OPEN CUP SEMI-FINAL

CARDIFF DRACONIANS ............... 2 GARW ............................. 0

GARW saw their league and cup double hopes perish last week against Cardiff Draconians at the White Tips ground in Treforest, writes Tony Poole.

The Blandy boys entered the cup cauldron as Division Two champions while Draconians top Division One, and have sealed promotion.

At stake was a place in the final against Division One Ynyshir Albion, who the previous week beat Cefn Cribwr, 3-0, at Ynys Park in Ton Pentre.

During a splendid Garw cup run, the highlight came last month via a sizzling 5-1 win at Premier Division aristocrats Brecon.

And they certainly didn’t lack support with multi-talented Garw Valley sportsman Deri Lloyd spotted in a packed grandstand.

Tension was in the air from the outset, as two successful clubs went head-to-head and there was nothing to choose between the sides during the early exchanges.

But the Blandy boys received a hammer blow in the 23rd minute, when talisman Zacharias Edwards was injured and replaced by javelin-throwing champion Rhys Thomas.

The feeling around White Tips was that the opening goal was going to point the way ahead – and the men from the capital got it the approach to half time.

From an arcing corner, Leighton James bundled the ball home, and his goal separated the sides at the turnaround.

Garw had chances to get back on terms early in the second half, as Nathan Rose nipped things in the bud and Shaun Williams also impacted.

However, the Blandy boys hadn’t packed their shooting boots, and the game was all up for them once Liam Creed doubled the lead in the 79th minute.

And as hard as Garw tried during final knockings, the league and cup double had gone with the wind.