Cwmbran Celtic vs Caerau (Ely) FC

Match Report

Matchday Programme

Our first floodlit match at the Avondale Motor Park Arena ended in another defeat against a lively talented Caerau side, 3^rd placed in the table who were far too good for us on the night. The pitch was in remarkably good condition considering that the drought earlier in the season had made the surface look like a seaside beach. The new screen behind the car park goal prevented freeloaders watching from the bank after 19 years.

We were without suspended skipper Andrew Larcombe and injured striker Josh Gibson and ex-Celtic defender Harrison Lewis was in the Caerau side. The visitors could have been ahead on 2 minutes when a shot from the left by Davies was tipped away by a fine diving save from Lewis Watkins. We responded with a shot over the bar by Joe Bowen. Caerau then mounted a superbly crafted attack in which Kimmins, Griffiths, and Maher combined to set up Redhead who shot just wide of the post. We had a chance when the ball fell to Cole Doolan in front of goal but he could not wrap his foot around the ball to shoot before it was whipped away by a defender. On the half hour Caerau attacked down the right and the cross fell agonisingly in front of the outstretched boot of Griffiths at the far post.

The first chances of the 2^nd half both fell to us. Efan Fletcher’s shot was blocked and the rebound was hit over the bar by Joe Bowen and a Fletcher free kick from the edge of the box was well saved by the diving keeper Dinmonekene. In the 56^th minute the visitors took the lead. From a throw on the left the ball was crossed and only half cleared, a follow-up shot was blocked but the fell kindly to Oliver Redhead who found the net with his shot. Four minutes later Caerau were disallowed a goal by Kimmins from a cross by George Sheppard but in the 63^rd minute the visitors did go two up when Davies cut in from the left and saw his shot deflected off Bowen’s boot, wrong-footing Watkins as the ball sailed into the net. A speculative strike by Sam Powell from 35 yards was pushed away by Dimonekene’s fine diving save. In the final 10 minutes the visitors were well on top creating 3 chances – Kimmins and Ashford shooting over the bar, and a shot from Griffiths saved by Watkins. We had one final effort, a header wide by Josh Hinwood from a corner.

We remain rooted at the bottom of the table and our club record WL/CS/cup sequence without a win is now 13 games. The bottom 4 teams are all having a torrid time in the league. In their last 20 games collectively they have between them drawn 7 and lost 13 so we are still within one win of levelling with Ynyshir and Treowen.

POM: Iestyn Davies