Afan Lido Football Club

Today's home game against Goytre will decide whether the welsh league title will be won by Goytre, all they need is a win to claim the title, a win for Lido will ensure we finish above them and a minimum of 2nd place, we then need Cambrian's results from their last 2 games to go against them to be crowned champions. A draw would suit Goytre needing Cambrian to win both their remaining games to pip them. All ifs and buts but at 9:25 tonight we should have an answer, A win for Lido and if Bryntirion can beat or hold Cambrian to a draw we will win the title.
It's an exciting finish to the league campaign for all 3 clubs.
Goytre have had the edge over Lido in derby's over the years, they have already beaten us this season 2-1 at their place, and last season they did the double over us winning 2-0 in both games. The season before they won at the Marston again 1-0, but we did beat them at theirs 2-1. In season 2007/08 we won at theirs and they won again at the Marston 5-0, so in the last 3 season's they have won all 3 encounters at the Marston without us scoring a single goal and conceding 8. If we could have picked an opponent for our final game with so much at stake Goytre would have been the last team I would have picked, but it should ensure a good crowd for tonight's game.
It is an intriguing match up of the best home record in the division against the best away record in the division, Goytre's only league defeat away came at Taffs Well where the were well beaten 4-1, they have also drawn 5 of their games, but have an impressive 10 wins. Our home form has seen us lose only twice at home to Bridgend and Bryntirion. A win will see us finish the season with 20 wins, neither Goytre or Cambrian even if they win their remaining games can achieve 20 wins.
There will not be any live match updates (even though I will be getting them by text) of the game tonight until 5' after the final whistle, so if you want to be kept informed of the action get down to the Marston and support the team.

Afan Lido squad to play Goytre at the Marston is:
Mike Lewis, Scott Hillman, Carl Evans, Laurent Fodderie, Jonathan Hood, Corey Thomas, Damon Thomas, Gavin Jones, Rob Cockings, Shaun Morgan, Daniel Thomas, Carl Payne, Robbie Walters, Chris Pridham, Scott McCoubrey, Mark Jones.

Surprise surprise, Afan Lido have lost their appeal for the domestic license, no reason has been given at time of first writing this report. But the biggest surprise has been that of Rhyl failing to gain a license and will be relegated.
All the hard work and small fortune spent by the club counted for nothing in the end but will hold us in good stead for another assault next season, though I believe we were turned down on a financial reason. The club are waiting to hear on what grounds.
Regardless of Wednesday night's out come against Goytre or a top 2 finish, we will still be in the welsh league again next season. The only consolation left for this season is to try and finish as high as we can and maybe claim the league title.
The clubs who gained a license on appeal were:
Airbus UK Broughton
Bala Town
Bangor City
Llandudno
Porthmadog
Clubs who failed were:
Afan Lido
GAP Connah's Quay
Llangefni Town
Rhyl FC
So next season's line up will be:
Aberystwyth Town
Airbus UK Broughton
Bala Town
Bangor City
Carmarthen Town
Haverfordwest County FC
Llanelli AFC
Neath FC
Newtown AFC
Port Talbot Town
Prestatyn Town
The New Saints FC

Today's line up is:
M Lewis, J Hood, S Morgan, Carl Evans, C Thomas, Dan Thomas, C Payne, C Pridham, M Jones, R Walters, S McCourbrey.
Subs: L Fodderie, D Symmons, V Lewis, S Hillman.
We got off to flying start and were 1-0 up after 3' our goal scorer was comeback defender Carl Evans, we kept the lead until the the 45' when we went 2-0 up, our 2nd goal coming from a Mark Jones header, he was fed by a cross from Dan Thomas after a bit of magic from Carl Payne.
Caldicot got a goal back 8' into the 2nd half. We made the game safe on 80' when Jonah scored his 2nd and Lido's 3rd to make 3-1. Jonah scored his hat-trick on 88' when Lido were awarded a penalty and he made the final score 4-1, much to the delight of the big travelling contingent of Lido fans.
Game over and Lido back to winning ways. Just hope West End can do us a favour and beat Goytre, they were 2-2 after 55'.
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The Reserves completed their home fixtures with a 4-2 win over Goytre United. Chase Millichamp gave us the lead after 7 minutes only for Goytre to level 10 minutes before half time. Laurent Fodderie who had already hit the crossbar put us 2-1 up after 55 minutes and 10 minutes later Millichamp made it 3-1. Ellis Harris made it four on 73 minutes with Goytre making it 4-2 with a penalty 10 minutes from time.

