Saturday March 26th 2011

 

Under 13 A Division Results

 

AFC Rumney Juniors 4-2 Llanedeyrn FC

AFC Whitchurch Red 1-3 Marlboro Sports Black

Fairwater Juniors 1-0 Grangetown B.C.

Maindy Corries 10-0 Marlboro Sports White

St Albans 5-1 Pentwyn Dynamos

 

Saturday March 26th 2011

Tremorfa Park

Cardiff & District Under 13 A Division

St Albans 5 - 1 Pentwyn Dynamos

                         Swabey

I was looking forward to this one ever since we drew 3-3 earlier in the season with a few big players missing - I fancied our chances of beating them with our strongest team.

Fast forward 5 months......Our keeper Bradley away skiing, Matty & Will unavailable due to a rugby tournament - ok at least we still have 12 players - we can have a go. Then it got worse......text messages on Friday night - Steffan injured playing rugby and unable to play and Josh was at A & E after a fall injuring his wrist - ruling him out too.

So we were forced to play with 10 men - the first time this has ever happened to us and hopefully the last!

We gave this match a right go! the boys never gave up and kept fighting all day long. It was 0-0 for 20 mins and although The Buns had more of the ball - understandably so - we were holding our own.

We went 1 nil down and 2 nil down quickly after with a 3rd going in just before half time - possibly heads were going down a little - but half time gave me a chance to raise spirits.

The Second half was similar to the first and we had a foot hold in the match - if not the scoreline - and only went and scored! Sam Willis doing well, getting into the box and putting a ball across for Daniel Swabey to put away.

We battled on - Charlie was excellent in the middle of the park today, leading by example - The Buns had to keep working - I dont believe it felt to them that we had only 10 men,

The inevitable happened and they got a fourth which killed off any faint hopes we had of a miracle turnaround quickly followed by a fifth following a mistake, and if not for some great saves from Sam Azu - standing in, in goal for the second week in a row, and a cross bar that seemed to like the ball! it may have been worse.

The last 5 mins was the only time we looked tired - not surprising as we had worked so hard -  and they had us penned in but we kept it fairly respectable.

The boys should be proud of themselves - I am imensley - they gave a great account of themselves today against a top side.

Well done boys - great fight, great desire and above all great effort!

Latest League Table - up to & including 19th March (Click image to enlarge)

Table courtesy of Glyn Fry

Our match on Monday 28th March against Maindy has been postponed

Saturday 19th March 2011

Under 13 A Division Results

AFC Rumney Juniors 3-4 Fairwater Juniors

Maindy Corries 2-4 Llanedeyrn FC

Marlboro Sports White 2-9 AFC Whitchurch Red

Pentwyn Dynamos 4-2 Grangetown B.C.

St Albans 1-3 Rhiwbina FC Black

Saturday 19th March 2011

Under 13 A Division

Waun Fach

Pentwyn Dynamos 4 - 2 Grangetown B.C.

Gibbins, Prytherch (3)

No Bradley this week so my first problem was to find someone willing to play in goal - step forward Sam Azu! Sam usually plays in defence but you wouldnt have known it on his performance today - he was great! 

A better performance this week in the end - though we did start slowly and allowed Grangetown a few opportunities early on. As the first half went on we gradually took control and eventually took the lead through Danny - latching onto a throw in from Chris, rolling his man and volleying into the right hand corner.

The lead didnt last long though as we failed to clear our lines and after a scramble in the box they made it 1-1. We should have been 2-1 ahead when Steffan burst through and went one on one with their keeper but he made a great save when everyone thought the ball was in.

Swabes had an effort well saved - as did Chris - They were proving tough to break down and threatened on the counter attack down the right with real pace.

1-1 at half time and I reminded the boys about last week and how we couldnt drop points like that again!

A much better second half, Steffan took control, Matty came on and gave us a real threat down the left and Sam Willis came on to link up with Chaz in the midfield. We were 2-1 up in minutes as Steffan dispossessed their defender and stormed through to score.

Within minutes he did it again from the right hand side - latching onto the ball after Grangetown failed to clear and slotting home for 3-1.

Steffan was buzzing now and notched his third soon after when Danny played a great through ball for him to whiz past their defenders, take the keeper and pass into an empty net for his hatrick making it 4-1 - and thats 2 hatricks in a row now for Steff! 

We were well in control now and had plenty of opportunities to score more - Danny had 2 efforts disallowed for offside - the first was offside but the second wasnt! - and a nice volleyed effort saved later on. Steffan had another great effort well saved by their keeper - who was having a great game, Sam Willis had a shot well saved- but it stayed at 4!

We relaxed a little thinking the game was won and allowed them back into it and they took advantage with a well taken goal.

We played mostly within ourselves Today - stepping it up when we needed to - but doing just enough.

