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.