Abertillery Bluebirds FC
Match Report
Celtic began this game determined to consign last week’s dismal performance against Taffs Well to the history books. They took the game to their opponents from the first whistle and went into the lead after only 5 minutes when Tom Meechen dived to head a cross from Alex Mcdowell past Gardiner in the home goal. They continued to make chances and Tom again, Dom Connor and Andrew Larcombe all had half chances to increase the lead. Alex Bonthron then made a good chance for himself by beating two players in the box but then inexplicably scuffed his shot which went harmlessly wide. It was inevitable that another goal would come and it came courtesy of a great crossfield ball from Josh Hinwood to Tom Meechen who played a low cross across goal which was just missed by Sam Powell but Alex Bonthron was on hand to make up for missing his earlier chance by powering the ball past the hapless Gardiner at the far post.
Abertillery then had their first chance of the game which ended with Rhys Thomas’ shot from the left side of the box being blocked. They soon regretted missing this half chance when, almost immediately after, Celtic went 3 up. Alex Bonthron headed on a long ball which Tom Meechen latched onto, strode forward and calmly passed the ball past Gardiner.
Abertillery were reduced to 10 players in the 39th minute when a reckless challenge by Leigh Sharp brought him a second yellow card and he received his marching orders from referee Dan Richardson. This appeared to spur Abertillery on for some reason and they pulled a goal back just before the break when Rhys Thomas won a challenge about 30 yards out and, as the ball bounced up, he hit a dipping volley over Lewis Watkins for an excellent goal.
HALF TIME: Abertillery Bluebirds 1 Celtic 3
Celtic created another chance at the start of the second half when Andrew Larcombe got his head to a corner from Alex Mcdowell but couldn’t keep it down and it went harmlessly over the bar. Lewis Iles (who had come on for the injured Tom Meechen at half time) had a half chance after running onto a pass from Alex McDowell but his shot lacked any power. Lewis then had a good run which finished with e well struck right foot shot which went narrowly passed the near post. Alex Bonthron then beat his man in the box. His resulting shot was half blocked and looped towards goal but Gardiner was able to palm it over the bar.
Abertillery were reduced to 9 players in the 73rd minute when another reckless challenge, this time by Rhys Thomas, earned him a second yellow card and the same fate as Lee Sharp in the first half.
Celtic created yet another chance when a pass from Alex McDowell found Sean Moss but his shot went harmlessly over the bar. Alex Bonthron then had a chance following good work by Lewis Iles but his shot was deflected for a corner. Celtic did eventually find the net again late on when a ball from Kian Bodenham found Dom Connor in the box and he took his time and guided it into the net.
This was an excellent performance by the lads, particularly in the first half when they played some of their best football for a long time. To be honest, the score could have been anything with Abertillery being totally unable to get a foothold in the game and Celtic making chance after chance throughout the game.
FULL TIME; Abertillery Bluebirds 1 Celtic 4
Player of the Match: Tom Meechen