CHEPSTOW TOWN (Larkfield Park)

FAW WELSH CUP 4th ROUND, CHEPSTOW TOWN 3-4 HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY, ATTENDANCE: 300 (est)

The story of this trip began on Friday night when a heavy downfall of snow in the North West caused plenty of transport disruption. I, along with another couple of hoppers, was due to fly to Belfast for a cheeky double header of Ballmoney United and The League Cup Final, between Cliftonville and Crusaders, at Windsor Park.

As the flight got pushed back, we had a team meeting and opted to cut our losses, deciding that we could not risk the possibility of not flying or even flying out but then being stuck in Northern Ireland.

This left me with an unexpected free afternoon, but with the recent bad weather games were dropping like flies. After a scan of the now vital twitter, various clubs tweeted that their games were on. Three clubs to do this early doors were Larkhall Athletic, Barry Town and Chepstow Town. This gave me plenty of back up.

When the draw for the Welsh Cup 4th Round was made before Christmas this was my initial choice of game, before the Belfast trip was mooted. It was to the Gwent border town of Chepstow I therefore headed.

Chepstow, of the Welsh League Division 3, were taking on Division 1 Haverfordwest County. Chepstow returned to the Welsh League this season after being in the Gwent County League since 2007.

Volunteers had worked hard to clear the playing surface of snow, but as you can imagine the pitch was very, very heavy. Having a very brief chat with the referee before the game he said the ball was rolling, the pitch wasn't dangerous and, after all the efforts to get the game on, he was happy to give it a chance.

The club were rewarded with a bumper crowd and said crowd were rewarded with a stonking cup tie.

There appeared little chance of an upset as Haverfordwest settled down quickly and were two goals to the good after 20 minutes, through Ben Steele (15) and a Tony Shier own goal (20).

However before the break Chepstow finally got a foothold in the mud and began to make it more of a contest. They had a couple of great opportunities to get a goal back but were unlucky not to do so, Peter Blain in the Haverfordwest goal making a great save on one occasion.

Chepstow continued their push forward in the second half, as the pitch began to deteriorate rapidly (if that was possible) and had a great chance to score when they were awarded a penalty, but the spot kick was rolled wide.

It was then the fun really began!

Within seconds of the penalty miss the ball was then in the Chepstow net, Anthony Owens (70) scoring to give County a 3-0 lead, but moments later the hosts had a goal back when Jason Thorne (71) scored.

Haverfordwest then missed a penalty of their own and Chepstow's Andrew Wenzel was sent off. The 10 men though pulled another goal back, Chris O'Sullivan deflecting the ball into his own net (76). This gave Chepstow renewed hope but within minutes the tie finally appeared over when a Steffan Williams free kick (80) made it 4-2 to The Bluebirds.

However, Chepstow refused to lie down and Thorne bagged his second (85) to again drag Chepstow back into the game. Despite late pressure though they could not find an equaliser and it was Haverfordwest who went through to the Quarter Finals.

There was never going to be quality football played on a pitch such as today's but both teams produced an absorbing encounter. Credit to everyone for getting the game on and to all the players for their efforts.

 

Highlights from the game can be found on this here link....
http://s4c.co.uk/sgorio/e_/gem/6789/

CHESTER FC (Deva Stadium)

CONFERENCE NORTH, CHESTER 4-1 STALYBRIDGE CELTIC, ATTENDANCE: 2,095

No new ground this weekend, but thanks to the sterling efforts of volunteers in getting the pitch clear, I was able to take a seat at The Deva to watch Chester's continued march towards the title.

The ground didn't completely escape and only the seated areas of the ground were open today as the Harry Mac terrace was icy underfoot.

In what was a comfortable half for the homesters, goals from Nathan Jarman (11) George Horan (27) and Marc Williams (43) gave Chester a 3-0 interval lead. If it wasn't for the heroics of Ashley Woodhouse in the Celtic goal the scoreline would have been more.

Stalybridge made a better fist of it in the second half and dominated for large periods. A Jack Laird free kick (65) reduced the arrears and if they could've added a second things may have got interesting. As it was a Wes Baynes 30 yard screamer made certain of the points with a minute remaining.

Post match "analysis" took place in the usual haunts such as The Brewery Tap, Old Harkers, The Cellar and also in the newly opened Architect, up by the roodee, which has 5 ales on tap.

Hopefully the weather will have settled down by next weekend and my planned Northern Ireland double header goes ahead.

BALLYCLARE COMRADES (Dixon Park)

IRISH FA CUP 5th ROUND, BALLYCLARE COMRADES 2-3 BANGOR FC, ATTENDANCE: 160 (h/c)

A trip to the province today, but this was not my original choice of game. The plan was to head into Belfast have a few beers with a groundhopping pal and  then we would go our separate ways, him to Ballyclare and myself to Cliftonville.

However with all the mither going on in the city, I decided to leave Belfast behind and also head out to Ballyclare. We did have time for an Ulster Fry and then a beer in the famous Crown Liquor Saloon, well it would have been rude not to, where a pint of Whitewater Belfast Ale went down a treat.

Ballyclare is about 13 miles north of Belfast and a direct bus took about 40 minutes. There was certainly no problem with the flying of the union flag in this town!

Ballyclare Comrades is the local football team, and the club was founded in 1919 by veterans of the 1914–18 War, most of them from "C" Company of the 12th Royal Irish Rifles - a battalion made up entirely of East Antrim men, who fought at the Somme and in many other famous First World War battles.

