march 2010

Afan Lido appoint new first team Manager (Mar 30) 14:00

 

Lido's new manager Afan Lido Football Club General Manager Mark Robinson has today confirmed the appointment of Mr Kim Bowley as 1st team Manager.  
Mark has been in discussions with Kim for several weeks and all at the club are delighted that he has accepted the challenge. Kim a working colleague of Mark has a wealth of experience from his time with, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhyader Town and Brecon Corries. He will be working alongside current coaches Vince Lewis and Conrad Rees. Formerly of Rhyader, Merthyr and Brecon Corries, Kim Bowley said " I am delighted to be given the opportunity to manage Afan Lido and join their promotion push towards the Welsh Premier League. This is a very ambitious club with great prospects and I am relishing the chance of helping towards the 'clubs' quest for continued success.
Kim has the necessary qualifications (UEFA ‘A’ Badge) required to manage in the new super 12 league next season.

 
Additional info on website press release on the domestic license (Mar 29) 21:30

Work at the Marston's Stadium is almost completed in the club's bid to gain promotion to the Welsh Premier and for obtaining the FAW Domestic License.
Stadium inspectors were extremely pleased with the progress that has been made in the past few months.
General manager Mark Robinson was full of praise for those who have assisted in the upgrades.
He said: "I'd like to offer a big thank you to Carl Clement and BFL Electrical for all their hard work in helping us with our electricity problems, and also for providing emergency lighting in the stands.
"Also a big thank you must be given to Ian and his staff at Floodlighting and Electrical for the new floodlight installations.
"And finally we must thank Sean and his staff at Port Talbot Labour and Plant for giving up their time to complete lots of work around the ground."

 
Website press release on the domestic license: (Mar 29) 19:30

Officials at Afan Lido FC have been working around the clock to ensure that the club gets the best possible opportunity to obtain the FAW Domestic License, required to obtain promotion to the Welsh Premier.
Mark Robinson and Vince Lewis have made the playing staff aware that the big push is really on, and that Lido also need to maximise their efforts on the pitch, as well as off.
Recent weekend washouts have seen officials hard at work getting the Marston's Stadium up to scratch, to meet the stringent criteria as set in the FAW guidelines.
More than £50,000 of work has gone into the stadium upgrade, including the installation of new 500-lux floodlights, extensive signage, provision of disabled facilities and the upgrade of the club's first aid facilities.
Club licensing officer, Richard Taylor, told the website: "We've been inundated with paperwork, as I'm sure all other clubs have, and everyone has been beavering away in an attempt to give us the chance to go up."
The club has had to contend with many stumbling blocks along the way, not least the fire in the neighbouring leisure complex cutting off water and electricity supplies towards the latter end of last year.
Richard added: "It seems like everything has been against us, but we're getting there. There's been a lot of hard work put into the process, and I feel genuine empathy for other clubs in a similar situation to ourselves. As well as getting our ground up to standard and submitting paperwork, we've had to deal with the problems with utilities and other facilities that we relied on from the Aquadome. License applications are always long-haul, but the support from all sectors of the club has been magnificent. I've said in the past that Afan Lido - like a lot of other clubs - has had a tendency to be a bit closed-shop, lacking transparency. When I was asked to do the license, I wanted everyone to know what was going on, and it's really helped because we've had assistance that wouldn't otherwise have been forthcoming. This is why we're here, in with a real fighting chance."
The Marston's Stadium was inspected today, and the club continues to work towards the March 31 deadline for all criteria to be met.
A big thank you to everyone who has helped out during the entire process, sorry if I've left anyone out: Mark Robinson, Phil Robinson, Linda Robinson, Vince Lewis, Doug Mallen, Alan Howells, Peter Johnson, Lee Evans, Carl Elliott, Darryl Davies, everyone who has signed forms. And, of course, to the big man for making it all happen, Sean McCreesh, whose financial and overall support to the club has been exceptional.

 
Afan Lido v Garden Village match preview (Mar 27) 00:30

Afan Lido face Garden Village today looking to carryon from our mid-week 9-1 win over Dinas Powys. Wednesday night's win moved us into 2nd place in the table for the 1st time this season, and Village stand in the way of us staying there. Village will be in no mood to help us stay there as they are in a fight to avoid a quick return back to division 2. They are currently 1 place above the relegation places only on goal difference. They have a mixed home league record with 4 wins 2 draws and 4 defeats, they also haven't beaten any team at home above 12th place, having lost to Goytre, Caldicot, Cambrian and Corries. so lets hope that trend continues later today.
We go in search of our 4th away win in the league, and our 5th game away without defeat following 2 wins and 2 draws.

