Rhayader Town 1-3 Croesyceiliog: Croesy up and running in Ardal Leagues
Croesyceiliog opened up their Ardal Leagues South East campaign with a 3-1 victory over mid-Wales outfit Rhayader Town at Y Weirglod.
All four goals came in the second half with Lewis Clare and Connor Miles putting the Gwent aside two goals in front. Jordan McFadden responded for Rhayader but Elliot George made sure of a winning start from the men from Woodland Road.
Croesy were clinical in their performance, scoring at the right time and the manner of their performance made the 130.2 mile-round performance worthwhile as Jamie Jenkins continues to win in his role as caretaker manager.
Both teams had endured a premature exit from this season’s JD Welsh Cup before bouncing back to record victories in the FAW Amateur Trophy the following weekend.
Josh Price had the best of the first-half opportunities for Rhayader Town, whilst Jack Sinderby and Connor Miles tested new signing James Barker in the home goal, with Nicholas McGrath unable to keep his volley on target when he found himself in space in the penalty area.
Following a goalless first-half, it was Croesyceiliog that opened the scoring four minutes after the interval, when Lewis Clare latched on to a well-timed through ball before finishing neatly past Barker from a tight angle.
Miles doubled the lead four minutes later after taking advantage of some confusion in the Rhayader Town defence to tap the ball into an unguarded net after Barker rushed out of his penalty area.
The Radnorshire men halved the deficit when Jordan McFadden’s 20-yard effort found the far corner of the Croesy goal with just under fifteen minutes remaining and gave his team some hope that they could claim a point from their opening league encounter.
However, Elliot Jones’ neat finish a minute from time from a corner saw the points head back south on Aled Jones’ whistle.
The Red Kites now turn their attention to Tuesday’s home league derby with Llandrindod Wells before travelling to the Spa Men next Saturday in the FAW Amateur Trophy.
Meanwhile, Croesyceiliog head to Tredegar Town on Tuesday before an even shorter trip to near-neighbors Coed Eva Athletic in the Trophy.
Rhayader Town: James Barker, Samuel Rees, Jordan Cooper (Jordan McFadden, 67), Kyle Morgan, James Thomson, Joseph Wozencraft, Thomas Bethell (Aaron Bates, 53), Jack Clarke, Jamie Evans, Ryan Addison, Josh Price.
Goals: Jordan McFadden 77’
Yellow Cards: Joseph Wozencraft 1, Ryan Addison 60
Croesyceiliog: Jack Harris, Gareth Senior, Jack Sainsbury, Daniel Clouth, Thomas Doidge (C), Thomas Hodge, Connor Miles, Ryan Saunders, Lewis Clare (Elliot George, 70), Jack Sinderby, Nicholas McGrath,
Goals: Lewis Clare 49, Connor Miles 54, Elliot George 89’
