Pontlliw are S&R Trophies Cup Winners

S&R Trophies Cup Final – Steboneath, Llanelli 28th April
Match Report by Ken Grayson (WWYL Committee)

The S&R Trophies Cup Final was the classic game of two halves. Pre match, both teams' warm-ups were cut short as the weather turned nasty with heavy showers and hailstones.

Luckily by kick off the weather had improved and both teams struggled to gain dominance although Pontlliw slightly edged the first 14 minutes. Ferry then lost Jan Tenbuloglu through injury.

This only seemed to spur Ferry on and they took a 2 goal lead on 18 and 20 minutes through Arnold Ncube and Jacob Evans respectively, both goals coming from set pieces. Six minutes later Ferry were 3 up with a long range effort from Callum Preece.

Half Time BFL 3 Pontlliw 0

Pontlliw came out determined to make amends and pulled a goal back after 4 minutes when Sam Day latched onto a through ball to convert. Ten minutes and Pontlliw had cut Ferry's lead to 1 goal when Leon Johnson won a tussle in mid field and scored Pontlliw's second.

Within a minute the teams were level when man of the match Sam Day scored with a spectacular volley from the corner of the penalty area, Ferry 3 - Pontlliw 3.

On the half hour, Ferry's Arnold Ncube was sent off for two bookable offences. With the inevitable pressure building on Ferry, Pontlliw were awarded a penalty 6 minutes later which Sam Day converted.

Ferry continued to push for an equaliser but were thwarted by solid defending typified by the dominant centre half Matthew Davies. Both teams pushed for further goals as the pitch was taking its toll with players suffering cramp.

Pontlliw held out to win a wonderful Cup Final, sportingly played by both teams and well controlled by referee Garwyn Davies.

Final - Briton Ferry Llansawel 3 - Pontlliw 4, another fine advert for the West Wales Youth League whose officials thank the staff of Steboneath Park for hosting the event

Photographs : Checkout the Photo Section for Ken Grayson's photos of the evening[i]