 
Afan Lido confident ahead of Domestic licence inspection (Mar 26) 22:00

Afan Lido have completed all the work ahead of Monday's stadium inspection and licence criteria, and await the inspection by the powers that be.
The clubs licensing officer Rich Taylor told the website "we are confident and satisfied that we'll meet all the criteria specifications and that we believe we're equipped for our final assault on and off the pitch".
The club has come a long way since Rich Taylor and Phil Robbo came back from Newtown saying "it's going to be along time before the club can hope to play in the welsh premier again" after finding out the extent the domestic licence requirements. Well done to the club for getting to this stage so quickly.
This statement by the club will add a few more nerves to teams in the welsh premier hovering around the top 10/12 and hoping that feeder clubs do not make the licence.

 
Afan Lido squad to face Garden Village (Mar 26) 18:00

The Afan Lido squad to face Garden Village on Saturday at the earlier kick off time of 1:45 is:
Mike Lewis, Jonathan Hood, Corey Thomas, Scott Hillman, Shaun Morgan, Rob Cockings, Damon Thomas, Gavin Jones,  Mark Jones, Carl Payne, Chris Pridham, Robbie Walters, Nathan White, Scott McCoubrey, Remi Whitelock.

 
Dinas Powys match summary (Mar 24) 21:40
Afan Lido recorded their 2nd biggest ever win against Dinas Powys tonight, against the same team they could only draw 1-1n with last week.
The rout started off in the 18' and little did anyone know how the final score would pan out. Robbie Walters put us ahead 1-0, on 25' we were awarded a penalty and Mark Jones stepped up to take it and missed (the 4th pen we've missed in the last 5 weeks) the keeper saved it and twisted on it and rolled into the net to make it 2-0. Robbie made it 3-0 and on 35' he made it 4-0 and secured his first hat-trick for Lido. The scoring in the first half wasn't finished just yet on 38' Jonah made it 5-0 with his 2nd of the game.
2' after the restart Jonah made it 6-0 and notched his hat-trick in the process. Lido's top scorer Nathan White didn't want to miss out on the party and scored the 7th on 55'. Jonah scored his 4th and Lido's 8th on 58'.
Poor old Dinas were still leaking goals and Carl Payne made it 9-0 on 69'. Dinas did score a consolation on 80' with a goal from Jacob Rudman.
Final score Afan Lido 9-1 Dinas Powys.
Just a pity on 62 bothered to turn up to witness Lido's2nd biggest ever win.
Lido line up:
Mike Lewis, Scott Hillman, Jonathan Hood, Nathan White, Chris Pridham,  Robbie Walters, Corey Thomas, Mark Jones, Damon Thomas, Carl Payne, Scot McCourbrey.
Subs: Luke Borrelli, G Couch, Gavin Jones, S Morgan.
View league table

 
Dinas Powys match preview (Mar 23) 05:10

Tomorrow night we face Dinas Powys at the Marston in a quest to reach 2nd spot in the table (allowing Bryntirion lose against Cambrian & Clydach) or at least 3rd spot. We will also be looking to revert back to our excellent home form that has eluded us in the passed 2 home games which saw us drop 5 points in the games against Bryntirion and Cambrian, had we kept up our winning runs in the last 2 games we would be 2 points clear of Barry Town in 2nd place and 8 points behind Goytre with 3 games in hand.

Our recent record against Dinas at home has seen us win 3 and lose one of the 4 meetings, the last 2 league meetings at the Marston has seen a 2-0 and 3-1 victories for Lido.

Dinas have only won twice away this season beating West End 3-2 and champions Aberaman 2-1. Dinas are desperate for points as are Lido, but for different reasons, while we are looking for a top 2 finish and hopes of welsh premier football next season, Dinas are just one point of the relegation places and life in division 2 next season with the bottom 5 (or now bottom 6 with Haverfordwest looking in danger of failing to make the top 10/12)

It is not getting any easier in creating a gap in the top 6 with just 4 points separating 2nd and 6th and while we do have the luxury of having games in hand over every club (except Caldicot Town) we have to start recording wins and tonight is our first opportunity to do just that.

