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Saturday 21st February 2009

Rhiwlas 0 v 3 Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs
.........................................John O’Donovan 11
.........................................Gareth Roberts 23
.........................................Aled Owen 84

Line Up
Geraint Hughes, Euron Roberts, Terry Hughes, Aled Owen, Neill Reynolds, Geraint Owen,
Gareth RobertsGary Hughes, Ceri Roberts, John O'Donovan, Keiron Ellis, Dafydd Raynolds---
Karl Kavanagh, Steven Jones,

Man Of the Match = John O'Donovan


RHIWLAS 0 BLAENAU AMATEURS 3.
After their enforced absence of two weeks the Amateurs returned to Teejac Gwynedd League action with a tricky away match at Rhiwlas. This was the club's 12th league match away from Cae Clyd and are yet to taste defeat having won 10 and drawn 2 and between now and the end of the season they have just two away matches left at Porthmadog and Holyhead Hotspurs. Last week's match against the Anglesey side was postponed due to the death of the Amateurs's manager Brian Vaughan's father and before this match the players and fans stood in silence as a mark of respect. The visitors had a pre match loss when Ceri Roberts who had a thigh muscle strain decided to rest this one out at the last minute and David Reynolds took his place up front. It was the home side that opened most brightly forcing two quick corners in the opening minutes without really testing Gareth Hughes in the Amateurs goal. Having weathered that initial pressure the Amateurs took the lead on 8 minutes and i doubt if there was a better goal scored anywhere than this. The ball was passed out of defence then onto the right wing with a series of first time passes from where Gareth Roberts crossed the ball outside the area. where Keiron Ellis let it run on to John O'Donovan who on the volley thundered the ball into the top left side corner of the net from some 25 yards giving the home keeper Adam Davies no chance of saving it. The Irishman is making it a habit of scoring some spectacular goals for the Quarrymen and the fans hope it will last. There were lots of stops and start to this match as the home side played some spoiling tactics which interupted some of the Amateurs play and they too were guilty of giving away unnecessary fouls. In fact the referee called both captains who in turn told their players to cut out the negative and try and be more positive in their play. In that first half Blaenau played the best soccer whilst the home side tactic was a long boot upfield and hope for the best. The visitors went close to increasing their lead on several occassions but it took them until the 41st minutes to do so. Again a fine move this time through the centre of the home defence saw Dafydd Reynolds pass the ball on to Gareth Roberts and he made no mistake. With virtually the last kick of the half Keiron Ellis went close to increase the lead with a 30 yard free kick that clipped the top of the crossbar. After the break the home side re-arranged their team having more players in midfield but though they had more possession they hardly had a decent effort on goal such was the Amateurs resolute defence. Still the chances came to the visitors with several of their players missing the chance of increasing the lead and when they were on target Adam Davies did well especially with a double save as Gareth Roberts and then Keirion Ellis looked odds on to score. At the other end Blaenau contributed to their own pressure by giving the ball away too cheaply at times but still Rhiwlas failed to take advantage. With time running out it was defender Aled Owen up for a corner kick that scored the third goal on 83 minutes helped as Adam Davies for once fumbled his cross shot into the net off a post. It was what the visitors deserved for they were far and away the best footballing side but this game will not live long in the memory but O'Donovan's goal will and after all it is a win no matter how one obtains it, that is the most important thing in the end.
This Saturday the Amateurs are home to Llanstumdwy in a North Wales Intermediate Cup tie the winners of which will make it into the semi final stage of the competition.

Meirion Ellis

Pictures By Chris Mcphail