we were 3-0 up. The writing was on the wall and our goal scorers stopped celebrating.
“Caerau had Merson playing for them last season and are a club with a decent tradition, so it’s sad when a game turns into a farce.
“Even our managers were glad when the referee blew his whistle for 90 minutes.
“We play the game for competition and the thrill of winning, but unfortunately last weekend will be a footballing memory to put on the backburner.”
Welsh League boss Ken Tucker said: “We’re looking into the game. We’re not very happy about it. The result doesn’t do football any good because it lacks competitiveness.
“I’ve never known 20 goals before, although S.T.M did beat West End 12-3 too... and West End were 3-2 up themselves at half-time!
“So that’s 32 goals for S.T.M in just two matches. But we don’t want scorelines like 20-0 and want an explanation.”