Caerau Ely romped to victory over a lackluster Aberbargoed Buds to bolster their promotion push.
Andrew Smith, Dylan Amin and Rameer Outlaw did the damage in the first half for The Young Guns as they swept aside the Buds. Substitute Jamal Roberts netted late into the second half to complete the rout.
Ely are four points off of the final promotion spot, but have two games in hand over third-placed Swansea University.
Caerau came out of the traps early. In the first minute, Andrew Smith’s cross caused Iwan Barber problems, as he tipped it to Dylan Amin who headed just over.
Amin fired Caerau into the lead as his strike from distance as Iwan Barber’s attempted to save bounced into the net.
Aberbargoed were forced into an early substitution as Andrew Hughes replaced Keane Royal.
Spencer broke through the line of defence but Barber did well to put the midfielder off by stopping his run. He also blocked Spencer’s teammate Smith as he attempted a low finish.
A dominant Caerau doubled the lead with a smart finish. The Buds defence stood still and Smith was able to cut-back on himself and slot his effort past Barber.
Josh Spencer wanted to get on the act of scoring, but Barber was alert to his shot from distance.
Rameer Outlaw put Caerau Ely in dreamland with a third just over the half-hour mark. Amin added an assist to his game as his cross found Outlaw for a half-volley.
Buds were finding it difficult to offer anything going forward. However, Kane Giffard was trying to offer the Buds something. He found Thomas Gameson on the edge of the box but he hopelessly shot wide before half-time.
Buds came out in the second half in search of a goal that could upstart a comeback. Jake Watkins forced Elliot Matthews to save with a low shot from the far side of the post.
The second half wasn’t offering many chances to Caerau Ely to further extend the scoreline. The Young Guns weren’t showing as much urgency as they did for their three goals in the first half.
Danny Hooper though did rifle a shot just past the post after creating some space for himself.
Buds’ Matthew Jones denied Andrew Smith a second goal with a goal-line clearance after the Young Guns forward was found by a neat pass from Dylan Amin.
Hooper nearly scored for Caerau directly from a corner as his dipping set-piece hit the post.
Smith provided a moment of magic as he scissors kicked across to the path of Roberts who headed it home with just three minutes left.
Caerau saw out the final minutes unchallenged, earning a well-deserved clean sheet.
The win keeps up Caerau Ely’s fine home form. The Young Guns have yet to lose at Cwrt-yr-Ala in the Welsh League this season.
Caerau Ely: Matthews, Maynard, Actie, Bridgeman, Spencer, Hooper (Evans 81), Corne (C) (Cawley 74) Amin, Smith, Spencer, Outlaw (Roberts 53)
Goals: Dylan Amin 4, Andrew Smith 27, Rameer Outlaw 34, Jamal Roberts 87
Aberbargoed Buds: Barber, Vaughn, Brewer, Thomas, Davies (C), Jones, Armitage, Gomeson, Giffard, Loss, Watkins
Jason
Photos from the game https://www.flickr.com/photos/158905936@N03/albums/72157706905618355