CPD LLANFECHAIN FC (Recreation Field)

MONTGOMERYSHIRE CUP 1ST ROUND, LLANFECHAIN 1-7 LLANRHAEADR, ATTENDANCE: 62 (h/c)

It was a beautiful sunny October afternoon as I made my way down the A483 for some more Sunday Mid-Wales cup action. Last time out it was the Radnorshire Cup but today it was the Montgomeryshire Cup that was the big draw. There was also the bonus that the hosts, Llanfechain, would be producing a programme for the occasion. Who could possibly ignore that combination?

Llanfechain is a small village located in northern Powys between Llanfyllin and Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain. Both these names will be familiar to Welsh football followers, especially the latter at that was once the home of Welsh champions TNS.

The Recreation Field is a pitch in the centre of the village, on Maes Mechain. The ground is basic with only a brick dugout offering any shelter from the elements, however the surrounding views were very picturesque, as you would expect in Wales.

Llanfechain play in red shirts and there was a slight delay to proceedings when the visitors from Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant also turned up with red (away) kit, as their regular blue shirts were used 24 hours earlier.

After a quick phone call the blue shirts eventually arrived just after 2pm, but there was another delay as the referee had yet to show. Nobody had told him it was a 2pm kick off and he turned up for the usual Welsh default kick off of 2.30pm.

The programme notes were lamenting the homesters poor recent record in this competition that they last won in 1974 and today, once again, offered no joy to Llanfechain. 

When the game eventually started and it was effectively over within 16 minutes with Llanrhaeadr 3-0 up. Llanraheadr play two divisions above Llanfechain in the Mid Wales Division One, having come down from the Cymru Alliance. The visitors were 5-0 up by half time and in cruise control.

Llanfechain scored a penalty in the second half but finished up and the wrong end of a 7-1 defeat. In fairness they kept plugging away and created chances but lacked the composure when the opportunities did come along.

The Llanrhaeadr goals came courtesy of Michael Roberts (who scored four) a Gus Harris penalty, Hamish Clifton and Sam Sefton. Craig Scott replied for Llanfechain from the penalty spot.

Another grand afternoon out in God's country.

The club linesman has a well
deserved ciggie!

FORDEN UNITED (Forden Community Centre Ground)

MONTGOMERYSHIRE CUP, FORDEN UNITED 2-5 WATERLOO ROVERS, ATTENDANCE: 66 (h/c)

After yesterday's festivities of a Merseyside Derby (which was a marvellous 3-3 draw) I decided to blow the cobwebs off by taking a trip down the A483 to Powys and the village of Forden (or Ffordun for our Welsh viewers).

Football is back in the parish after an absence of 5 years. Forden United folded in 2008, after 58 years in existence, due to a lack of players. United had been crowned champions of the Mongomeryshire League Division Two in 1984, 1998 and 2002 and the new incarnation of the club also started this season off in Division Two. They are managed by ex-Welshpool manger Neil Breeze, who began his career as a 15 year old at the club.

The ground is a pitch behind the village bowling club, there is no coverage but luckily the rain held off, despite it's best efforts in trying. Behind one of the goals and to the side there is a large embankment, which offers great views of the pitch and also the surrounding countryside.

As you can imagine the game was not technically the best but it was a fantastic watch nonetheless. It was end to end and the scoreline could have been anything given the chances that were created. There were also plenty of 'robust' challenges to say the least.

In the end though the result was as expected as the higher ranked visitors from Welshpool (despite many of the starting XI playing 24 hours previously) saw off the challenge of the homesters.

The club pulled out all the stops today by issuing a basic 4 page programme, which was a huge bonus, and they also had plenty of food and drink for the hungry and thirsty hordes. The homemade soup at half time was excellent.

I hope it was a worthwhile exercise for the club and they made a few extra quid out of the day. I can only speak for myself when I say it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in mid-Wales.