APRIL 2010

Afan Lido 2-2 Pontardawe Town (Apr 30) 03:00
Luke Borrelli gave the Reserves a fifth minute lead with a shot from the edge of the area, Pontardawe levelled after 17 minutes with a header from a corner and they took the lead 4 minutes before half time. Daniel Symmons equalised 3 minutes from time and in added on time Luke Borrelli almost scored what would have been the winner. Daniel Thomas had to leave the field with a recurrence of an injury.
View league table

 
Afan Lido v Bettws summary (Apr 27) 21:00
Afan Lido go top of the welsh league following tonight's game against Bettws. Bettws took the lead in the first half only for Lido to draw level in the 2nd half.
Lee Greenhall gave Bettws the lead after 7' in the first half, and Bettws held onto the lead until the 55' when Lido's top scorer Nathan White drew Lido level.
Neither side was able to add to their score and  point moves Lido top on goal difference over Goytre, well at least for 24 hours until Goytre play tomorrow night.
Lido line up:
Mike Lewis, Jon Hood, Corey Thomas, Scot Hillman, Damon Thomas, Mark Jones, Carl Payne, Chris Pridham, Gavin Jones, Nathan White, Scott McCourbrey.
Subs:
Dan Thomas, Rob Cockings, James McEvoy and Andrew Collins.
 View league table

 
Afan Lido v Bettws preview (Apr 27) 12:00
Tonight we start a run on 5 away games in a row when we visit North Site. Bettws have a decent home record with just 4 defeats in their 14 home games, with 6 wins and 4 draws, and they are on a 5 game unbeaten run at North Site, with 4 wins and a draw. We had a narrow 2-1 win over them in September beating them 2-1 at the Marston. Last season both games ended in draws, 3-3 at home and 1-1 at Bettws. They had a much better season last term finishing 4th, 3 places and 8 points ahead of us, but this season they lie perilously near the relegation zone (mainly due to 5 clubs facing the drop) but they are 2 places and 3 points clear of the drop zone at present.
Our away form has seen us rise to the position we are currently enjoying, and we are 6 games unbeaten away with 4 wins and 2 draws, we are also unbeaten in 7 games with 6 wins from those 7 games. A win would put us top 2 points ahead of Goytre with same number of games played, but more importantly we would be 9 points clear of the 3rd placed team. 4 wins from our last 6 games will guarantee us 2nd place on 70 points and that's assuming Cambrian or Caldicot win all their remaining 6 games. But we have a tough run in with 3 games against top 4 sides, so 3 points tonight will give us a big start toward that 70 points target.

 
Afan Lido v Caldicot Town match summary (Apr 24) 16:00
Afan Lido face Caldicot Town looking for a repeat of last season's 1-0 victory at the Marston Stadium, an 82' goal from Scott McCourbrey sealed the points, today's teams bares very little resemblance to the last season's starting 11, with only Carl Payne starting today and Scott McCourbrey on the bench, so it's a new team and a stronger team than last season as our league table position clearly shows. But Caldicot are a different proposition than last season too, as their league position shows, so it going to be a tough game for both sides. The ones to watch for Lido are their two top scorers who have between them hit the back of the net 49 times in league and cup games, with Gareth Cullimore on 26 and Jason Thorn on 23.

Today's Lido line is:
Mike Lewis, Jon Hood, Corey Thomas, Scot Hillman, Shaun Galsworthy, Mark Jones, Carl Payne, Chris Pridham, Robbie Walters, Nathan White, Damon Thomas.
Subs:
Scott McCourbrey, Shaun Morgan, Gavin Jones and Vince Lewis.
The game was goalless for almost the entire first half, but Lido got on the scoresheet first when on 38' Robbie Walters put us 1-0 ahead.
Within 5' we we had doubled the lead, top scorer Nathan White made it 2-0 on 43' to take us into the half time break 2-0 up.
The 2nd half began with Lido dominating play but Caldicot got a goal back against the run of play in the 67' to make it a nervy 2-1 to Lido with over 20' left to play.
Both sides failed to add to the scoring and Lido march on and are 7 points clear of Caldicot who drop to 4th and 6 points clear 3rd placed Cambrian & Clydach. Goytre remain top after they beat Ely Rangers 3-1 today.
We have the chance to go top of the league Tuesday night if we can win or draw away to Bettws.
Attendance: 120
View league table

