Cwmbran are not a brilliant team. But last night, in front of one of their
smallest crowds they were made to look like counter-attacking demons. They
played the same way as they did at Park Avenue in the League Cup, only then
it didn't work. Against an Aber side bereft of attacking ideas and lacking
any shape, they cruised to a comprehensive victory. Maybe their third goal
was offside but Aber shouldn't have to rely on officials to get them off the
hook. The penalty that Mattie Davies converted after 10 minutes was a penalty
but K had no other option after his defence vanished as it did five minutes
later, this time Chris Summers (it was actually Mattie Davies Ed.) lofted the ball over the advancing 'keeper.
Aber missed a penalty, (well it was saved), before the interval but it would
have made no difference. In spite of having most of the possession, the Green
and Blacks produced what Surrey Dave, in a rare moment of sanity, called
"an apathetic display of defensive ineptitude". (Personally I think he was
trying to string together lots of words and it came out sounding OK). Goals
four, five and six duly followed to absolutely no Cwmbran crowd noise at all.
Aber's new players looked out of sorts despite some neat touches, and the
removal of the faithful Wyn Thomas from the starting line up, just who was
meant to be standing in front of what passed for the Aber defence (apologies
Nigel Nicholas who once more showed that he is the best player in that team
by a mile) smacked of tactical naivite. Cwmbran didn't have to break sweat but
reasonable performances came from the attacking pairing of Mattie Davies
and Chris Summers and the midfield seemed strong. Their Torfaen council stadium
is better than either Leckwith or Jenner Park but there was no crowd here
tonight. The Green and Blacks brought about ten people, a pitiful amount
considering the size of the travelling gate earlier in the season. On the way ba
ck, in order to save our sanity we listened to Dominic Diamond and some Radio
4 show which was quite funny. Then to have our sanity shattered, we nearly
ran into the back of some stray horses. I said it'd all go pear shaped.
(Don't you hate cynics! Ed.)
J.D.Smalldon March 1997
Gilbert League Cup
23.10.96 Aberystwyth Town 3-1 Cwmbran Town
(6-6 on agg. Aber Town go through on the away goals rule. Hooray!)
So, the Green & Blacks made it had for themselves. Trailing by two goals (it
would've been 3, but Phil McNeil is the God of Sweat & Toil) the Seasiders
had all the early play, Cwmbran obviously spoiling for the draw, but very
little in the way of shots. No Glyndwr Hughes, no Matthew Harrison and it looked
like no hope after the defence parted on 27 mins to later a Cwmbran counter
attack increase their aggregate lead back to three.The large-ish (for LoW
Cup) crowd shifted their feet and wondered why they'd bothered to turn up.
Thoughts which were soon abandoned after Ryan Nicolls half time low blast
from outside the box.
Gavin Allen made it 2-1 on 72 minutes, but the winner came with only five
minutes remaining through Martyn Griffiths. Making his first appearance for
the Green and Blacks this season was Damian (GOD!) Burke, who showed some
fine ball skills and a clear head. The team actually clicked like a team,
although missing the aforementioned players.
In the wider scale of things, a victory over Cwmbran in the LoW Cup shouldn't
count for much, but it is indicative of the new found confidence and resolve
to be found at Park Avenue. Caernarfon are next up in the league on Saturday.
Newtown are next up in the League Cup.
J.D.Smalldon Oct 1996