 
Under 19's consolidate 2nd place with 4-1 win (Mar 22) 01:10
Lido's under 19's consolidated their 2nd place in the table with a comfortable 4-1 win at West End. We are now just a point off top spot which is taken by Bryntirion, Llanelli are 3rd5 points adrift of Lido but do have 3 games in hand. BF Llansawel broke their duck with their first win in the league when they beat Port Talbot 2-1 at Victoria Road.
Lido's scorers against West End were, Connor Harris, Matt Beynon, Luke Borrelli and and own goal.
View league table

 
Goytre cup match preview (Mar 18) 01:10
Tonight we have the unenviable task of doing what only one team has managed in the last 28 league games, and that is beating Goytre to reach the league cup final and to look to retain the trophy we won last season. Goytre went 27 league games without defeat stretching back as far as last season before Taffs Well beat them 4-1. They were soon back to winning ways with a 3-0 win away to Cardiff Corries last time out. We have played them once in the league this season at Glenhafod Park and Goyt's came out 2-1 winners. Last season they did a league double over us winning both games 2-0.
Goytre are good travellers so playing at Maesteg will not concern them, they have only lost once away from home (Taffs Well 4-1) in the league they have won 7 and drawn 4 of their 12 games, al Lido fans know that our form away from the Marston could be a lot better,. we have won just 3 out of our 10 league games, though we have won twice away in cup games beating Seven Sisters 7-0 and Caerau Ely 2-1.
So it is going to be a tough game, but one we are capable of winning if we play at our best on the night.
We return to league action next Wednesday when we face Dinas Powys again for the 2nd time in the league in 2 weeks.

 
U19 make great comeback against Port Talbot (Mar 14) 19:30
The under 19's showed a great fighting quality in coming from 2-0 down against Port Talbot, to win comfortably 4-2 in the end at the Marston. Port Talbot were 2-0 up after 9' but Lido went into the break level at 2-2. On 58' Lido took the lead for the first time in the game and 5' before the end Luke Borrelli scored his 2nd of the game to seal victory.
Lido's scorers were Luke Borrelli (2) and Ellis Harris (2).
The under 18's were fielding a very young side today in the encounter with Cowbridge, and narrowly lost 3-2. It was their first defeat in the league, and came only a month since we beat Cowbridge at home 3-0 in February.
The under 16 Colt's were in cup final action Friday night against Porthcawl Whites in the knock out cup, and unfortunately the Colt's were beaten 5-1 on the night.

 
Dinas Powys match summary (Mar 13) 16:20
What a difference a week makes, joint 2nd place in the table a nice cushion to the chasing pack, then just 2 points from 3 games in 8 days, resulting in 2 draws and a defeat, the only goal of the first half against Dinas Powys came for the home side on 42' the goal came about by poor marking from Lido
Neither side could get on the score sheet in the 2nd half until into injury time and it was our top scorer Nathan White back in the starting line up today, Nat scored the equaliser in the 91' it was enough to claim a point against Dinas.
Consolation from today's draw was Caldicot lost 1-0 at West End, Goytre got back to wining ways with a 3-0 win at Corries, now just 2 points separate Caldicot in 2nd to Ton Pentre in 6th.

Lido line up:
Mike Lewis, Scott Hillman, Jonathan Hood, Nathan White, Chris Pridham, Gavin Jones, Corey Thomas, Mark Jones, Damon Thomas, Carl Payne, Scot McCourbrey.

Subs: Luke Borrelli, Connah Williams, , Robbie Walters, Remi Whitelock.

 
Dinas Powys match preview (Mar 13) 05:30

Today we play Dinas Powys, and a fixture we have yet to taste defeat in since our WPL relegation.
Last season we pulled of a good 5-1 win, followed in previous season's with a 1-0, 2-1 and 2-2 results.
We have to put behind us our recent home form of dropping 5 points in our last 2 games compared with only dropping 3 all season prior to that, and had we kept our good home form we would have been right on the coattails of Goytre, who had also dropped 5 points in their last 2 games.

Dinas's home form in dead on 50/50, played 12 won 6, lost 6, scored 26 conceded 24.
Our away form has improved from earlier in the season, we are unbeaten in our last 3 away games winning 2 and drawing the other.
A win at Dinas is vital in our quest for a top 2 finish and not to lose further ground on the pair above us as both Goytre & Caldicot must be favoured to take 3 points from their games today.

 
Lido squad to face Bryntirion tonight (Mar 10) 09:30

The Afan Lido missed the chance to go 2nd in the table when Bryntirion completed the double over us with a 2-1 win at the Marston.
For some reason Mark Robbo decided to leave Lido's top scorer Nathan White on the bench for tonight's game, Last season's top scorer Scot McCourbrey was also on the bench again tonight.
It was another what if had we converted another penalty opportunity when we were level 1-1, but Robbie Walters effort was saved.
Bryntirion took the lead through Paul Evans on 26' Man of the match Scot Hillman drew us level on 59' we had the chance to go 2-1 up on 65' with the saved penalty.
Lido were unable to find an equaliser as Bryntirion take home all 3 points.

