Cardiff Dracs held their nerve as they beat ten-man Cwmamman United 3-0 to relegate their rivals from the Ardal South West.
The Dracs needed to beat Cwmamman in their final fixture, and they did just that with a confident victory at Llydstep Park. Captain Tom Mclean once again inspired his side to victory by opening the scoring before setting up Adam Rees for the all-important third.
Calum Gunstone had doubled their advantage near the hour mark, and moments after that Grant Rees was red-carded to make any chance of a comeback unlikely.
Cwmamman will now play in the West Wales Premier League next season, whilst the Dracs can enjoy a third year in the third tier of Welsh football.
Dracs’ defence was organised from the kick-off and as a reward their attack repaid them with an early opener. Frederick Stevens carried the ball down the flank and crossed in for Mclean to head in an empty net after the goalkeeper and his defender collided.
Mclean pushed for a quick-fire second and after turning his man inside out, his shock deflected wide.
Cwmamman looked for a response but Cory Saunders’ header was tame from Ryan Thomas’ free-kick. Calem Rees nearly profited from a Shaun McCarthy trip but Jake Gammond cleaned things up. Dracs defence did well to limit the visitors and Oscar Raisbeck put in a commanding display.
Paul Lewis gave his Cwmamman players words of encouragement and early in the second-half they almost got back in to the match. Saunders’ free-kick needed to be tipped over by Dan Hurton in their best chance.
Cardiff Dracs didn’t give them a chance to get any steam though as the all-important second was scored. Stevens crossed in and Matt Hibbs’ stretched legged effort looped onto the crossbar but on hand to score on the rebound was Callum Gunstone who netted with a clinical finish.
Cwmamman heads then dropped and discipline was lost with Grant Rees dismissed. The ball was dead when Rees stamped on McCarthy and the referee wasted no time dismissing him.
Saunders – easily Cwmamman’s best player – went on a marauding run in search of a response and passed out to Kyle Ashford but his low cross was gathered.
Captain Mclean nearly got his second goal as substitute Jack Kane played an inch-perfect ball and his low cross-hit-shot bobbled just past the post. Kane nearly got in on the act himself as turned his marker inside out but Rees blocked with his leg.
Dracs eventually made the most of the man advantage by getting their third. Mclean found space on the left and he squared it to Rees who snuck his effort low past the goalkeeper.
No further goals came or any notable opportunities with the game ending on an unfortunate note for a Cwmamman player that needed to be stretchered off the pitch at the full-time whistle.
Cardiff Draconians: Daniel Hurton, Frederick Stevens, Abdul Mohsin, Jake Gammond, Oscar Raisbeck, Adam Rees, Tom Mclean, Solomon Taylor St Clair, Matt Hibbs (Jack Kane, 68), Shaun McCarthy (Ben Yarwood, 83), and Callum Gunstone.
Goals: Tom Mclean 7, Calum Gunstone 54, Adam Rees 79′
Yellow Cards: Tom Mclean 87′
Cwmamman United: Kai Rees, Ethan Taylor, Cory Saunders, Grant Rees, Rhys Griffiths, Ronan Templeton (Kyle Ashford, 55), Ryan Thomas (C), Kieran Richards, Calem Rees, Charlie Davies, and Harrison Thomas (Gwion Howell, 74)
Yellow Cards: Leon Croucher 56′
Red Card: Grant Rees 56′
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