Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League

Greyhound Cup 1st Round

Monday 2nd September 2024

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 17.59!

Ynysybwl 0 Llantwit Fardre Reserves 3, attendance 63

18’ 0-1

63’ 0-2

82’ 0-3

@ Ynysybwl Recreation Ground

Heol-y-Plwyf

Ynysybwl

CF37 3HU

No Admission or Programme.

I never visited Ynysybwl when they were members of the Welsh League, when I believe they played home games on the rugby ground here at Ynysybwl Recreation Ground. The re-formed (2020 according to their badge) club now have their own designated pitch at the same venue, about 100 yards or so from the rugby pitch. They still get changed near the entrance, in a couple of metal container units, to the left of the rugby pitch as you come in off Heol-y-Plwyf. Car parking is sandwiched between a bowling green and a tennis court, whilst the football is down below, next to a floodlit rugby training pitch, end on and running lengthways away from here. The pitch is fully railed and there are a pair of dugouts on the left hand touchline, with a river beyond the trees lining the far side.

Tonight was a Greyhound Cup (League Cup) 1st Round match, with Premier Division hosting Division 1. It was keenly contested, with the visitors well worth their win. They opened the scoring after eighteen minutes, with a shot from the edge of the box that was hit with the outside of the foot, swerving in at the near post, after looking to be heading wide of the target as it was sent on it’s way. They could have doubled their lead six minutes later, but missed a penalty, which came back off the crossbar. They did make it 0-2 just after the hour, when a deflected cross in from the right was put in at the far post and they rounded off the scoring with eight minutes left, when a cross wasn’t cleared, leaving an easy one on one finish against the ‘keeper.

Certainly no problem getting this one finished in daylight. It kicked off a minute early (it would have gone to penalties if drawn) and with a short halftime break, where everyone stayed on the pitch, we were done and dusted by 19.35. I even managed to make it back into England before it was fully dark.

Above photo : The light holding out in the final minute of the match.