The starting line up for tonight's game is:
M Lewis, J Hood, S Hillman, S Galsworthy, C Thomas, G Jones, C Payne, C Pridham, M Jones, N White, S McCourbrey.
Subs: L Borrelli, D Symmons, J McEvoy, Dan Thomas.

Kick off 6:30.

Things didn't get off to a good start when we went 1-0 down on 12'. We went into the break 1-0 down but were back level on 51' when Nathan White scored his 24th goal of the season, but parity lasted just 10' when Village went back in front 2-1.
Things got worse on 74' when Nathan White was shown a straight red card, and to make a comeback even harder than it was with 10 men, we went down to 9, Shaun Galsworthy was also shown a straight red card on 87', but fair play Village they were ahead before either red card. This was another set back in our search for the title, as we have now taken just 2 points from a possible 12, the title and promotion are now out of our hands. Another away game awaits Saturday when we visit Caldicot, possibly without our top scorer.
Final score: Garden Village 2-1 Afan Lido.

The squad to face Garden Village tonight in a game that could see us top the division is:
M Lewis, J Hood, S Hillman, S Galsworthy, C Thomas, G Jones, C Payne, C Pridham, M Jones, N White, J McEvoy, L Borrelli, S McCourbrey, D Symmons, Dan Thomas.

Afan Lido youths season is finally over as they were beaten last night at the Marston by youth division east league leaders Taffs Well.
Taffs Well ran out comfortable 4-1winners to take their spot in the final when they will meet the west champions Llanelli.
The final will take place on Wednesday 26 May (7.00pm) at Bryntirion.

Following tomorrow night's game at Garden Village we only have one week left of soccer for the season. After Thursday's away game against relegation threatened Garden Village, we are on the road again, this time heading to the furthest destination east when we travel to the hugely improved side of Caldicot Town on Saturday. Then on Monday we will find out if we have been successful in our challenge to overturn the domestic license refusal from the FAW. Then on Wednesday we bring down the curtain on our best season in the welsh league since relegation, where we will eventually finish up in the table is anyone's guess at the moment, we could finish anywhere in the top 4. If we don't gain the license then a top 2 finish loses some of it's gloss, one scenario I wouldn't relish, is gaining the license and then needing to beat Goytre at home to secure a top 2 promotion finish. While promotion would be nice, it is almost certainly only a one season stay for any team being promoted to the welsh premier now that the weaker teams will no longer be in the set up, before a promoted team had a chance of survival by taking points off the likes of Druids, Porthmadog, Welshpool, Nomads Caersws, and other teams in the lower end of the table, but now every game will be against a top quality welsh premier side, and unless a promoted club invests heavily on improving their squad they will end up as cannon fodder against the big boys.
Getting back to the Garden Village game, 4 relegation places from division 1 have already been decided, Caerleon, Dinas Powys, Ely Rangers and Bettws will start off next season in division 2. The other place will go to either Cardiff Corries, Bridgend Town or Garden Village, so 3 points for Village against Lido is as much of a must for them as 3 points is for us. A point would only do Village if Bridgend were to lose both their remaining games. (It gets more complicated should Haverfordwest get relegated and we don't get promoted then one less team gets relegated) Garden Village have won 6 of their 16 home games this season, drawing 3 and losing 7, in those 6 wins none have come against a top 6 side, and 4 of their wins have been against the bottom 4 clubs, the other 2 were Pontardawe and Barry Town.
We will be without Robbie Walters again for Thursday's game as Robbie probably won't be available for the remaining games of the season. A win against Village will see Lido go top again, but as with the previous twice we went top Goytre were back in pole position within 24 hours, this time we would stay top for 2 days and even longer if we beat Caldicot on Saturday.

