West Wales Premier League

Saturday 21st September 2024

Kick Off 17.30 On Time!

Mumbles Rangers 7 Bryn Rovers 0, attendance 160

22’ 1-0

23’ 2-0

41’ 3-0

50’ 4-0

56’ 5-0

68’ 6-0

88’ 7-0

@ Swansea University Sports Park, 3G Pitch

Sketty Lane

Swansea

SA2 8QB

£3 Admission

£2 Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop U.K.

When I visited Mumbles Rangers previously they were in the Swansea Senior League, where I saw them lose 1-5 to Brynawel in a Premier Division match, which was a 6pm midweek kick off on 17th September 2019. They played at Underhill Park back then, in Mumbles itself. That ground has had a total revamp, including the installation of a 3G pitch, so it seems rather odd that they are now playing at a 3G pitch in Swansea, rather than using their own ground. The stadium pitch here at Swansea University was visited for a Welsh League game in December 2017, but tonight’s game was played on the 3G pitch that runs parallel to that, to the south. You still enter through the stadium and the tea bar and toilets were available there, as the caged set up has no facilities of its own, although it does have the benefit of spectator access along the whole of one side, as well as grass banking along the entirety, which offered a good view from the top, making it a much better match day experience, even with a decent crowd present.

The match was 9th versus 16th (bottom). As expected, it was a comfortable home win. Mumbles were coasting after two goals in as many minutes saw them go 2-0 up midway through the first half, before adding a third goal just before halftime. They even missed a penalty too, although most people present thought that the ball had come back off the wheel inside the goal frame, rather than hitting the post, which is how the Referee seemed to think it stayed out. Anyway, it wasn’t going to affect the outcome. It only took five minutes of the second half before goal number four did arrive. Two more goals soon followed, before the scoring was rounded off with two minutes left, giving the hosts a resounding 7-0 win, leaving Bryn rooted to the bottom of the table, having now lost all eight games they’ve played.

Luckily for me, I’d already visited the two scheduled games for tomorrow, so headed straight home after the final whistle, where a clear run meant arriving back just before 11 pm.

West Wales Premier League

Saturday 21st September 2024

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Penlan A.F.C. 0 Rockspur 1, attendance 332

40’ 0-1

@ Mynydd Newydd Playing Fields

Heol Gwyrosydd

Penlan

SA5 7BS

£3 Admission

£2 Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop U.K.

It was only twelve or thirteen minutes drive from Ynystawe to Penlan, on the northern fringes of Swansea, for the next game. The entrance lane into the ground off Heol Gwyrosydd opens out into a large car park, with the clubhouse/changing rooms in front of you. Penlan Rugby Club play on a pitch to the right, whilst to the rear of the building is a huge expanse of grass, home to a number of Swansea Senior League teams (there was a game on one of the pitches today) and also the enclosed pitch of Penlan A.F.C. It is as far to the left of the complex as it could possibly be, around 250 yards from the building. There was a gap in the metal perimeter fencing that was accessible off Heol Emrys, which was almost pitchside, but it wasn’t the most salubrious area to have parked your car, judging by the state of the houses backing onto the ground. The clubhouse here was busy and the hot food on offer was excellent. Plenty of choice and ran to almost military style precision by the five or six manning operations. Hot drinks were served from a separate area, which meant everyone was served quickly. It was a shame it was so far from the pitch, as it would have been well worth another visit at halftime!

The match was 8th versus 1st in the league table, the visitors coming into this with a 100% winning record from their opening nine games, amassing a goal difference of +37 in the process. Although short on goals, it certainly wasn’t lacking in commitment. A little too much at times! Rockspur had a man sent off midway through the first half, but still managed to score what turned out to be the winning goal five minutes before the break, when a diagonal free kick into the box was headed back across the face of goal and finished with a shot on the turn that found the bottom corner. Penlan did have a goal ruled out for offside just after the hour mark, but never really looked drawing level. The closing stages were a real red card fest. Penlan were first, levelling the game up as ten a side. This was shortly followed by a second one for Rockspur (10 v 9) and in the last throes Penlan lost another two, which saw us finish with just eight versus nine at the final whistle. It’s not always the case, but yes, it was that kind of game.

West Wales Premier League

Saturday 21st September 2024

Kick Off 11.00 On Time!

Ynystawe Athletic 2 Dafen Welfare 2, attendance 194

16’ 0-1

34’ 1-1 (pen)

54’ 1-2

58’ 2-2

@ Ynystawe Park

Park Road

Ynystawe

SA6 5AP

£5 Admission, including programme, whether you wanted it or not! (I certainly don’t want one at any event organised by Groundhop U.K.)

After an overnight stay in Llanelli, it was off to Ynystawe Athletic, just north of the M4, for what was the first game, of three, on today’s ground hop. Heading north from the motorway it is a right turn off the A4067 into Park Road, the ground is about 100 yards along on the left. There is a very small car park, but no problem parking along the road side. You enter behind the goal, with the fully railed pitch running lengthways away from you, with a pair of dugouts on the left and the changing rooms behind the far goal. A cricket square separates the main pitch from a second pitch, slightly offset, that was also hosting a game today (Reserves ?) with a later kick off. As with last night, the players had to get changed elsewhere (changing rooms here being used for the other match), this time at Ynystawe Cricket Club and walk the 300-400 yards to the pitch. Again, as with last night (there’s a theme developing here), no facilities pitchside, so again the full potential of the money making opportunity was not grasped. It was probably a shock to the locals to be charged £5 admission too (I doubt that they actually are charged the inflated price), although this was the only club (of the 4 I’d be doing) to enforce the cost of programmes whether you wanted one or not.

The match was 8th versus 11th. Dafen Welfare took an early lead, finishing into the bottom corner after being played through on goal. Ynystawe levelled with a penalty eleven minutes before halftime. Dafen went back in front nine minutes into the second half, when a first time shot beat the ‘keeper at his near post. Ynystawe were only trailing for four minutes, drawing level with a header that took a slight deflection on its way in. The hosts should have won it late on, but the player slipped over with the goal gaping. They also had a player sin binned in stoppage time, but too late to have any effect on the game.

It had rained quite heavily in the hour up to kick off, but the pitch was in excellent condition. It was one of those days where the weather forecast was that it was to improve as the day went on. Let’s hope they’re right.