7pm 11 November 2015
South Wales FA Senior Cup, Second Round
STM Sports 5 Treforest 2 (att 65)
Years ago the South Wales Senior Cup was a good source of Sunday matches, as most Welsh League participants lacked floodlights, then the competition mutated into a cup for teams below the Welsh League, with ties on Saturdays.
From this season it's changed again, and is now open to floodlit clubs at various levels, giving me, and several other groundhoppers, a chance to tick off Welsh League newcomers STM Sports on their artificial pitch at the Cardiff University sports ground in Llanrumney.
The ground is typical of many similar set-ups in South Wales, the enclosed pitch complemented by a small seated stand to comply with Welsh League ground grading rules. Inside the "cage" the pitch is barriered, allowing spectators to access all four sides.
Last time I was the university sports ground it was to see Splott Albion, on a floodlit grass pitch. That pitch still exists, but looks to be used for rugby these days.
STM have made a good start to their first season in the Welsh League's third division (the fourth tier of Welsh football), whereas Treforest have struggled so far a level below, in the South Wales Alliance.
Any chance of a cup upset was ruled out by a dominant first half display by the home side, who went into the break with a 3-0 lead.
Half time team talks were carried out on the pitch, and I was within earshot of a very unhappy Treforest manager who told his side exactly what he thought of their first half performance. It did the trick, as they made more of a game of it after the break.
Treforest got the half's first goal, and had chances to reduce the arrears further. Near the end STM added a fourth, well taken from distance with the keeper out of his goal, but there was still time in the closing moments for Treforest to get a second.
However, STM Sports still had the last word, with the game's last goal in the last minute, to make it 5-2.
South Wales FA Senior Cup, Second Round
STM Sports 5 Treforest 2 (att 65)
Years ago the South Wales Senior Cup was a good source of Sunday matches, as most Welsh League participants lacked floodlights, then the competition mutated into a cup for teams below the Welsh League, with ties on Saturdays.
From this season it's changed again, and is now open to floodlit clubs at various levels, giving me, and several other groundhoppers, a chance to tick off Welsh League newcomers STM Sports on their artificial pitch at the Cardiff University sports ground in Llanrumney.
The ground is typical of many similar set-ups in South Wales, the enclosed pitch complemented by a small seated stand to comply with Welsh League ground grading rules. Inside the "cage" the pitch is barriered, allowing spectators to access all four sides.
Last time I was the university sports ground it was to see Splott Albion, on a floodlit grass pitch. That pitch still exists, but looks to be used for rugby these days.
STM have made a good start to their first season in the Welsh League's third division (the fourth tier of Welsh football), whereas Treforest have struggled so far a level below, in the South Wales Alliance.
Any chance of a cup upset was ruled out by a dominant first half display by the home side, who went into the break with a 3-0 lead.
Half time team talks were carried out on the pitch, and I was within earshot of a very unhappy Treforest manager who told his side exactly what he thought of their first half performance. It did the trick, as they made more of a game of it after the break.
Treforest got the half's first goal, and had chances to reduce the arrears further. Near the end STM added a fourth, well taken from distance with the keeper out of his goal, but there was still time in the closing moments for Treforest to get a second.
However, STM Sports still had the last word, with the game's last goal in the last minute, to make it 5-2.
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