Briton Ferry 6 Croesyceiliog 4

Croesyceiliog crashed out of the League cup with a disappointing defeat to third division Briton Ferry in a ten goal thriller.
Croesyceiliog came into the game on the back of just one win all season but to score four goals away from home and still lose to a team two divisions below is disappointing and they will have to pick themselves up quickly as they are back in cup action on Wednesday evening as they travel to Tredegar for a "home" tie in the Gwent Senior Cup.
Croesyceiliog did not get off to the best of starts and were a goal down after seven minutes,following Chris Gardener's corner John Bailey's punch fell to Daniel Thomas and his effort was deflected in by Aaron Price.
However within the next half an hour Croesy scored three times to put themselves three one up and in truth it seemed like the game was won after thirty seven minutes.Croesy levelled the scoring after twelve minutes,Mark Morris' ball over the top found Ricky Coff in space and he advanced to the area before firing past Steffan Rogers.Ryan Fahey, was pushed forward from his midfield position to play upfront in this game with Jody Jenkins suspended and it was Fahey who put Croesy in front ten minutes later when after latching onto Dan Jenkins pass he lobbed Rogers from just inside the penalty area.Mike Dewar gave Croesy a two goal cushion with eight minutes left of the first half,heading home a Jamie Jenkins free kick from close range.
Briton Ferry got a vital second goal three minutes before half time to give them some hope when despite Nicky Maggs looking clearly offside he was allowed to continue and after a melee in the area,Barry Herdman scored from inside the six yard box to make it three-two.
Croesyceiliog's lead did not last long as Briton Ferry were level within two minutes of the restart,Price released Thomas who produced a cool finish past Bailey.Briton Ferry took the lead with eighteen minutes left,a longball downfield flicked of the head of Dewar and fell kindly to Price who again gave Bailey no chance.Croesy were in shock and Thomas scored his second of the afternoon after being played in by Price despite Price again looking in a offside position but make no mistake Thomas finished well and Croesy had let a three-one lead disappear into being five-three behind within thirty eight minutes of action.Daniel Clouth gave Croesy faint hope with seven minutes remaining when he headed home a Coff cross.Croesy then saw a header hit the post with just seconds left before Briton Ferry went down the other end and poor defending saw Thomas complete his hat trick to send Croesy crashing out.

Croesyceiliog Reserves recorded their third straight league win with a fine 2-1 victory away to Llantwit Fardre,this despite having John Lowndes sent off in the first minute

Croesyceiliog 0 Maesteg Park 3

Nine man Croesyceiliog crashed out of the Welsh cup to second division Maesteg Park at Woodland Road on Saturday.
Croesyceiliog came into the game on the back of a away victory over Newport YMCA while Maesteg are unbeaten in division two following their relegation last season.
Croesyceiliog started the better of the two sides and nearly went ahead in the eighth minute,Jody Jenkins found Lewis Clare whose shot from the edge of the area beat Maesteg keeper Chris Barlow but went over via the top of the crossbar.Croesyceiliog then went close three times in the same attack,Daniel Clouth's inch perfect pass over the top found the feet of Jenkins whose shot was blocked before Chris Watkins also saw his shot blocked and then Ryan Fahey saw his effort blocked for a corner,from which nothing came from.
Maesteg Park took the lead against the run of play in the fourteenth minute when there looked to be very little danger but Geraint Mizen's effort from the eighteen yard line took a big deflection,completely wrong footing Jon Bailey and the visitors were in front.
Maesteg from this moment on where looking to play on the counter attack and in Calvin McLaggon they have the perfect outlet to play this game with his pace causing trouble for the Croesy defence and perhaps he should of done better when free on goal but from a tight angle he failed to even test Bailey.
Croesy had a goal disallowed ten minutes before the break,Luke Fernquest's effort was on target and going in but the assistant referee flagged claiming for Jody Jenkins,there is a doubt as to wether he was offside or not but there is a big doubt as to wether he touched the ball or not.
Croesyceiliog were reduced to ten men just five minutes later,Dan Clare showing his anger at his own team mates ,swore and in the game today that is a straight red card and although everyone knows the rules if the referee sent every player off that swore during the game,we could end up with all games being abandoned.
Croesy were every much in the game in the second half and had a penalty calm for handball turned down just before Jody Jenkins was sent off in the fifty-eighth minute,again for swearing and yet again not at anyone in particular but in today's game swearing is not allowed.
Maesteg went straight down the other end from this red card and went two-nil up,Mizen was on hand at the far post to tap in McLaggon's cross as gaps appeared everywhere with Croesy down to nine men.Maesteg added athird through Mizen eight minutes from time to complete the scoring before Maesteg's Jon Thomas was sent off for violent conduct.
Croesy will look to put this defeat behind them as they travel to Briton ferry in the League cup on Saturday.

