Afan Lido Football Club

The 18’s were decimated by call-ups to the under 19's and the line-up bore little resemblance to that of their last outing. Without a goalkeeper Shaun Beddow took the green jersey.

Lido – Shaun Beddow, Josh Brady, Aled Northcott, Grant Fisher, Paul Malcolm, Luke Curtis (Ben Francis), Nathan Doyle, Daniel Carey, Callum Fleming, Ellis Harris, Thomas King.

Lido were under pressure from the outset, the visitors were playing a long ball game with their wingers joining the strikers in a 4 man attack.

Lido could have been behind early on but held out until the 30^th minute when Les Croupiers scored from an attack down the Lido left – 10 mins. later they doubled their lead with a similar effort.

The visitors took a deserved lead into the interval.

Josh Brady took over in goal for the second period and his first job was to pick the ball out of the net as the Cardiff side extended their lead.

Lido pulled a goal back, when the visiting keeper could only parry a Thomas King shot to Ellis Harris.

This sparked the home side into action and Thomas King scored a second after determined play from Beddow.

Lido pushed for an equaliser and the game became stretched, unfortunately they conceded two goals in quick succession after defensive lapses.

With Daniel Carey seeing a red card, for two bookings, the task of getting back into the game proved too much and Lido suffered their first league defeat of the season.

If the side are to be competitive this season, playing games on the same day as the under 19’s needs to be avoided.

After suffering defeat in the Cup last week, Lido were looking to bounce back when hosting Bryntirion.

Lido – Connah Williams, Daniel Carey, Aled Northcott, Daniel O’Brien, Andrew Collins (Grant Fisher), Callum Fleming (Levi Coakes), Nathan Doyle, James McEvoy, Conor Harris, Daniel Symmons, Ellis Harris. Subs not used – Ben Francis, Luke Curtis, Paul Malcolm.

Bryntirion, unbeaten this season, had given Lido two tough games last term and a difficult afternoon was anticipated.

Bryntirion started well and although limited to shots from distance, certainly had the better of the opening encounters. Lido got more into the game and took a 15^th minute lead. A long throw from Andrew Collins went across the 6 yard box and with the visitors napping, the ball was returned into the danger zone, a deft flick from Ellis Harris found the corner of the net.

The pattern of the game changed, the home side began to dominate possession and Bryntirion were forced to play ‘on the break’.

Neither goal was seriously threatened, Lido coming closest when a Daniel Symmons header, from a corner, went wide.

The home side took their slender lead into the interval.

The second period began with Lido looking to consolidate their lead, but Bryntirion had other ideas and scored almost immediately. Slack play on the left allowed a back post cross and their striker finished well.

The next goal was going to be crucial and it didn’t take long coming. From a Bryntirion attack the ball broke to midfield and tenacious play from Nathan Doyle won possession, he played the ball through to Symmons who closed in on goal, rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net.

Conditions took their toll on the remainder of the game, with high temperatures and the size of the pitch, play became stretched. Doyle and James McEvoy were both industrious in midfield and helped Lido shade things.

With Bryntirion still looking dangerous, Lido were indebted to Daniel Carey as his goal-line clearance, with the keeper beaten, maintained their advantage.

Lido should have wrapped things up, as the game entered its closing minutes. Great play, on the right, from Ellis Harris, gave Symmons a gilt edged chance but he scuffed his shot.

Lido saw out the remaining minutes for a hard earned victory. If they can finish above Bryntirion this season, they won’t be far from the top of the league.

Match report by David Northcott

Afan Lido 0-2 Cardiff Bay Quins
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Lido hosted Cardiff Bay Quins (formerly Grangetown) in the Cup.

Lido – Connah Williams, Daniel Pugh, Aled Northcott (Conor Harris), Daniel O’Brien, Josh Brady, Shaun Beddow, Daniel Carey, Nathan Doyle (Thomas King), Callum Fleming (Levi Coakes), Ellis Harris, Daniel Symmons. Sub not used – Andrew Collins.

Lido had defeated their visitors 4-2 in this competition last season, but even before the game started the size of the Cardiff team forecast a difficult time for the home side.

Lido almost snatched an early lead, after just 2 minutes, Daniel Symmons latched onto a right wing cross and fired just over.

The pattern of play in the first half saw the visitors having more possession with Lido threatening on the break. Symmons and Ellis Harris were looking dangerous, but the home side failed to create any clear-cut openings.

The Cardiff side also failed to really trouble Connah Williams, in the Lido goal, being restricted to shooting from distance, by a Lido rearguard which had Daniel O’Brien and Aled Northcott looking strong.

Lido came closest to scoring in the opening period, when the visiting keeper failed to deal with a back-post corner, which was eventually scrambled to safety.

Half time saw stalemate, but Lido were dealt a blow when Nathan Doyle, who was in fine form, felt ill and was unable to return to the game.

The second half seemed to be more evenly matched, the visitors were still posing a threat, but Lido saw more of the ball.

Symmons went close with a header, from a corner. Whilst at the other end, though Williams made a good save, Quins were still finding it difficult to hit the target.