Lido line up:
Mike Lewis, Scott Hillman, Jonathan Hood, Rob Cockings, Chris Pridham, Gavin Jones, Corey Thomas, Mark Jones, Damon Thomas, Carl Payne, Robbie Walters.

Subs: Luke Borrelli, James McEvoy, Scot McCourbrey, Nathan White, Remi Whitelock.

Attendance: 60.

 
Lido squad to face Bryntirion tonight (Mar 10) 09:30

The Afan Lido squad to face Bryntirion at the Marston tonight is:
Mike Lewis, Scott Hillman, Jonathan Hood, Rob Cockings, Luke Borrelli, Chris Pridham, James McEvoy, Gavin Jones, Corey Thomas, Scot McCourbrey, Mark Jones, Damon Thomas, Carl Payne, Robbie Walters, Nathan White, Remi Whitelock.

 
Cambrian and Clydach match summary (Mar 7) 18:50

The under 19's come from behind 3 times to beat Pontardawe away 4-3. Continuing on their winning form that saw them defeat Llanelli last time out.
Luke Borrelli scored a hat-trick for Lido with 2 goals coming in the last 2 minutes of the game, Niall Lewis scored Lido's other goal.
View league table

 
Cambrian and Clydach match summary (Mar 6) 16:18

Lido missed the chance to 1-0 up after only 6'. Lido were awarded a penalty and Jonah stepped up t take it but missed, we did take the lead 5' later when Nathan White scored his 15th league goal of the season to make it 1-0 Lido.

Cambrian were back on level terms 10' into the 2nd half to make it all square, and that penalty miss could be costly.

And it proved costly as the game ended 1-1 and Lido's winning home run comes to an end. Just have to hope Caldicot didn't win at Bryntirion.

Caldicot beat Bryntirion 1-0, while a shock as Goytre lose their 1st game of the season going down 4-1 at Taffs Well.

View league table

Lido line up:
Mike Lewis, Scott Hillman, Jonathan Hood, Chris Pridham, Gavin Jones, Corey Thomas, Mark Jones, Damon Thomas, Carl Payne, Robbie Walters, Nathan White.

Subs:
Rob Cockings, James McEvoy, Scot McCourbrey, Luke Borrelli.

Attendance: 80

Lido Reserves had a good away win over Newcastle Emlyn, beating them 5-0.

 
Cambrian and Clydach match preview (Mar 5) 01:10

On Saturday we face Cambrian & Clydach at the Marston, Cambrian have only lost once on their travels in the league this season and will be a tough test for the Lido.
That defeat came at 2nd placed Caldicot Town going down 3-0.  They have the 2nd best away record in division 1 (behind Goytre) with 5 wins, 2 draws, and that 1 loss, Their biggest win was a 6-2 win over champions Aberaman and most recently they won 2-1 at much improved Taffs Well. They have actually accumulated more points away than they have at home. We will be looking for a bit of revenge as Cambrian did the double over us last season winning both games 2-0, and finished one place above us in the final table coming 6th. In the 07/08 season we were held to a 0-0 draw in their first season in the top division.
We on the other hand have a better home record that Cambrians away, and we will be looking to extend our unbeaten home run to 10 games and extend our clean sheets at the Marston to 7 games.
Good news on the Lido squad for the game is that of our 3 players who had to come off injured at the Bala game, 2 make the squad, Chris Pridham and Rob Cockings are available, with only Shaun Galsworthy not making the 15 man squad, we also have Robbie Walters back who was cup tied last Saturday.
It is going to be a busy 7 days with a home game against Bryntirion on the 10th and away to Dinas Powys on the 13th, so the next week will have a big baring on our challenge for a top 2 finish.

 
Afan Lido squad to face Cambrian & Clydach (Mar 5) 01:00

The Afan Lido squad to face Cambrian & Clydach at the Marston on Saturday is:
Mike Lewis, Scott Hillman, Jonathan Hood, Rob Cockings, Luke Borrelli, Chris Pridham, James McEvoy, Gavin Jones, Corey Thomas, Scot McCourbrey, Mark Jones,
Damon Thomas, Carl Payne, Robbie Walters, Nathan White.
In our squad of 15, are 3 of the players who inflicted a first league defeat on Llanelli Tuesday night playing for the under 19's, Luke Borrelli, Jonathan Hood and James McEvoy.