 
Outstanding fixtures now arranged for Lido teams (Apr 24) 13:00
The outstanding fixtures for the First team and the Reserves have been arranged, the first's finish the season on May 19th with the local derby at home to Goytre Utd. All going well for the team this could be a top two finish game leading to promotion, or just another derby if we falter in the closing stages or fail to get the domestic license.
The Reserves two remaining fixtures are home to Goytre Utd on 14th May and final game is away to West End on the 17th May.

 
Another result goes in favour of Lido (Apr 20) 22:00
Another result went our way tonight in the race for the title in the welsh league division 1. Goytre Utd were at home to 4th placed Cambrian & Clydach at Glenhafod Stadium, and they played out a 1-1 draw, (this was Goytre's 11th draw in the league this season) which suited Lido down to the ground. Goytre are now just 1 point above us in top spot but with 1 game more played, and Cambrian's brilliant rise through the ranks was halted slightly, they are now 4 points behind us in 3rd on the same number of games played.
Saturday's home game against Caldicot is now a must win game to take advantage of the teams around us all dropping points, and as we heard today, the club is appealing to overturn the FAW's refusal to grant us a domestic license, and if successful and we finish in the top 2 we will be promoted back to the welsh premier league.
View league table
View quick tables
Afan Lido's Reserves were in action tonight away to Corus Steel and the game ended all square at 1-1, Daniel Symmons was on target for the Reserves.

 
Pontardawe Town match summary (Apr 19) 20:20

Afan Lido went top of the welsh league tonight following an away victory over Pontardawe Town, it's the first time Lido have reached the summit since being relegated from the welsh premier.
It took just over half an hour for the deadlock to be broken, and the opening goal of the game came from Mark Jones on 31' Nathan White made it 2-0 to Lido on 39'. 3' later Robbie Walters made it 3-0 to take us into the break ahead and on the road to victory.
Pontardawe pulled a goal back on 83' to make it 3-1. but neither side added more goals and it finished 3-1 to the table toppers ;)
It was our 2nd 3-1 away win in 5 days.

Lido line up:
M Lewis, J Hood, C Thomas, S Hillman, S Galsworthy, C Payne (G Jones 74'), C Pridham, M Jones, N White (R Cockings 81'), R Walters (S McCourbrey 79'), D Thomas.
Subs:
R Cockings, G Jones, S McCourbrey, V Lewis.
View league table
View quick tables
View squad stats

 
Pontardawe Town match preview (Apr 19) 01:30

Tonight we travel to Pontardawe looking to claim top spot in div 1 and stake a claim to automatic promotion to the welsh premier league next season, depending on our successful appeal against the FAW refusing our application for a domestic license first time around.
Pontardawe are still lying in the relegation places, but only one place below safety and they do have up to 6 games in hand over the teams above them, so they should be safe from the drop as they are only 4 points adrift of Bettws who claim the last safety position.
Their recent form has seen them beat current champions Aberaman 4-0 and championship contenders Bryntirion 2-0, so we are in for a very tough match. Recent results over the last few weeks have amazingly gone our way, and we couldn't have hoped for better results as we continued to win while the teams around us have faltered, but we now have only ourselves to rely on if we want to go top of the table tonight ahead of Goytre on goal difference, fortunately our away form has improved immensely over the last 5 games since our last defeat against Goytre 6 games ago. We have rattled off 3 wins and 2 draws in those last 5 games, but we have only managed 1 clean sheet on our travels compared to 8 at home.
Victory tonight would put us level on points and games played with Goytre, but we already have a 1 goal better difference than them and a win will see us increase that difference, it would also see us move 5 points clear of the 3rd placed teams Caldicot and Cambrian both on 50 points. Cambrian are now looking like serious contenders for a high finish and have snuck up almost unnoticed on the rest of the teams at the top of the division, we also have to go to their place as well next month. But for now we must get passed Pontardawe tonight, while a draw or even a loss would be a total write off for the rest of the season, but it would give the teams below us renewed hope for catching and overtaking us in the table. We have a fairly tough run in for the remainder of the season with only 2 home games left and 6 away, we also have to play Caldicot twice as well as Goytre and Cambrian, so it's going to be tough finish to the season, but as our squad have shown on our day we can find the back of the net with ease as our last 4 league games has shown with 20 goals scored and only 3 conceded, more of the same tonight lads.
View league table

