Emrys Morgan Cup - Hay St Mary 0 v 5 Maesglas

Hay St Marys may not be the same team that took this prestigious trophy last term, but take nothing away from the boys of Maesglas, when in the past the team has failed to take chances, against Hay they took the opportunities this time, but this was a team performance from 1 to 11, never before has the team embarked on a journey and turned out and fired from the first whistle, every tackle, every pass, every header was won with determination, the Blues played with conviction that stung the home side, Hay are a very good side, well drilled and organised and have quality players with some who have played at high levels of the game, but the Blues worked tirelessly, and with joker of the team Dazz Davies leading the way with his work rate which lifted the Blues camp and once the game settled down Maesglas showed what they are capable of. Hay were the team dominating the first 10-15 minutes with their quick passing and making inroads towards the Blues goal, but some resolute defending blocked their way.

Maesglas slowly got into the game and always looking to find the weak spots of the back 3 of Hay who at times looked slow when turned, Dai Cole took advantage of this and he made some excellent ground up to grab the opener when a cross from his midfield partner Matthew Smith who found Cole free in the box to head home from close range, a goal the away side deserved. Cole almost doubled the lead a cross from Aled Rees found Cole with an open goal and Coles shot was goal bound but from nowhere a Hay defender cleared from the line. Soon after Graham Keen the Blues shot stopper pulled off one hell of a double save, a free kick just outside of the box went through the Blues wall and keeper Keen dived full stretch to push out the shot and a Hay striker followed up and Keen scrambled to block the goal bound shot.

Maesglas went into the break a goal up, and Hay were at sixes and sevens as they came off, mainly due to some players not convinced the back 3 system was working against the quick boys of Maesglas, and this soon changed to a 4-4-2 once the second half kicked off.

Maesglas again at times were on the back foot but looked very dangerous on the break, with Rhys Davies and Luke Jamieson making good runs down the wings and creating chances for the front runners. It was Jamieson who grabbed the second, a shot from outside the box took a slight deflection and the ball nestled in the bottom corner.

The home side discipline was wavering and they gambled by pushing players forward, but this played into the hands of the Maesglas, and Dai Cole doubled his tally, the midfielder broke free from midfield and buried his close range effort passed the Hay St Marys keeper. Cole will feel that he should have nabbed a 3 goal cluster, when faced with 1 v 1 with the Hay Keeper, midfielder Cole tried to go round him, but the keeper bravely smothered the ball from Cole's feet. Aled Rees and Bleddyn Davies were the only two who played last time the two sides met, and the pair made their second trip to Hay worthwhile, the pair scoring to wrap the game up. Aled Rees scoring with his own work, controlling the ball and turning his marker inside out and ran through with the keeper to beat and he finished clinically.

Left back Bleddyn Davies grabbed the fifth, when his surname namesake Rhys broke down the flank and he crossed into the run of Davies and the finish again was of high quality. Five nil up and the win was minutes away, Hay kept on pushing but even being 5 goals clear the defending was impressive to say the least. Hay could have played for hours and not scored with the back four of baby face Mark James, Richard Charlie Evans, Daf George and left back Bleddyn Davies working hard until the final minute.

Maesglas progress into the 4th round where they will travel a few miles to Crannog in the first week of 2010, a tough game but with a totally different style that Hay offered.

Boxing Day will be the next game where Llanboidy visit Maes Radley.

Christmas greetings to everyone from all at Maesglas FC.