Cardiff & District League

Lord Ninian Stuart Cup Final

Friday 30th May 2025

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.32

Splott Albion 3 A.F.C. Whitchurch 1, attendance 335

11’ 1-0

47’ 2-0

52’ 2-1

76’ 3-1

@ Gate Systems Arena

Splott Park

Muirton Road

Splott

CF24 2SJ

No Admission or Programme.

A couple of weeks ago there were two games scheduled on a Wednesday evening in this cup and I chose to do the tie at St. Mellons, rather than the one here at Splott Albion. It worked out perfectly for me, as St. Mellons lost on penalties, whilst Splott won their match, before also going on to win their semi-final and even better, they were now hosting the final of the competition too. The ground here is very good for this level. It’s enclosed by mesh fencing, with the pitch fully railed and there’s a pair of brick dugouts on the far side. There was also a tea bar in operation throughout the game. Rather oddly, considering there was a crowd well in excess of 300, no admission charge was taken.

These two are in the premier division of the league and far as league positions go, it was 2nd versus 6th in the final table. Splott went ahead after eleven minutes, when a ball over the top saw the striker just get there before the ‘keeper, but his shot was cleared off the line by a defender, but it only went a couple of yards before being smashed in at the far post. Two minutes into the second half Splott doubled their lead, when a deep cross from the right was put in at the far post. Five minutes later Whitchurch pulled one back, when a long ball forward fell perfectly for their striker and he turned and shot first time low into the far corner. They never really looked like getting an equaliser though and Splott made the game safe with fourteen minutes left, with a cracking 20 yarder into the top corner to make it 3-1.

Apart from the dreadful crawl around the M25 from J9 to J12, the journey down to Wales was pretty trouble free, even with a detour off the M4 near Chippenham to avoid a snarl up on the M4 north of Bristol. An overnight stop in Wales meant not having to battle any overnight roadworks for a change.