 
Afan Lido 1-0 Cardiff Corries match summary (Apr 16) 12:30

Following 3 defeats on the trot the youth's pulled off a win against West End last night, beating the visitors 2-1. Luke Borrelli gave Lido and early lead and Matt Beynon made it 2-0 from the penalty spot. West End made a match of it by getting a goal back half way through the 2nd half, but Lido held on for a win.
View league table

 
Afan Lido 1-0 Cardiff Corries match summary (Apr 14) 20:10

Afan Lido move to within 2 points of leaders Goytre Utd following victory tonight against Cardiff corries.
It was almost half an into the game before the first goal of the night arrived, on 28' we took the lead with with Damon Thomas scoring his 2nd league goal of the season. Neither side could a could add to the tally so the game ended the first half 1-0 to Lido.
Carl Payne gave lido a 2-0 lead 10' into the 2nd half. On 73' Mark Jones made all 3 points safe with lido's 3rd. Corries scored a late consolation goal on 82' to finish off the game 3-1.
Lido now consolidate 2nd spot with our 4th away league win of the season.
Lido line up:
M Lewis, J Hood, C Thomas, S Hillman, D Thomas, C Payne, C Pridham, S Galsworthy, M Jones, N White, R Fowler.
Subs:
S McCourbrey, R Cockings, Dean Hudson, V Lewis.
View league table
View quick tables

 
Afan Lido 1-0 Ton Pentre match summary (Apr 10) 17:30

We pulled off a 1-0 win against the Bulldogs and with results elsewhere going our way we move up to 2nd in the table. The first half ended goalless but we could have been 3-0 down. The 2nd half we got the all important winner coming in the 53rd minute from Jonah, and that was enough to take all 3 points.
With Caldicot drawing 2-2 at Cardiff Corries and Bryntirion losing at home 2-0 to taffs well and Barry town also lost at home to Cambrian & Clydach things couldn't have gone better on the day. But its tight at the top just 1 point separates us in 2nd and Barry Town in 5th.
Attendance: 71.
View league table
View quick tables

 
Afan Lido v Ton Pentre match preview (Apr 10) 05:30

Today at the Marston we host Ton Pentre, Ton have had a topsy turvy season, they currently lie in 8th place, but on 29 games they have played more than games than 6 out of the 7 teams above them and are unlikely to finish much higher than their current position.
Of their 29 game they have won 11, drawn 7 and lost 11, they have also conceded more goals than any other team in the top 10. They have a quite good away record, having won 4 times on the road with 4 draws and 6 losses.
We go in search of home win number 12, and looking to maintain the best home record in the division, and also the meanest defence with just 10 goals against in our 14 games. We currently lie in 5th place but with games in hand over most of the teams above us, we also have the chance to gain a place or 2 with home wins over Ton Pentre today and Cardiff Corinthians on the 14th. It would be a tall order to be expecting a repeat the scorelines of our last 2 home league games where we went goal crazy putting 16 goals past our last 2 opponents, but we are a different proposition at home at goals have come fairly freely with 42 in our 14 games and average of 3 per game.
We will also be looking to get over the recent double blow of losing the league cup semi final to Goytre Utd and having been rejected for a domestic licence by the FAW, no reason was given by the FAW for rejecting us. Though I'm not sure if the club will be appealing their decision. So it is unclear if we finish as high as 2nd at the end of the season will we be able to gain promotion. Llangefni from the Alliance the other feeder club with ourselves with the best chance of promotion also failed to get their licence, I hope it's not a closed policy shop by the FAW to look after their 12 buddies exclusively from the welsh premier.

 
Afan Lido v Goytre Utd match summary (Apr 6) 20:30

Tonight's tie at Tudor Park, had an uneventful first half goal wise that ended 0-0.