The club currently play in the IFA Championship 2, but were in the top flight from 1990 until 2003, when the league was re-structured. Today though it was Irish FA Cup 5th Round day as they took on IFA Championship 1 side Bangor for a place in the quarter finals.

Their ground, Dixon Park, is in a pretty central location, near the main square. The ground is a hotch potch of stands, I'm guessing the club have prudently built as they can afford, for some reason the ground put me in mind of something you would get in the Conference North.

There is a terrace behind one goal, a terrace with a few seats behind the other and a seated stand along one of the touchlines. The changing rooms are next to the seated stand but not joined together.

The game was an entertaining cup tie and the homesters can consider themselves very unlucky to lose. After going in at the break 2-1 up they eventually lost 2-3 to a goal four minutes from time.

Comrades 'keeper Paddy Flood made a great save inside the opening minute to prevent Bangor taking the lead but there was little he could do in the 9th minute when an error on the halfway line left him exposed, with Ryan Murray bearing down on him one-on-one, and the striker finished with ease.

The home side were level after 25 minutes when Ricky Higgins finished from inside the six yard box. Simon MacGowan nearly gave Ballyclare the lead, but his effort from a free kick (pictured left) crashed back off the woodwork.

However the Comrades did take the lead before half time when a cross was headed home by Johnny McClurg after 38 minutes.

It wasn't long after the restart that Bangor were level when a cross eluded 'keeper Flood and Jonny Watterson was on hand to slide the ball home from a tight angle

It was an evenly matched second period and the game could have gone either way, but it was the visitors who grabbed a winner four minutes from time. Sean Cahill turned a couple of defenders, broke into the box, rounded the goalkeeper and rolled the ball home. A fine goal to settle any game.

As I mentioned, perhaps the scoreline was harsh on Ballyclare, who I thought deserved a replay, but it was Bangor who found themsleves in the quarter finals where they will host Glentoran.

Buses and planes home ran on time and I was back in the house for Match of the Day. A grand day out and I'm back in Northern Ireland once again in two weeks time, for a cheeky double, when hopefully things will have calmed down a wee bit.

CPD GAERWEN (Maes Merddyn)

WELSH ALLIANCE DIVISION TWO, CPD GAERWEN 3-4 PENMAENMAWR PHOENIX, ATTENDANCE: 31 (h/c)

Still not feeling 100% today so I, despite the kind offer of a lift to Scotland for a double header, decided to keep it local-ish.

Gaerwen's Maes Merddyn is one of the hand full of Welsh Alliance grounds I needed to visit, so I thought that will do for me. It was a dry, but very cold and windy day on the Island.

The first half gave no indication of what was to come in the second period as it was very poor overall, with neither side able to string three passes together. The wind and bobbly pitch was never going to help either. The sides went in 1-1 at break, both goals coming in the two minutes before the whistle.

Phoenix took the lead after 43 minutes when a shot came in and, as the home defence rushed out, the ball fell at the feet of Scott Williams who turned and fired home. Moments later Alan Williams equalised when his effort found it's way into the corner of the net.

In the second period both sides just went for it, playing it long, and the game, though still lacking quality, was thoroughly entertaining. Gaerwen took the lead through Shaun Morris (55) before Phoenix quickly levelled through Bryan Kilcourse(58). Gaerwen restored their advantage once more when Kieran Lewis chipped the 'keeper (74) before again being pegged back through a Peter Williams header (76).

The winner came two minutes from time when a needless penalty was conceded and although Billy Osbourne's spot kick was saved, there was nothing the 'keeper could do to stop the follow up shot.

The ground is basic, with just 3 very small bits of cover (you could get about 6 people in each) and hard standing. Fair play though, the ground does look like a lot of work has been done to it and it is very neat and tidy.

One thing though, you can get a great view of the pitch from the roadside so any hopping mingebags out there will have a field day!

DORCHESTER TOWN (The Avenue)

CONFERENCE SOUTH, DORCHESTER TOWN 2-2 TRURO CITY, ATTENDANCE: 520

After celebrating the New Year with nothing more stronger than a Lemsip, it meant I was sober as a judge come New Years Day, if not exactly 100% match fit.

I decided to bite the bullet and set off for a journey and a half to Dorchester. This is a ground I had been putting off for ages simply because of the travel involved.

When I set off in the morning though there was a chance of a double as Hallen had a 7.30pm kick off, which was ideal as it was on my way back home, but sadly that was called off around 2pm.

However come the end of the day I was so happy that I finally made the journey as The Avenue is a smart ground, the game was good and I have now finally finished off the Conference South!

Dorchester's Avenue ground was opened in 1990 and is actually on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, ie Prince Charles, who had a say in the design of the ground. To be fair, for a new build ground it is aesthetically pleasing on the eye. The main stand is all seated with the rest of the ground being terracing.

Truro were the visitors today and was a 3rd bottom versus bottom of the table clash, so hopes of a decent game were low to began with, but it turned out to be a good watch.

Truro had the better of the clear cut chances in the opening exchanges but it was a header from Dan Thompson that gave Dorchester the lead after 20 minutes.




Dan Thompson heads home the opening goal


Truro were level after 41 minutes when Kieffer Moore let the ball roll across before firing home.

The second half was probably a little more subdued than the first half and the game seemed to petering out but after 75 minutes Ben Watson restored the homesters lead.

Truro were reduced to 10 men when Marcus Martin received his second yellow card but the Cornishmen were not to be denied and deep into stoppage time Jamie Ash, who had been thrown upfront, popped up to blast home and equaliser.

The draw was probably no help to either side but it was a fair outcome.

You can watch match highlights by clicking on this here link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuTYgPEMOWk