Arabs boss Jones reflects on historic treble-winning season
Maesteg Park manager Andrew Jones believes his team “can perform at a much higher level”, as he reflects on a 2018/19 campaign which saw his side secure a domestic treble.
The Arabs topped the Bridgend & District Football League Premier Division, as well as claiming the Nathaniel Car Sales Open Cup, the Macron Premier Division Cup – all before securing promotion with a convincing win against Ynysybwl in the South Wales FA play-off final.
Jones began: “The season has been very successful for obvious reasons, but we had a decent season last year with a runners-up spot in the league, as well as winning both the Premier Division and Open Cups.
“The main objective though was to get promotion, which is no easy feat in the current Alliance League set up.”
The club had to go through a play-off system in order to achieve promotion to the South Wales Alliance league, a process which Jones described as “nerve-wracking”.
“We faced a very good Fairwater team who put us under a lot of pressure aerially.
“We looked comfortable at 3-0 with 18 minutes to go, but credit to Fairwater, they threw the kitchen sink at us and I felt they were a better team when they kept it on the deck.”
Jones’ side held on to secure a 3-2 win against ‘Water’, booking their place in the play-off final against Ynysybwl at Pen-y-Bont’s KYMCO Stadium.
Jones described the final as “a different kettle of fish”.
“We went into the game thinking that we would really be under pressure from the off, after they beat Penygraig comfortably, but our energy and fitness levels were far superior and we didn’t give them any time on the ball.
“We fully deserved the win, but I’m sure Ynysybwl will bounce back stronger in their final chance for promotion.”
Jones takes particular pleasure in the fact that his squad is made up primarily of young players, who have come to the fore this season and helped the team achieve their objectives.
“We feel that with the young squad we have, we can definitely look to push on and hopefully in five or six years we can look to try and get back into the Welsh League setup.”
The Maesteg side can now look forward to being back in the South Wales Alliance League, after achieving a promotion which Jones described as “huge for us”.
“I have no doubt that they can perform at a much higher level.
“We recently played a friendly versus a Welsh league Division One club and they, along with the rest of the team were superb and quite a few spectators at the game were very surprised at the quality in the club.”
(Featured image: Maesteg Park F.C.)