Fifteen minutes into the 2nd half and Goytre take the lead, Dale Price scoring the games 1st goal. (there is a big time delay in my Irish network receiving texts from the UK, so updates are running well behind)

A bit late sorry but we lost 1-0.
Lido line up:
M Lewis, J Hood, C Thomas, S Hillman, D Thomas, C Payne, C Pridham, S McCourbrey, M Jones, N White, R Fowler.
Subs:
S Morgan, R Cockings, G Jones, G Couch.

 
Afan Lido v Goytre Utd match preview (Apr 6) 15:30

Tonight we look to progress to the League cup final and a battle with Croesyceiliog for silverware, but first we have the unenviable task of beating close neighbours Goytre Utd. on form on recent games against Taffs Well, it should be easy, Taffs Well beat them 4-1 and we beat Taffs 7-1, but that's only a light hearted comment, if it were only that simple.
Our recent form against Goytre and their league positions for the last 3 or 4 years must make them favourites for every game they start, but as Taffs Well and Bryntirion have proved in the league recently they are beatable. We are having our best season in the league since the club was relegated, and if our current form continues we should end the season in our highest position since being relegated, our strike force has put our last 2 opponents to the sword and we have hit the net 16 times in the last 2 games, it is also a welcome first derby for new Lido manager Kim Bowley and hopefully it will be a winning first derby that see's us through to the final.

 
Afan Lido v Taffs Well match summary (Apr 2) 19:30

It didn't take long for Lido to get on the score sheet. Top scorer Nathan White put us 1-0 after 10', then on 25' Lido were awarded a penalty and Nathan stepped up to break our recent spot kick hoodoo, and put it away 2-0.
Carl Payne made it 3-0 3 minutes before the break to put us in a healthy 3-0 lead going into half time.

2nd Half:
Ten minutes into the 2nd half and Robbie Walters made it 4-0, think we can safely say 3 points in the bag and 4th place in the table. Just after saying that Taffs pull a goal back on 57' 4-1. On 83' we made it 5-1 and Nathan White getting his hat-trick and his 20th  league goal of the season. Two minutes later the score is 6-1 under pressure Taffs scored an own goal. On 90' Lido make it 7-1 sub Luke Borrelli getting the goal, not bad 16 goals in the last 2 home games.
Full time score Afan Lido 7-1 Taffs Well.
A very good debut for new manager Kim Bowley.
Lido line up:
M Lewis, J Hood, C Thomas, S Hillman, D Thomas, C Payne, C Pridham, S McCourbrey, M Jones, N White, R Fowler.
Subs:
S Morgan, L Borrelli, G Jones.
MOTM: Nathan White.
Attendance: 63 :(

 
New signings at the Lido (Apr 1) 04:20

You didn't fall for that old one did you - C'mon don't you know what the date is, TIZ FOOLS DAY, sorry no new signings we don't need any :)

 
Taffs Well match preview (Apr 1) 03:35

Friday night we take on Taffs Well at the Marston, and we also welcome new first team manager Kim Bowley taking charge of his first game at Lido
We will be looking to complete the double over the visitors having beaten them 4-1 back in February. Taffs currently lie in 7th place in the league with 12 wins and 12 defeats from their 27 games. They are something of an enigma this season, on their day they can beat any team in the division, and one a different day they can lose to any team, they have done the double over 2nd placed Caldicot Town putting 8 goals passed them and also taken 4 points off Goytre scoring another 8 and also became the first team to beat Goytre this season. Taffs are also the league's 3rd highest scorers with 62 goals but they have also let in 50 at the other end.
On the road they have won 3 times, 4-2 against Bridgend, 4-0 at Ely Rangers, and 3-0 at Caldicot, they have lost 6 times away.
We will be looking for home win number 11 and 3 points to keep us within touching distance of the clubs above us as we go in search of a top 2 finish and hopefully promotion back to the welsh premier, assuming we get the licence and the right place in the division. We have games in hand of all the teams around us (6 in Barry Towns case) and we need to convert those games into points, starting tomorrow night.
Maybe now the public have seen the commitment the club has put into trying to achieve the domestic licence and the amount of money gone towards it, they might come out and support the team tomorrow night in bigger numbers than we have had in recent home games.