FAW Trophy

Mardy AFC 3 Twyn-y-Feld Blues 1

AFTER a turbulent summer involving a change of manager, a reset from Gwent County to the Gwent Central League and the loss of a number of players, Mardy AFC were delighted to return to action with a 3-1 FAW Trophy win over North Gwent team Twyn-y-Feld Blues.

With some players still away on holiday it was something of a new look team, with ages ranging from 43-year-old Gary Hopkins down to to 17-year-old Ellis Morgan.

Mardy blew away the Blues on a bone hard pitch
Mardy blew away the Blues on a bone hard pitch (Stuart Townsend)

It was also good to see the return of James Edwards in goal and the club's shirt sponsor, Will Duggan of the Dug Out Coffee Shop, playing in midfield.

With the ground baked hard from the endless sunshine and the smoke still visible from the local hill fires, the teams approached the poor pitch conditions in different ways, with the visitors looking for the long ball into their forwards, whilst Mardy looked to play it on the floor, using their width.

And it was the hosts that had the better of the first half, hitting the ground running with the opening goal after six minutes from Ellis Morgan, a product of Mardy’s youth system.

A smart through ball from club captain Dan Palmer split the defence, with Ellis running on to it, cutting in, and looping the ball over the keeper into the far corner.

Continued pressure saw Mardy extend their lead on 21 minutes, when Kyron Hughes cut in from the left and found No 10 Leighton Melia, who held off two defenders on the goal line, and with everyone expecting a cut back, then caught the keeper out by driving the ball home from a tight angle.

A rare Blues breakthrough saw Lewi Bradford preserve the lead, heading off the line with the keeper beaten, leaving it 2-0 at the half-time break and Mardy fully deserving of their lead.

The second half saw a similar pattern with Mardy on top in the early exchanges.

A Mardy player fires in a shot
A Mardy player fires in a shot (Stuart Townsend)

However, their lead was cut when Twyn's Joel Jones ran on to a through ball and squeezed the ball into the Mardy net.

This saw a period of pressure which the hosts soaked up with the help of some fresh legs in midfield and at the back.

They were subsequently rewarded for a battling display and restored their two-goal advantage in the 66th minute when Dan Palmer headed home a Max Williams cross.

As legs flagged in the heat, Mardy sat deeper and invited some late pressure.

However, they could have extended their lead but for some tight offside calls ruling out two good chances and a second goal for Melia.

But 3-1 at the final whistle was a good winning start to the campaign.

Mardy’s Man of the Match went to left back Lewi Bradford for a solid defensive display and his important goal-line clearance.

New captain Dan Palmer said he was delighted with the team's display and the effort put in, as well as the positive feeling around the club.

Elsewhere in the FAW Trophy on Saturday, Abergavenny Town won 3-0 at home to local rivals Nantyglo, Liam John (20), Curtis Methven (23) and Ben Brooks (57) their scorers.

Fellow Ardal South East side Goytre ran amok winning 8-1 at home to Carn Rovers, Josh Hinwood and Bo Cordle with braces backed by solo strikes from Caylam Palmer, Tom Rutherford, Jack Pewtner and Alex McDowell.

But having led 3-0 at half-time thanks to strikes from Michael Randall (4) and Ben Rogers (6) and a Josh Baynton spot kick (43) and seen their Croeseyceiliog hosts reduced to 10 men just before the break, Clydach Wasps went out on penalties on Friday night after a 3-3 draw.

Brynmawr United also lost 1-0 at Bryncoch.

Meanwhile, Abergavenny Town launched their Ardal league campaign in midweek with a 3-1 home win over New Inn.

Goytre also pipped visitors Brecon Corries 3-2, but Blaenavon Blues crashed 4-0 at Newport Corinthians.

Goytre host Lliswerry on Friday night, with Abergavenny at Risca United and Blaenavon at Caldicot Town on Saturday.