Croesy: Bailey,Morris,D.Jenkins(Wilmott 70),Clouth,D.Clare,Fahey,Watkins,J.Jenkins(Coffe 61),L.Clare,Fernquest(Dewar 41)

Caerleon 2 Croesyceiliog 1

Croesyceiliog suffered a disappointing defeat as they produced a poor second half performance on Saturday.

Croesy came into the game on the back of a opening day defeat to Barry Town and while there were positives taken from that game its hard to think of many from Saturday's performance.
Croesyceiliog were much the better side in the first half and were deservedly in front at the break through a Ricky Coff strike nine minutes before half time.
Croesy tested home keeper Jon Chorley after just six minutes,playing good football which started at the back Lewis Clare's cross found Jody Jenkins whose shot was saved.Dan Clouth nearly put Croesy in front ten minutes later,Chris Watkins cross to the near post was met by Clouth whose first time effort went just over the crossbar.Croesy went in front on thirty-six minutes after Jody Jenkins had seen his effort cleared to the edge of the box Zac Osbourne found Coff who finished into the far corner giving Chorley no chance.
During the half time interval and looking back on the first half it seemed that the game was there for the taking for Croesy and it was viewed that on the first half showing it would be a struggle for Caerleon to score.
However that view quickly changed because within forty seconds of the restart Caerleon were on level terms,Croesy failed to deal with the danger and from Ryan Cueto's cross half time sub Mark Millinship made a immediate impact on the game as he headed past Jon Bailey.
Caerleon grew in confidence from this good start and ten minutes later were in front through a Dale Clarke penalty after Chris Watkins had fouled Luke Cueto needlessly in the area.
Croesy had a lot of possession from then until the end of the game but failed to make many worthwhile chances and at times seemed to lack ideas on how to break Caerleon down.
However the season has only just started so let's not get to downhearted as there are a few experienced players to return to the squad and that will make a difference and one win will quickly kick start the season.
Croesy travel to Caldicot Town on Wednesday night 6.30pm kick off as they look to get points on the board.

Croesyceiliog reserves made the trip to Garw on Saturday and came back 3-2 winners.
Croesy goal scorers were Lee Mason,Joel Dean and Richard Lewis.

Pontypridd Town 0 Croesyceiliog 3

Croesyceiliog gained the win that was needed to guarantee first division safety this season against already relegated Pontypridd Town.
Croesy scored two goals in the last nine minutes to give the scoreline a flattering look while the hosts also had two players sent off in the same time period but Croesy just about edge the game and deserved the victory.
Croesy started well enough and Daniel Clouth should of tested Chris Golton in the home goal but he completely mistimed his effort after four minutes following a Jamie Jenkins corner.Jodi Jenkins,returning to the side after a long time out,then tested Golton after being found with a clever free kick by Chris Watkins but the Pontypridd keeper was alert enough to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Pontypridd had a good chance to take the lead after nineteen minutes,Jacob Daly's free kick from out wide wasn't dealt with and from inside the six yard box Mark Coles scuffed his effort and John Bailey held onto the ball.Croesy immediately went back on the attack and Carl Evans had a effort go just wide of the far post from twenty yards out.Croesy continued to be on the back foot without really testing Golton however they took the lead four minutes before the break due to a fine finish from Jodi Jenkins,Pontypridd's Craig Green failed to deal with the ball on the left and Jodi picked up the ball and advanced into the area before firing an unstoppable shot past Golton into the top corner.
Croesy failed to really start the second half but credit must go to Pontypridd who despite being down put up a spirited second half performance,but although they had alot of the possession they failed to get many shots in on the Croesy goal with their best effort coming after sixty-five minutes,David Delaney,who was by far away the best player in a home shirt,fired in a shot from just outside the penalty area on a angle but Bailey tipped the ball over the crossbar.
Croesy wrapped up the points nine minutes before the end,Bailey's long goal kick found Nicky McGrath who as he bore down on goal was fouled by Leigh Watkins and the referee correctly pointed to the spot,Watkins would probably have escaped without even a caution but foul language towards the match officials resulted in him being shown a straight red card,and from the resulting spot kick Jamie Jenkins made no mistake to put Croesy two-nil up.
Josh Higgins wrapped up the scoring four minutes from time,after croesy kept the ball well.Higgins in space fired past Golton from eighteen yards out,however that wasn't the end of the action as Delaney picked up a straight red card for a off the ball incident on the advice on the assistant referee,and although Delaney did not contest this decision while the referee was waited for the game to restart the Pontypridd manager made a comment and he was sent from the dugout.
Croesy comfortably saw out the remaining couple of minutes injury time and the victory was achieved,so congratulations to the players and management of Croesy for staying up and now being able to enjoy their final game at home to Newport YMCA this Thursday evening.