Afan Lido line up:
M Lewis, J Hood, S Hillman, S Galsworthy, C Thomas, G Jones, C Payne, C Pridham, M Jones, N White, R Cockings.
Subs: L Borrelli, S McCourbrey, S Morgan, Dan Thomas.
This game had to wait until the 80' for the first goal, and then there was 2 in 2'. The 1st half ended all square with Lido have the better of the 1st 45 but nothing to show for it.
The goal action came in the 80' when Lido hot shot Nathan White put Lido 1-0 up, but Cambrian equalised within a minute to make it 1-1. (Both sides could have a chance to make in roads into Goytre's lead at the top as they were 3-1 down to West End at the end of the first half)
No more goals and a point a piece for both teams. Lido have now only taken 2 pints from the last 9, and we need to get back to winning form starting at Garden Village on Thursday night.
Final score Cambrian 1-1 Lido.
Not such a disaster as goytre lost 4-3 at home to West End and Caldicot drew 3-3 against Bryntirion.
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Today we travel up the valley's for a 6 pointer with our closest rival's for 2nd spot. And take on a team that has not tasted defeat in their last 10 games, a run that goes back to the 13th of March when they lost at home to Bryntirion 2-1. Since that defeat they have rattled off 7 wins and 3 draws to quietly drift up the league table to within a point of Lido. They have on ly lost 4 games in the league all season so far, but encouragingly for us 3 of those 4 losses have come at home, to Bryntirion, Ton Pentre and Goytre, and all 3 defeats have come by the same scoreline of 2-1. They have also drawn 6 of their home games and have won 7.
It is a game we cannot afford to lose with just 3 games remaining, as it would hand Cambrian the initiative in the run in to claim 2nd place in the table and all but finish our hope of winning the title.
We played out a 1-1 draw at the Marston back in March, and last season they did the double over us winning both games 2-0. And in our only other encounter with them away we beat them 3-1 the season before that inn their inaugural season in division 1. A draw does little for both sides hope of winning the title, a win would put 4 points of a gap to them with 3 games remaining, while a defeat see's Cambrian go 2nd 2 points above us.
We have probably the toughest run in of any of the top sides with Garden Village away up next and they are scraping to stay in the division and are currently one place outside safety in the relegation zone on goal difference, then 2 days after that game we're away again at Caldicot, and to bring down the curtain on the season we have Goytre at home. But however 4 wins from our last 4 games and we will finish at least in 2nd place, so it is in our own hands.
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Today's  line up to face West End is:
M Lewis, J Hood, S Hillman, S Galsworthy, C Thomas, S Morgan, C Payne, C Pridham, M Jones, N White, Damon Thomas.
Subs: R Cockings, S McCourbrey, G Jones.
Lido took the lead on 15' with a goal from Mark Jones his 14th league goal of the season. But West End were level on 30' when they were let in by a Lido error. We just shaded the opening 45' on play but it ended all square at 1-1.
West End went ahead 2-1 in the 77' and Lido were unable to reply and went down to a defeat at Pri Deri Park. It was our first defeat in 9 league games.
We now are just 1 point ahead of Cambrian with our next game coming against them on Saturday, for West End the 3 points all but ensures first division football next season.
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Yesterday (May 3rd) afanlidofc.com hit the 3 million mark for visit's to our websites pages since we first went online back in late January 2006. It took a short while to attract supporters from home and away as the club hadn't had an effective updated website previously, but we have a steady stream of followers to the website from our own team and others from all over the world who enjoy not only reading about Lido and welsh league but our other features which include most soccer news which covers the length and breath of Wales. Thanks for your support, next stop 4 million.

Wednesday night we have an important away game against West End. 3 points is a must to keep within reach of Goytre who are 4 points clear with 2 games more played, and we need to put distance between ourselves and Cambrian who are now just 4 points behind us in 3rd place, and a real 6 pointer against Cambrian takes place on Saturday in Clydach. But claiming 3 points against West End won't be as handy as our 5-0 win over them at the end of august. West End have only lost one of their last 8 games and have held Cambrian to a 1-1 draw away last time out and their recent wins include victories over Caldicot and Bryntirion both teams in the top 5 in the table. West End are comfortably clear of the bottom 5 relegation places but only 3 points separates them and Bridgend and Garden Village who occupy the 2 highest placed teams in the relegation zone and both teams have far superior goal difference over West End, so they have plenty to fight for Wednesday night.
The West End game is the first of 4 away games we face and the other games are all tough and will be a real test of character for our promotion seeking side. Next up after Cambrian on Saturday is a trip to face Garden Village on the 13th and just 2 days later we have another biggy when we are at Caldicot.
It is 8 games since we last tasted defeat on the road which was at Goytre on the 20th of November, but we have dropped 6 points by drawing 3 of those 7 games and they were against teams in the lower half of the table, and 2 of them against teams in the relegation places, we seem to do better against teams higher up in the table. Two good things are in our favour, we have the meanest defence in the division with just 29 goals against in 29 games, and we are the 3rd highest scorers in the division, while West End have conceded more goals than any team in the division with 71, though their recent good form has seen them only concede more than 1 goal in a game just once in their last 8 games.
We go in search of 3 points and to extend our unbeaten run to 9 games.

Afan Lido are running a mini football festival at the Marston Stadium on Sunday May 16th. It will feature teams from under 7's to under 11's.
To find out more details and to download an entry form click on the link bellow to download the form (which is in open office writer format - as I can't open word docs)
Mini football entry form