Division 1 - Maesglas 5 v 1 Ffostrasol

The game was in doubt on the Saturday morning due to the torrential rain on the Friday night, but the morning was a dry one and by the time kick off came the pitch was playable but  further showers during the match really cut up the pitch, but all this considering the two sides put up some good football entertainment.

The Blues however were by far the better side, Ffostrasol were under strength, but take nothing away from Maesglas, some of their football was excellent considering the underfoot conditions. Ffostrasol could not cope with the pace from the kick off, and after some missed opportunities in the first ten minutes it was Llifon Howell who opened the scoring with a far post header after a cross from the left by Aled Rees. It was Dai Cole who scored the second breaking into the box and finishing the good move with ease. It was Llifon Howell with yet another header that put the Blues three-nil up before the half hour mark, a deep cross, this time from left back Rhys Davies and Howell nodding the ball into the top corner. The fourth goal was a scrappy one in the end, after some decent build up play, the ball eventually found its way into the box, and Aled Rees wrapped his foot around the ball and finished with a well taken effort from ten yards.

Four up at the break, and as in Ffostrasol earlier in the season it was the away side who raised their game in the next forty five minutes, more for their pride than anything else, but it was Maesglas who grabbed the fifth and Dai Cole with his second of the day, another cross, this time from the right and Cole picked his spot and finished clinically giving stand in keeper Gethin Thomas no chance.
The Blues were also awarded a penalty after right back Mark James was upended in the box, and with Llifon Howell on a hat trick the responsibility fell on his shoulders, his effort though was a poor one, his strike nestling in the arms of the keeper.

Maesglas sweeper Richard ‘Charlie’ Evans made a rash tackle at the other end on a rare Ffostrasol attack and the excellent referee on the day Peter Wilson having no hesitation on giving a penalty. Keeper Graham Keen given no chance as the penalty was a good strike.

Another plus point for the Blues was youngster 16 year old Llyr Price  given a first team début off the bench, and he slotted comfortably into a left back role, and came through with flying colours, another player who will give the manager extra options on the run in for the rest of the remaining season. 

Maesglas huffed and puffed during the last twenty minutes but ran out comfortable winners in the end, a good workman like performance with some quality football at times, and considering the worsening conditions it was credit to both sides that the football was of a good standard, as was the man in the middle Peter Wilson who had a very good game. This win lift the Blues into fourth spot in the league, a top five finish will be a good season anything below will be disappointing for the Maesglas side.

Maesglas have a tough encounter at Parc-Llyn next Saturday as they visit Aberporth in a league game, this is always a tough one and with Aberporth fighting to stay in the top flight this will be an extra incentive for them.
 
Team: Graham Keen, Mark James, Rhys Davies, Dafydd George, Richard Evans, Llifon Howell, Dai Cole, Jack Davies, Matthew Smith. Aled Rees, Darren Davies. Subs- Emlyn George, Llyr Price, Paul Jones