Croesy:Bailey,Holman,Jamie Jenkins,Morris,Clare,Clouth (Miles 74),Evans,Coffe,Jodi Jenkins(Osbourne 66),McGrath,Watkins(Higgins 68).

Croesyceiliog 0 Ton Pentre 0

Croesyceiliog picked up a unexpected point against high flying Ton Pentre and with this point they moved to within five points of ensuring first division football at Woodland Road next season.
Ton Pentre came into the game as league leaders and Croesy had suffered a heavy defeat at Ton Pentre in early March but Croesy's commitment and work ethic was brilliant all afternoon and they fully deserved the point they got.
Croesyceiliog knew they had to start much better than they did against Goytre United midweek,and from the first whistle it was clear that they were up for the game although Ton Pentre had half a chance to take the lead after nine minutes,Mike Dewar's clearance hit Dane Williams and the ball fell kindly for the visiting striker but he saw his lobbed effort over John Bailey go wide of the post.Croesy responded well and young striker Zac Osbourne fired a effort high and wide just three minutes later after being found by Ricky Coffe,Coffe had continued his run into the penalty area and if Osbourne had noticed Coffe in space perhaps he would of played the ball across goal to him.Neither keeper was forced in to making a save in the first half even though both sides were attempting to create chances,none fell for anyone to have a clear strike on goal.
Ton Pentre had the first real chance of the game just a minute into the second half but again Bailey in the home goal was not tested,Andrew Hughes passed to Dale Price who from eight yards out put the ball over the crossbar.
Both sides were reduced to ten men on fifty-seven minutes following a off the ball incident,Ton Pentre were awarded a free kick in their own half,but as the players were moving forward towards the Croesy penalty area,Ton Pentre striker Dane Williams hit Mike Dewar for no apparent reason throwing at least three punches and Dewar doing what anyone else would of done choose to defend himself and on the advice of his assistant the referee sent both players off.
Neither side had many chances as they seemed to cancel each other out with many shots being fired from distance but none testing the keepers.Ton Pentre though must have thought they had sneaked a late win just a minute from normal time as Phil Clarke's cross was met at the far post by Richard Stevens but Bailey pulled off a excellent save as the header seemed destined for the top corner and the save was worthy of Croesy securing a point.Seven minutes of injury time was added on at the end but neither side could find a winner in a game that really boosted Croesyceiliog's survival hopes but at the same time put a dent in Ton Pentre's hopes of winning the league.
All of the Croesy players performed well on the day from Bailey doing what he had to do well in goal,Carl Evans anchoring the midfield to Osbourne leading the front line really well as the lone striker,but everyone should be proud of the effort they put in.
Croesy pulled eleven points clear of the drop zone,as Maesteg Park were beaten again and although Croesyceiliog will probably finish in fifteenth place this season considering the position they were in a few weeks back it has taken a huge effort by the players and management team to get them as far clear of the drop zone as they are.

Croesyceiliog: Bailey,Holman,Bristow,J.Jenkins,Dewar,Clare,McGrath,Evans,Osbourne(Jones 84),Clouth,Coffe. Unused subs:D.Jenkins,Pearce.

