PREMIER DIVISION
LLANTWIT FARDRE .... 1 LLANGYNWYD RANGERS ...................... 0
LLANGYNWYD Rangers are now in a real pickle after losing this basement battle at Llantwit Fardre, writes Tony Poole.
A victory would have taken the Llan Siro boys clear of danger, but a 13th league defeat of the season has left them dangling just one place and three points above the relegation dotted line.
Below the dotted line at present are Betws, Llantwit Fardre and AFC Butetown.
But Llan chose to churn out one of their worst performances of the season at Tonteg Park.
Though the Llynfi Valley side bossed the opening half, they failed to work the goalkeeper with disastrous consequences.
But in the approach to half time, good work down the left from hungry hunter Lloyd Ham should have produced a goal.
A tasty sliced Ham cross fell for Jack Thomas, who was unable to convert a chance that was dying to be put away.
Chances during the second period were like finding a dry patch at the Llan Siro - and the outcome seemed destined for 0-0.
But when Llan failed to clear their lines around the hour mark they were duly punished when Geraint Owen got the winner.
They then missed a glorious chance of 2-0 when the ball clattered against the cross bar.
Young referee Joe Proietti, who had a fine game, then awarded them a free kick that Karl Cornock curled home in fine style.
Goalkeeper Brad Robinson was enjoying an armchair ride, and the next goal was a collector’s item with Evan Jones heading home on the back post for 4-0.
Rest Bay fans were soon cheering another after Geraint Jones lost his marker, and went on to get a first goal for the club.
Manager McCarthy then played musical chairs with the teamsheet, and his son Joe made a triumphant return from injury.
A first touch for top scorer Joe McCarthy gave him 15 goals for the season with six of the best duly applied to smarting Fairfield.
But it didn’t end there
Dylan Llewellyn and Tom Walters stood out for Caerau early on, but there was only going to be one result once Chepstow took a 20thminute lead.
Though away fans felt there was a high challenge in the build up to the goal, it was allowed to stand.
An own-goal then made it 2-0, and to make matters worse Llewellyn received a straight red card for throwing the ball at an opponent.
On the restart, the Riverboaters made a determined attempt to steady a rocking boat, but only a fine Matt Rees save kept it 2-0.
Caerau needed a goal to spice things up and Walters nearly provided it with a snap shot tipped around a post.
That led to Llan chief Mark Jenkins going for broke, pushing more troops into the frontline, and it almost paid dividends when hotshot Dan Raj Chapman let fly from 25 metres.
But his spicy shot came back off a post, and that confirmed that it simply wasn’t going to be Llan’s day at Tonteg Park.
Llan resume league action a week tonight (Wednesday) when Baglan Dragons visit the Llan Siro.
This is one of five remaining home games; the others involve Canton Liberal Club, Grange Albion, Betws and Ton & Gelli.
They have two away matches left to play, involving champions-elect Pontyclun and Brecon Corries. because home fans then saluted Bryant for completing a sizzling hat-trick – and a fourth soon followed.
That made it 8-0 and Adam Jones then followed his twin brother Evan onto the scoresheet.
And with Fairfield already out for a count, round 10 of the rout went to Alex Treharne whose goal was a 12th of the season.
After the hair-raising experience for Fairfield, eight members of FC Porthcawl had a short back and sides at the Ancient Briton, as part of fund-raising events for young Ellie Roberts.
This weekend FC Porthcawl are in Dublin, supporting Wales against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier, and next up on Saturday week is an away league fixture against Croeserw.
But another own-goal resulted in Chepstow enhancing the lead and it wasn’t long before three became four – and then five on a day to forget for the Riverboaters.
During the closing stages, several young Caerau players got a first taste of Welsh League action and on the day every player – in the face of adversity - gave it 100% commitment.
Despite suffering a sixth league defeat of the season, Caerau remain third – seven points shy with two games in hand of leaders STM Sports, who lost 2-1 at home to second-placed Llantwit Major.
Caerau face Trethomas Bluebirds in the league next Saturday at the Bridge Field – home of Bedwas RFC.