cpdffestiniogfc.co.uk

Saturday 17th January 2009
League match

Gaerwen 0- 5 Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs
...............................Kieron Ellis 10
...............................John O'Donovan 23
...............................Ceri Roberts 34
...............................Gareth Roberts 51
...............................Karl Kavanagh 86

Line Up
Steven Jones, Euron Roberts, Terry Hughes,Neill Reynolds, Aled Owen, John O'Donovan,
Keiron Ellis, Gareth Roberts, Ceri Roberts, Geraint Owen, Gary Hughes, ---Karl Kavanagh,
Peter Jones Stephan Parry,


Man Of the Match =


GAERWEN 0 BLAENAU AMATEURS 5.
For the second successive Saturday on the road the Amateurs went nap as they defeated the holders of the John Smith's Gwynedd Cup on their own patch with a fine all round performance by all concerned. As in the previous week's 5-1 win at Bethel there were 5 different scorers for the Quarrymen whose first half display even had the home fans praising the standard of football they had seen by the visitors. Indeed that first half's display was probably the best the Amateurs have played all season. They dominated play from the first whistle and after the horrendous weather of the previous Saturday it was like a Spring day at Gaerwen. This made playing flowing soccer much easier and after the visitors had some early efforts on the home goal they took just 9 minutes to open the scoring when Keirion Ellis was on hand to beat the home keeper and captain Aled Wyn Hughes after a fine move that opened the home defence. Hughes was keeping Gaerwen in the game as he saved well from Gareth Roberts but he had no chance as another defence splitting move saw Gareth Roberts cross the ball to the far post for John O'Donovan to head home on 21 minutes. Gary Hughes had a chance when through on the home goal but his final effort was smothered by Hughes. At the other end stand in keeper Steve Jones who deputised for the working Geraint Hughes hardly had a touch of the ball in the first half as the Amateurs were in complete command and they were 3-0 ahead on 34 minutes with Gary Hughes and Gareth Roberts linking well to set up the chance for Ceri Roberts and he made no mistake. John O'Donovan had a chance before the break to add to the scoreline but Hughes's last ditch dive at his feet meant the teams went in at the break with the Amateurs 3-0 in front. When Gareth Roberts coolly made it 4-0 early in the second half after being sent through by a glorious pass from John O'Donovan the tie was virtually over. The home side did mount more effort on the Blaenau goal but to no avail whilst at the other end Geraint Owen laid a pass onto the head of Ceri Roberts but his effort went wide of the mark. As the match wore on the visitors were forced to make changes as Keirion Ellis and then Neil Reynolds both had to leave the fray with niggling injuries but they hopefully will be fit for Saturday's home league encounter against Bodedern. The home side went nearest to scoring but with Steve Jones stranded the reliable Euron Roberts was on hand to clear the danger as Iwan Lewis looked as if he might score. There was still time for the two Blaenau subs to combine as Steff Parry made a left wing run and cross and there was young Karl Kavanagh to score his first goal for the first team and how happy he was as he was mobbed by his teamates. That goal came on 86 minutes and then Steve Jones was called upon to make his first serious save in the final minute to keep out an Arwyn Jones header. As said a good all round display but one must memtion the effort Terry Hughes has made since moving to the left back position. A couple of seasons ago he was the club's top scorer and his displays in a defensive role has added to the team's stability at the back and he still finds time to support his front players as well as did the rest of the defensive players so making them an all round team and one that doesn't depend on one striker for scoring the goals.

Meirion Ellis