WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION, WALES 1-1 GEORGIA, ATTENDANCE: 32,652
For the second weekend in succession I was in the capital as Wales hosted Georgia in a World Cup qualification game.
Wales won their first match at home, beating Moldova 4-0, but came into this game on the back of a decent draw away in Austria. Ok, the Austrians were no great shakes, yes Wales took the lead twice, but they are unbeaten at the Ernst Happel in four years.
Three points at home against Georgia and everything in the qualification garden will look rosy, won't it?
Wales started brightly and took the lead after 10 minutes through a superb Gareth Bale header. However the Georgians looked very dangerous on the counter.
Wales were very slow out of the blocks for the second half and the Georgia began to make inroads into the Welsh back line. It was no shock when Tornike Okriashvili headed the visitors level after 57 minutes.
As the game became more stretched Wales looked dead on their feet and were very fortunate to come away with a draw, as Georgia missed a couple of great chances, including one effort which crashed off the crossbar, to grab the win.
The absence of Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen from the midfield clearly showed as the second half progressed. There was no guile or inventiveness and you simply can't keep expecting Bale to dig the side out of a hole.
Apparently this was only the second time Georgia had avoided defeat in a competitive away match since 2012. A disappointing result but the booing at the end of the game from some Welsh fans was bang out of order.
Attention now turns to the home game with Serbia in November, which already looks like a must win game. Onwards....
FAW WELSH CUP 1st ROUND, BRIDGEND STREET 2-2 GOYTRE (After Extra Time, 90 Mins 1-1, Goytre won 5-4 on penalties) ATTENDANCE: 85 (h/c)
This weekend my attention turned to the Welsh Cup and a journey to the south of the country. I had pre-booked a train journey to Cardiff in the hope that the draw would give me plenty of options, and also a chance to partake in a spot of ‘Good Beer Guide’ pub ticking!
The draw ultimately gave me a choice of three ties - Ton Pentre v Abergavenny Town, Aberbargoed Buds v Barry Town or my actual choice Bridgend Street v Goytre. Upon arrival in the capital it was throwing it down, so that immediately made me a little nervous.
The obvious thing to do would have been head into the valleys to Aberbargoed as they play on a 3G pitch, but a phone call to the secretary of Bridgend gave me a little confidence that things would be ok. It was just as well really as I was in the process of downing a couple a swift halves in Zerodegrees before catching the number 11 bus in the direction of Tremorfa.
Bridgend, just to avoid any confusion, are a Cardiff based team and play in the Tremorfa area of the city, on the Willows High School playing field, in the shadow of the Celsa Steel Works. The club though were originally from the Splott area of Cardiff, with the actual Bridgend Street demolished in 1972.
After spending most of their existence in district leagues, The Street were promoted to the South Wales Senior League in 1994 and went on to become champions a record five times (five times) before moving up to the Welsh League in 2011. The club are currently playing in Division Three.
Today they were hosting Welsh League First Division leaders Goytre, where the phrase ‘potential banana skin’ could easily be applied. The visitors from Gwent were certainly on a hiding to nothing.
The home side were certainly up for the game and never allowed Goytre to get into any kind of rhythm. It was difficult at times to work out who the higher ranked team were. The Street deservedly went in at half time 1-0 up thanks to a beauty of a free kick from their skipper Paul Fowler.
Such was the need for a lift in the performance that their manager made a triple substitution at the break to try and change things. Goytre pushed for an equaliser but it was Bridgend Street who came closest to a goal when Fowler had an effort crash off the crossbar.
It was looking like a big upset was on the cards but in the last minutes of the game Goytre levelled when striker Lewis Sommers was given the freedom of the box to control the ball and fire into the top corner. Heartbreaking for The Street.
The momentum had now swung and within minutes of the start of extra time Goytre were in front when Jack Aladice fired home. Rather than let their heads drop Bridgend rallied and found themselves level in the second half of extra time thanks to a fine effort from Nick Thomas.
In the remaining time neither side could find a winner which meant the dreaded lottery of spot kicks. Obviously there were tired legs out there so there were a fair few missed kicks. It came down to sudden death with Goytre prevailing 5-4.
A fine advert for Welsh football and credit to both teams. Goytre will now travel to Rhayader Town in round 2.
The extra time and penalties meant I was on the 1709 bus back into the city centre where I was able to pay a visit to the excellent Hopbunker and Urban tap House before catching my train home. A grand day out in the capital.
