Gwent Premier League
Division 1
Tuesday 8th September 2026
Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16
Machen 3 Albion Rovers 4, attendance 31
1’ 1-0
21’ 2-0
29’ 3-0
31’ 3-1 (pen)
57’ 3-2
61’ 3-3 (pen)
85’ 3-4
@ Machen Welfare Ground
Tyn y Waun Road
Machen
CF83 8LA
No Admission or Programme.
Another trip to Wales and another game in the Gwent Premier League. Machen, which is about four miles east of Caerphilly, play at the Welfare Ground, just off the A468 when coming from the direction of Newport. It’s a typical welfare set up, with cricket, bowls and a couple of rugby pitches, as well as the railed off pitch of the football club. The changing rooms are behind the near goal end, backing onto the cricket pitch and there’s a pair of dugouts on the far side. There’s a nice scenic backdrop behind each goal end too.
The match was 11th versus 4th in the league table. Machen had only won one game so far (W1 D4 L2), whilst Albion Rovers had only lost one of their seven games, winning five and drawing one, scoring 32 goals in the process. Machen got off to a flying start, scoring from the first attack of the game, when a shot saved by the ‘keeper was smashed past him at the near post from the rebound. A ball over the top saw a lob over the ‘keeper to make it 2-0 after twenty one minutes and we hadn’t even reached the half hour mark when they made it 3-0, cutting inside from a quickly taken throw in and beating the ‘keeper low at the near post. A penalty, awarded for a handball, saw Albion pull it back to 3-1 a couple of minutes later and their chances of a comeback were greatly enhanced when Machen had a man sin binned for arguing the award of the kick and immediately red carded for sarcastically clapping the referee’s decision.
It took Albion twelve minutes of the second half to capitalise on their extra man advantage, when a powerful run from the centre circle saw two challenges ridden, before poking the ball past the ‘keeper into the far corner. Four minutes later they were level, scoring from a penalty, awarded for a trip just inside the box. It looked inevitable that the visitors would go on to win the game now, although it took them until five minutes from the end to get the winner and it was a goal worthy of winning any game, when a throw in towards the edge of the box was hit on the turn, leaving the ‘keeper no chance as it flew onto the top corner. The final whistle signalled a scuffle near the bench, with the home manager and the Albion No.9, who’d been substituted a few minutes earlier, both receiving red cards.
So, that completes this division for me. Next Tuesday I was hoping to complete the entire league, with a visit to Division 2 club Riverside Rovers, but the league have not surprisingly postponed the complete programme of their scheduled matches for next midweek now, with Autumn fast approaching. Oh well, back to floodlit matches for the next six months….
Nothing major traffic wise en route to Wales, but SatNav diverted off the M25 between J11 and J10 coming back.
