F.A. Wales Trophy

1st Round

Saturday 17th July 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Bryn Rovers 1 Giants Grave 1 (6-7 pens), attendance 46

70’ 1-0

83’ 1-1

@ Cae Criced

Bryn Avenue

Upper Brynamman

SA18 1BD

£2 Admission, including Programme, 8 pages.

It was back down to Wales for today’s match, but at least it was as a passenger. The match was Neath & District League Premier Division (Tier 5) versus West Wales Premier League (Tier 4). Unlike the previous three matches I’ve been to this season in Wales, where there were no checks whatsoever, this match was subject to the COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Welsh F.A. This meant a 100 crowd limit, manual Track and Trace (no QR code available) and temperature check, although these were done by the bloke on the gate, so not sure how accurate they are (the driver showed 33.4 degrees Celsius on the first attempt. 36.1 to 37.2 is generally the norm), if at all. It was far easier to enforce it here, as there was just the one entrance and it wasn’t possible to view from outside the ground either.

The two teams were very evenly matched and put on a decent show considering the searing heat. They were so well matched, that it looked like neither side were going to be able to make the breakthrough. With twenty minutes left, a speculative shot was totally misjudged by the visiting ‘keeper and the ball somehow evaded him and trickled over the line to give Bryn the lead. Giants Grave pushed hard for an equaliser, and it came seven minutes from time, when a header came back off the crossbar and the rebound was smashed into the net from six yards.

We headed straight to penalties at the end of the ninety minutes. Giants Grave won the shootout 7-6 (18 penalties taken). Yet again, as with last night, the Welsh F.A. and media appear unable to report the correct score. The Cymru App gives it as Bryn Rovers 7 Giants Grave 8, whilst All Wales Sports has it as Bryn Rovers 3 Giants Grave 3 (4-5 pens). I know rugby is the main sport here, but come on………