Croesyceiliog 0 Goytre United 3

Croesyceiliog never recovered from a nightmare start that saw them conceded two goals within the first ten minutes against title chasing Goytre United.
Croesy were never expected to gain anything out of this game but despite the opening twenty minutes they more than matched their visitors and with a little bit of luck the score would have been a lot closer than what it turned out to be.
Goytre got off to a perfect start for them as Richard Ryan netted twice early on,firstly after five minutes he latched onto a cross from the left hand side and Ryan was left in loads of space to divert the ball past John Bailey.Goytre were passing the ball round with confidence and are one of the best sides that Croesy have played this season and deserve to be at the top going for the title,though due to the higher costs in the Welsh Premier league they don't wish to take the step up.
Richard Ryan added a quick fire second on ten minutes when after patient build up,Goytre sprung forward quickly and Ryan fired passed Bailey from the edge of the area.Richard Ryan then saw a deflected effort hit the post before the danger passing,however Croesy came into the game from midway through the first half and came close to pulling a goal back after thirty-two minutes,Jamie Jenkins found Ricky Coffe whose shot beat Chris Curtis in the Goytre goal but the ball hit the post before bouncing back into the arms of the visiting keeper.Croesy were denied a clear penalty four minutes before the break ,Mark Jones shot hit a defenders hand and every Croesy player appealed for a penalty and the assistant referee flagged for a penalty but the referee ignored the flag and waved play on.Ricky Coffe then had a shot saved from twenty yards out by Curtis after latching onto a pass by Carl Evans.
Onto the second half and it was action packed with both sides testing the keepers and near misses as shots went wide but Goytre added a third sixteen minutes from time when a cross from the left was diverted home at the near post to complete a three-nil away victory.
Croesy then had a nervous hour's wait before the news came through that relegation rivals Maesteg Park had suffered defeat on the night as well,so the gap remains ten points between Croesy and Maesteg Park and though Maesteg have three games in hand they only have six games left in total to firstly bridge the gap then overtake Croesyceiliog.
Croesyceiliog entertain leaders Ton Pentre on Saturday with a 2.30 kick off.

Newport YMCA 2 Croesyceiliog 1

Croesyceiliog's three match unbeaten run came to a end away to Newport YMCA on Saturday.
Croesy came into the game on the back of picking up seven points out of the previous nine on offer but they didn't improve that tally as Newport YMCA deservedly picked up the points.However a little bit later in the afternoon came the good news that relegation rivals Maesteg Park had lost again meaning Croesy maintain their ten point lead over Maesteg,and although Maesteg have three games in hand out of their last seven games they need to pick up eleven points to overtake Croesy,providing Croesy fail to pick up any points in their remaining four games so its not all doom and gloom,and to a extent Pontardawe Town need to pick up points in their games in hand to avoid getting dragged into the relegation scrap.
On to the game itself,Croesy never really recovered from a sluggish start and without poor finishing from the home side, the home side could off been well out of sight before Mike Dewar gave Croesy a slight hope with only three minutes remaining of the game.YMCA should of been in front after only six minutes from a counter attack, Jamie Jenkins free kick twenty-five yards from the YMCA goal hit the defensive wall and from the break,Faris Yafai cross was met by Aaron Stewart who somehow managed to head over John Bailey's crossbar from inside the six yard box. Croesy's reprieve didn't last long however as the hosts were in front on ten minutes,Gareth Wesson's long free kick down field was headed back across the penalty area by Daniel Heath and the ball struck Mike Dewar's arm and the referee pointed straight to the spot,and from the resulting penalty kick Gareth Lynch gave Bailey no chance.John Bailey then denied Yafai with a good save and shortly after Yafai shot wide from twenty yards out.Croesy though they had level the scores on twenty-one minutes when following a free kick Ricky Coffe slotted past Wesson but the assistant referee raised his flag to give offside against Coffe,although it did seem a tight decision.
Croesy at times were their own worst enemies as they gave the ball away time and time again and on the half hour mark Stewart fired just wide for YMCA after the ball was needlessly given away in midfield.Croesy nearly scored just four minutes later Callum Miles found Jenkins on the right and his cross to the far post was met by Nicky McGrath and his volley beat Wesson but rebounded back of the post and hit Mark Jones before going wide for a goal kick.Ricky Coffe then had to be alert to deny Stewart clearing his effort of the line from Robert Wigmore's corner.Newport YMCA scored the crucial second goal three minutes before the break,again the ball was given away cheaply and as YM attacked in numbers,John Pardue's initial shot was well saved by Bailey but Daniel Cueto was on hand to put the home side two nil up.
Newport YMCA started the second half brightly and thankfully for Croesy,McGrath was on hand to clear Pardue's effort of the line after Pardue done well to firstly corner the ball from a Criag Ford cross and then fire goal wards.John Bailey pulled of a fine save eleven minutes before time,as he denied Yafai with a close range diving header after he met Cueto's cross.Croesy scored a consolation goal near the end as Coffe put the ball over the top of the defence for sub Adie Pearce and his cross found Dewar who scored from twelve yards out.Croesy thought they had rescued a point two minutes into injury time when Wesson done well at his near post to deny McGrath.
So up next on Wednesday evening is a home game against Goytre United who currently sit second,just three points of the top but have two games in hand over leaders Ton Pentre,but with Maesteg also in action(away to Bryntirion),Croesy will look to either extend the difference between them and Maesteg or if not at least maintain the difference.