Goytre - 0

AFC Llwydcoed - 0

DESPITE leaving the pitch after a goal-less draw, Goytre were more than happy to settle for a point in their first Welsh League Division Three fixture of the season against AFC Llwydcoed.

As club chairman Paul Greenhalgh explains, "Last season Llwydcoed only missed out on promotion due to goal difference, and I know they recruited well during the summer, so they were always going to be a formidable prospect.

"Overall, considering the way they attacked us in the first-half, and the sterling efforts made by our keeper Gareth Williams to keep them at bay, I think the whole camp is pleased we salvaged a point from what was a grueling game."

With a reshuffled team that saw Lee Wadden and Carl Evans unavailable due to injuries, and Darren Haines and Matthew Cameron returning to the fray, alongside Adam Roberts selected to replace Graham Mason, the Goytre did well to weather the storm and contain Llwydcoed in the first-half.

Williams made a few crucial saves to give Goytre a little breathing space at the stroke of half-time, after which the Plough Road outfit turned the screw and looked the better side in the last 45 minutes.

Chances for both teams were few and far between, with Lee Wadden hitting the woodwork, Adam Robers putting an absolute sitter wide, and Matthew Cameron having his strike denied by a superb and instinctive save from the Llwydcoed keeper.

However, the last chance of the game fell to Llwydcoed who with ten minutes remaining chipped Williams in goal, only to have it hit the crossbar and fall straight into the Goytre keeper's hands.

Greenhalgh added, "After the match our boys were pretty buoyant, and I think Llwydcoed were a lot more disappointed with the result. A point is a point at the end of the day, it buys us a bit of time from what is only our first league fixture to date this season.

"Hopefully we can add another six points to keep the one we picked up on Saturday company in our next two games against Aberbargoed Buds (Yesterday) and Merthyr Saints (Saturday)."