Maesteg Park have been promoted to the South Wales Alliance League after they beat Ynysbwl convincingly in the playoff final.
Steffan Roberts and Ashton White repeated their heroics from the semi-final on Saturday by scoring in the first half. Jack Lewis and Matthew Rogers made sure of promotion with two-goals in the second half.
Maesteg Park dominated throughout the game and were rarely challenged by the Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League champions.
Having reformed from the defunct Welsh League side, Maesteg will now compete in football’s seventh tier. Ynysybwl have a second chance through a runners-up playoff.
From the kick-off, Maesteg Park dominated. Steffan Roberts thread the ball to Luke Howells but Jason Saunders rushed to block his shot.
Ellis Horrigan then headed over from a Kyran Steadman as the Bridgend League side continued to threaten.
Maesteg Park had their goal for all their early chances. After a poorly cleared goal-kick, Shaun Mizen threaded a pass through to Steffan Roberts who slotted past Saunders.
They almost immediately scored a second. Shaun Mizen forced the Ynysybwl keeper to save at his near post after drifting from his marker.
Ynysybwl’s first real chance came from Marcus Livock. He almost caught Rees out with a shot from a wide angle. Declan Davies was unable to score on the rebound after it bounced back out to him.
Ashton White almost gave his side an insurance goal as he hit a clean volley at Saunders who fumbled his effort.
Ynysybwl’s task of getting back into the game was made harder when goalkeeper Jason Saunders was unable to continue.
The White and Roberts partnership almost worked again. White forced stand-in goalkeeper Carl Jones to save before Steffan Roberts put an effort behind.
Ashton White did grab his goal. Steffan Roberts blocked Rhys Jones’ clearance and he punished the mistake by laying it off to White who powered home the effort past the Ynysybwl goalkeeper.
Ynysybwl tried for a quick response but after a goalmouth scramble from a corner kick, Matthew Frowen was unable to hit a strike hard enough for a goal.
Maesteg put themselves in a commanding position early in the second half with a third goal. Kyran Steadman held the ball up to Matthew Rogers who slotted past Jones.
Ynysybwl substitute Craig Lloyd attempted a strike from distance which flew just over the bar as he sought a consolation goal.
Maesteg were home and dry just after the hour mark. Ellis Horrigan headed across to defender Jack Lewis to turn home an effort from yards out to ensure the victory.
Defender Horrigan tested Jones from a free-kick as he forced the keeper to tip his effort over the bar.
Towards the end of the game, the Ynysybwl players began to show their temper as they reacted to Maesteg’s showboating.
Ynysybwl failed to send any sort of reply to Maesteg Park and the Bridgend League side celebrated promotion.
Maesteg Park: Rees, J.Lewis, Nicholas (Collins 77), H.Lewis (T.Lewis 72), Horrigan, Mizen (Hall 53), White (Tremlett 77), Howells, Roberts, Steadman, Rogers
Ynysybwl: Saunders (Frowen 33), J.Edwards, L.Price, B.Price, C.Jones, C.Edwards, R.Jones, Dec Davies, Livock (Welch 74), Hatch, Lethbridge
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