A special mention for Sam Azu - Stepped forward to play in goal, showed great attitude, played really well and actually enjoyed it!

Fixture Amendment

Our Fixture on March 26th is postponed as Rhiwbina have qualified for the Tesco Cup Final on March 27th - we now play St Albans at Tremorfa Park instead.

Thanks Robin!

Saturday 12th March 2011

Pentwyn Lesiure Centre

Pentwyn Dynamos 2 - 2 AFC Rumney Juniors

Gibbins, Swabey

A bad day at the office - and I must take my share of the blame. We underestimated Rumney big time, we were missing a couple of players but looking at Rumney's position in the table I thought this wouldnt be a problem - I also decided to ref the match, which was also probably a mistake as I now couldnt coach. For the entire first half Rumney were the better side - closing down, contesting high balls and generally more hungry for it than us. We went in nil - nil at half time and knew this was going to be a bit of a nightmare.

We improved for the first 10 mins of the secong half and started to look more our usual selves and took the lead with a nice goal from Danny, lifting the ball over the keeper and passing it into the net.

Rumney equalised almost straight away with a well taken goal themselves and the match reverted back to how it started - Rumney going for it and us looking shell shocked.

We gifted Rumney their 2nd goal dribbling out of defence, losing possession and allowing them through to take the lead. 

Our equaliser was fortuous as a ball over the top caused confusion in their defence and Swabes managed to get a touch - not sure which part of him, and I not sure he knew either! - and the ball ended up in th net.

We were lucky to get a point here as Rumney deserved to win. Its really disappointing as we had come off the back of big wins against Whitchurch and Fairwater, feeling that we were on top form and just didint get started today at all. That said its hard to believe Rumney are bottom of the league as they looked a decent side today and with the new players they have gained since the start of the season it will be interesting to see who else they surprise!

Latest League Table including March 5th 2011

(Click image to enlarge)

Table supplied by Glyn Fry

Under 13 A Division

Saturday 5th March 2011

Poplar Park

Fairwater 2 - 6 Pentwyn Dynamos   

                                Viney (3) Prytherch (3)

We were looking forward to this one, after losing 5-1 at home a few weeks back with an under strength team and the bare XI, we wanted to give a better account of ourselves - and we did.

I like fairwater as a side they are similar to us - not the biggest but quick and play good football - and this was evident throughout a really close first half.

Fair play to both sides as they kept playing an attractive passing game despite the sticky pitch. We started well and had a few nearly moments, but scored with our first real chance. Chris Viney rolled his man on the edge of the box and as the keeper advanced he dinked a cheeky ball over him with the outside of his right foot - a real peach of a goal.

Within minutes we conceded a free kick around 25 yards out and Fairwater punished us with a superb drive into the top corner - Bradley had no chance as it flew into the net - a goal each and they were both special.

The next ten mins were tight with us attacking and Fairwater counter attacking quickly but we edged ahead again when Chris broke through and slotted past the keeper for 2-1.

Once again fairwater equalised with a great goal, passing and moving, cutting through our defence and slotting home for 2-2 at half time.

I had kept faith with the starting XI from our last match at Whitchurch - and they had done well - but decided to change it as Fairwater are quicker and play better football than Whitchurch, so on came Steffan Prytherch and Caine Morse.

Fairwater couldnt handle Steffan - he quickly got into the match and started to terrorise their defence - and within minutes he put us 3-2 up bursting through, nicking the ball past their keeper and tapping home.

Steffan was at it again as he stormed through and chipped the keeper for 4-2. Chris was having a great game aslo and completed his hatrick with another well taken goal, hitting it across the keeper into the net to make it 5-2.

We then had 2 goals dissallowed - the first as Danny shot through a crowd, the ball fell to Chris who put it in but was called offside - debateable but possibly correct.

The next one was a little more puzzling as a high ball into the box dropped to Danny and he lifted the ball over the keeper into the net- but seemed to be judged on his position when receiving the ball - not when it was played, as at that moment he was clearly onside. But these things happen and thats football!

The game calmed down a little for the last 15 minutes as we felt the game was won, but Fairwater kept playing and forced us to step it up again to ensure the victory. Steffan completed the second hatrick of the day - and deservedly so - going through on another of his barn stroming runs to smash the ball into the roof of ther net for 6-2.

A well deserved victory against a very good side. Well done boys! We are a team of 15 not just the starting XI - all the substitues came on today and contributed and it doesnt go unnoticed. I wish I could play all 15 of you from the start!

A couple of special mentions:

Chris and Steffan - a hatrick each. Both played with power, pace and scored some wonderful goals. 

Daniel Swabey - always in the right place on and off the ball, played in 3 different positions today and looked great in all 3!

Ellis Dunsford - over the last few months has become a first team regular with assured displays at centre back, and was great again today.