Baglan Dragons secure play-off spot as they face anxious wait for title

Baglan Dragons FC guaranteed themselves a promotion play off spot to the Cymru south with a dominant 4-0 win over Ynysygerwn AFC.

Baglan displayed their dominance from the off and were close to taking the lead when winger Joshua Williams hit a half volley just over the bar after a corner went through the whole penalty box untouched.

Two minutes later this dominance paid off, with Dragons forward Jordan Evans pouncing on a long ball and squaring it across goal for Tom Randall to tap it into an empty net.

Another two minutes had barely passed when Baglan doubled their lead, a corner Ynysygerwn failed to clear, landing at the feet of Randall once again whose shot was deflected past Luke Jones in the away team’s goal.

Baglan never took their foot off the gas, as their high press forced Jones into a poor clearance which eventually ended up with Baglan number 11 Jack Fleming’s volley going just wide.

Ynysygerwn’s first meaningful touch inside the Dragon’s final third was a long ball to number 18 Allister Davies, whose first touch was slightly heavy and gave Dragons centre back Daniel Williams enough room to make a terrific recovery tackle, preserving their two goal lead.

Baglan played like a team in terrific form throughout. Looking sharp in and out of possession, they moved the ball quickly and efficiently and were good value for their tenth win on the spin going into half time.

Ynysygerwn started the second half with more purpose when wideman Bradley Crooks took a terrific touch past the Baglan backline before forcing a smart nearest save out of Dragons keeper Mathew Stanton.

Just a few minutes later, Baglan won the ball in the middle of the park and Jonathan Davies sent Fleming through with an incisive ball to put him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Fleming then rolled it into the bottom corner to put the game to bed at 3-0.

Seconds later, a coming together involving Ynysygerwn left back Jake Waites resulted in a red card for the full back after he kicked out at a Baglan player who was on the floor.

Baglan continued to control the game once the opposition were down to ten men and in the 67th minute, captain Lewis Holmes sent an inch perfect long ball through to Jordan Evans who put the bounce ball over the oncoming Ynysygerwn goalkeeper to make it four.

The Dragons had a late chance to make it five when the ball was cut back to substitute Matthew Lewis for an open goal, but the veteran lost his bearings when the ball hit his foot and bounced away keeping the score at four.

Ynysygerwn’s evening turned from bad to worse when first half substitute Tom Phillips was shown a second yellow card after a meaty 50/50 challenge in the 91st minute. The Neath outfit ended the game with just nine men and a fourth league defeat in a row in their penultimate game of the season.

Next, Ynysygerwn travel to AFC Llywdcoed for their final game of the season, while Baglan, having now finished their season, await to see if they are crowned champions or finish runners up. Should the Dragons finish 2nd, they will face Risca United in a promotion play off for a place in the Cymru South.

Baglan Dragons FC Mathew Stanton (GK), Kieran Parsons, Daniel Mason, Lewis Holmes (74’) Daniel Williams,Jonathan Davies, Matthew Rogers, Thomas Randall (75’), Jordan Evans (67’), Joshua Williams, Jack Fleming (81’)

Substitutes: Nathan Lewis, Kieran Miller, Joel Elliott, Luke Evans
Yellow Cards: Thomas Randall

Ynysygerwn AFC: Luke Jones (GK), Stephen Morris, Jake Waites, Ryan Morris, Daniel Kingdom, Alexander Powell, Alfie Powell (84’), Rory Healey (23’), Daniel Lewis, Bradley Crooks, Allister Davies (70’)

Substitutes: Cameron Powell, Aaron Bull, Tom Phillips
Yellow Cards: Stephen Morris, Alexander Powell, Tom Phillips,

Red Cards: Jake Waites, Tom Phillips

Goals: Thomas Randall (13’, 15’), Jack Fleming 54’, Jordan Evans 67’