(Image: Matthew Lofthouse)
As the Cefn Druids sit rooted to the bottom of the table with only one win under their belts, it’s clear to see they have struggled in the opening weeks of the JD Welsh Premier League.
Suffering their latest defeat at the hands of Cardiff Metropolitan University in a 1-0 dogfight, the Druids’ inability to grind out results from promising positions has perhaps been one of their major setbacks so far.
It is not time to hit panic stations being so early in the season, with the Druids feeling they could have come away with more against the Archers after having some great chances to break the deadlock.
However, they have not been able to find the results that led them to a play-off finish last season.
Every game that the Druids have played so far has been decided by a one goal difference, including their Welsh League Cup first round exit at the hands of Airbus UK Broughton, a game which they lost 4-3.
Their lack of composure in crucial moments has cost them valuable points so far this season, and manager Huw Griffiths will hope to turn his sides fortunes around sooner rather than later.
Their poor start is best summed up by their losses to both newly promoted sides Caernarfon and Llanelli, with the latter a side who have conceded 16 goals already this season.
In what would have been viewed as a great opportunity to start their campaign in the first phase this year, both games ended miserably for the Druids, especially against the Reds.
Far from the club that achieved Europa League qualification last season, the Ancients second-half capitulation against the Welsh Premier League new boys left their manager scratching his head, as they led by two goals heading into the break.
A stoppage time penalty meant that they came away with nothing on the day, and perhaps summed up how the side has struggled to keep their composure when the time came to do so.
Their only points of the season have come against Llandudno, who themselves have a better goal difference than the Ancients.
The Seasiders sit two places higher than them in the table, failing to win a game until only last week.
The fight and determination allowed the squad to pick up points consistently last season, but it has not been enough during the opening weeks of the campaign.
Injuries have not helped either, with James Davies missing significant time after a clash with Joel Edwards saw the forward side-lined for the Ancients.
This run of bad luck has plagued the side, but there is hope with recent performances improving.
The game against the Archers only helped this fact, with many believing that the Ancients could have won the game.
Had they been more clinical, they no doubt would have left Cyncoed with at least a point, after many of the best chances fell to the visitors.
There is still quality throughout the Druids squad, and they have more than enough of it to turn their poor start around, and more than enough games left in the season.
Marquee signing Dean Rittenberg will hope to find the back of the net more consistently going forward, and once he has settled into his new surroundings, there is no doubt that the striker will be amongst the goals in no time.
If they can iron out the simple mistakes and get back to the basics, then the results will follow.
With 7th placed Carmarthen Town up next for the Ancients, manager Huw Griffiths will be hoping to get back on track with a crucial three points and carry his side back up into the top half of the table one game at a time.
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