The visitors did however open the scoring, a mix-up on the right of the area allowed the centre forward too much space and he finished well.

Lido pressed for an equaliser and the Cardiff keeper fumbled a cross against his post. The game became more open, Lido forced a number of corners and free kicks but couldn’t make the breakthrough.

As the game went into injury time Lido were exposed at the back and the visitors wrapped up the tie with a second goal to secure a victory they probably deserved. In hot conditions, Lido battled well all afternoon and never gave up, against much bigger opponents, they can take many positives from their performance, as they resume their league programme – at home against one of the favourites for the title, Bryntirion, next Sunday.

Match report by David Northcott

Porthcawl 0-4 Afan Lido
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Lido travelled to Porthcawl for their first away game of the season

Lido = Connah Williams, Paul Malcolm (James McEvoy), Aled Northcott, Andrew Collins, Daniel Pugh, Levi Coakes (Callum Fleming), Nathan Doyle, Daniel Carey, Conor Harris, Thomas King (Luke Curtis), Ellis Harris, subs not used – Josh Brady, Daniel Symmons.

When we arrived at Locks Lane there was a slight breeze and a little drizzle, by the time the game started there was heavy rain and a strong wind.

Porthcawl won the toss and chose to play with the elements (and the slight slope) and though Lido looked to play the better football conditions didn’t allow it and their hosts put them under considerable pressure with their ‘long ball’ game. Connah Williams was relieved to see a couple of efforts pass wide of his goal, after some hesitant defending in front of him.

On the half hour, against the run of play Lido broke and Ellis Harris found himself through on goal, as he entered the box, he was bundled over and the ref awarded a penalty. Harris picked himself up to score from the spot.

The remainder of the half was more even and the visitors took their lead into the interval 

As the sides turned for the second half so did the weather and Lido faced the prospect of playing a full 90 minutes into the wind and rain.

Lido re-shuffled their line-up with James McEvoy replacing Paul Malcolm, at the break. The midfielder had an immediate impact and Lido soon gained the upper hand. Conor Harris found space on the left and whipped in a cross which Thomas King met with a superb half-volley, into the roof of the net, putting the visitors 2-0 ahead.

Conor and Ellis Harris came more into the game and the more confident Lido ’s play became, the more frustrated Porthcawl became – credit to the lads for keeping their composure.

A right wing corner, from Conor Harris, saw Levi Coakes send a bullet header into the net giving Lido a 3-0 lead and virtually settling the contest.

Coakes scored his second, lashing a loose ball home from another corner to conclude the scoring.

Porthcawl still looked threatening, in their search for a consolation, putting the visiting defence under pressure, but a string of great saves from Williams kept a clean sheet for Lido .

Porthcawl has always proved a difficult place to go, Lido travelled home with a flattering score-line under their belts, but they defeated a very physical, one-dimensional Porthcawl side and the elements. Four goals and a clean sheet suggests we must be doing something right!!

Match report by David Northcott

Afan Lido 5-2 Port Talbot
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With no pre-season to speak of, Lido couldn’t have wished for a more difficult opener – a local derby against a Port Talbot side who had beaten strongly fancied Bridgend in their first game.

Lido fielded a healthy mixture of last seasons u16’s and their predecessors who had experienced a league championship win in their first season out of local football.

Lido = Connah Williams. Daniel Carey, Aled Northcott (Josh Brady), Grant Fisher (Levi Coakes), Andrew Collins, Shaun Beddow, Nathan Doyle. James McEvoy. Conor Harris (Callum Fleming), Ellis Harris. Daniel Symmons – subs not used - Thomas King, Paul Malcolm

Lido started well and after 5 minutes opened the scoring. Neat interplay on the edge of the Port Talbot area put Ellis Harris into the box, he shot across the keeper into the corner of the net.

Though Lido maintained the upper hand, Port Talbot were looking lively on the break and forced a 15^th minute corner which Lido were unable to clear. A close range shot beat Williams, in the Lido goal, for an equaliser.

Lido continued to dominate and Ellis Harris saw a firm header strike the bar. The home side re-gained the lead, when an Andrew Collins free kick beat former Lido keeper Jordan Thomas in the Port Talbot goal. It was no more than the home side deserved and they should have added to their advantage when Conor Harris took a quick free kick, which hit the Port Talbot crossbar, the ball fell invitingly into the area, but no-one was following up.

Lido did however get the 2 goal cushion they were looking for, when Port Talbot keeper Thomas somehow allowed a seemingly over-hit Collins cross through his hands, between his legs and into the net.

The home side took a 3-1 lead into the interval.

Any hopes Port Talbot had of a comeback were dispelled in the opening 15 mins of the second period when the home side added two further goals.

Daniel Symmons finished well at the back post after fluid passing and after good work from Ellis Harris namesake Connor was on hand to force Lido ’s 5^th.

With the outcome decided, Lido made a number of changes and Port Talbot came back into the game, scoring a late consolation.

A great performance, from the Lido youngsters, considering the lack of (pre-season) preparation. From the experience of last year, it’s going to be a long hard season, with many difficult challenges, but if we field our strongest team each week, we can look forward to competing at the business end of the table.

Match report by David Northcott