Friendly

Tuesday 24th June 2025

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.28!

Panteg 1 Croesyceilliog 3, attendance 52

15’ 0-1

86’ 0-2

89’ 0-3

90’ 1-3

@ West Monmouth School, 3G Pitch

Blaendare Road

Cwm Fields

Pontypool

NP4 5YG

No Admission or Programme.

First midweek game of the new season and another trip along the M4 into Wales, where Gwent Premier League Division 1 (Tier 5) were hosting Ardal League South East (Tier 3) at the neutral venue of West Monmouth School, on the 3G pitch, for what was my 450th ground I’ve seen a game on in Wales. It’s the usual cage set up, with spectator viewing behind the nearest goal to the car park. Along one side is a raised grass bank, next to the higher level of the car park, which gave a decent enough view over the fence, with almost the entire crowd choosing to watch the game from here.

Croesyceilliog took an early lead, with an angled shot into the far corner and also saw a 30 yard lob come back off the crossbar. They had the chance to double their lead just before the half hour mark, but a penalty kick was well saved by the ‘keeper. Panteg thought they’d equalised with ten minutes left, when a free kick from inside their own half reached the opposite penalty area, bouncing high over the stranded ‘keeper, but it was disallowed. I heard someone on the pitch say it was because the free kick was awarded as in-direct and had made its way in without receiving another touch as it sailed in. A quick break down the left was finished from a tight angle to double the lead for the visitors with four minutes left and they added a third three minutes later, when a ball over the top was curled wide of the ‘keeper from the edge of the box. Panteg got a consolation goal with seconds left, smashing the ball past the ‘keeper from 8 yards after a ball over the top had beaten the defence.

It had been a reasonable journey down to Wales, but closures on the M4 at J13-J12 and then on the M25 from J10-J9 meant the return took exactly three hours.