13 August 2011
Welsh Cup, First Round Qualifying
Bettws 0 Trefelin BGC 4 (att 33)
Not the game I expected to watch when I left home in Salford this morning. My plan was a trip to Gloucestershire for Longlevens debut in the County League, and the first competitive game on their new ground.
My downfall was deciding to begin the day's football at Hereford United Under 18s in the Football League Youth Alliance. I arrived at the club's training ground about 15 minutes before the 11.30 kick off, only to find the match in doubt as the remnants of old goalposts were protruding into the pitch making it far too dangerous. Not sure how this remained unnoticed until the morning of the match.
Eventually players, officials and spectators (including me) travelled in convoy across Hereford to the club's first team training ground at Belmont Abbey, but by the time the game finally got under way, after 12.30, it would have been too late to find a new ground for the afternoon, so I gave up and headed instead into Wales.
There's two divisions between Bettws (Welsh League, Division Two) and Trefelin (South Wales Amateur League, Division One) so the result will rank as an emphatic upset. Bettws actually started brightly, putting the visitors under a lot of pressure, and should have scored. At one point early on they might have done, as it looked from where I was standing that the ball crossed the goal line before being hacked clear - at this stage of the Welsh Cup there's not even official linesmen, let alone goal line cameras, and the referee ignored appeals for a goal and waved play on.
The tie turned when Trefelin, with one of their rare first half attacks, went ahead, thanks a cool finish from a player through with just the keeper to beat, after 33 minutes. The goal gave them a confidence which began to drain away from Bettws.
The home side might have been expected to turn things around after half time, but instead their task quickly became tougher as a 47th minute penalty doubled Trefelin's lead. As Bettws pushed forward Trefelin regularly caught them on the break, adding two more goals for a victory that was deserved, even if the scoreline flattered. A miserable afternoon for Bettws was completed with a late red card, for a player who picked up two bookings.
At least Bettws can now concentrate on the league, which for them begins next weekend.
Welsh Cup, First Round Qualifying
Bettws 0 Trefelin BGC 4 (att 33)
Not the game I expected to watch when I left home in Salford this morning. My plan was a trip to Gloucestershire for Longlevens debut in the County League, and the first competitive game on their new ground.
My downfall was deciding to begin the day's football at Hereford United Under 18s in the Football League Youth Alliance. I arrived at the club's training ground about 15 minutes before the 11.30 kick off, only to find the match in doubt as the remnants of old goalposts were protruding into the pitch making it far too dangerous. Not sure how this remained unnoticed until the morning of the match.
Eventually players, officials and spectators (including me) travelled in convoy across Hereford to the club's first team training ground at Belmont Abbey, but by the time the game finally got under way, after 12.30, it would have been too late to find a new ground for the afternoon, so I gave up and headed instead into Wales.
There's two divisions between Bettws (Welsh League, Division Two) and Trefelin (South Wales Amateur League, Division One) so the result will rank as an emphatic upset. Bettws actually started brightly, putting the visitors under a lot of pressure, and should have scored. At one point early on they might have done, as it looked from where I was standing that the ball crossed the goal line before being hacked clear - at this stage of the Welsh Cup there's not even official linesmen, let alone goal line cameras, and the referee ignored appeals for a goal and waved play on.
The tie turned when Trefelin, with one of their rare first half attacks, went ahead, thanks a cool finish from a player through with just the keeper to beat, after 33 minutes. The goal gave them a confidence which began to drain away from Bettws.
The home side might have been expected to turn things around after half time, but instead their task quickly became tougher as a 47th minute penalty doubled Trefelin's lead. As Bettws pushed forward Trefelin regularly caught them on the break, adding two more goals for a victory that was deserved, even if the scoreline flattered. A miserable afternoon for Bettws was completed with a late red card, for a player who picked up two bookings.
At least Bettws can now concentrate on the league, which for them begins next weekend.
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