The ten-match 2011 Spar Mid-Wales League Groundhop got underway on Friday 26th AUgust when a crowd of 291 saw visitors Llanidloes Town go top of the Division 1 table with a 3-1 at Berriew.
Saturday 27th August 2011
11-30 am Tregaron Turfs 4 Machynlleth 2 (att 231)
2-30 pm Bont 2 Llanfair United 2 (att 244)
6-15 pm Bow Street 1 Tywyn Bryncrug 2 (att 285)
I didn’t go to the opening game and instead decided to join the hop at the first of three matches on Saturday 27th August, the Spar Mid-Wales League Division 2 between Tregaron Turfs and league newboys Machynlleth. Turfs won 4-2 in front of a crowd of 231.
After a little detour to quickly visit the village of Llanddewi Brefi, a few miles south of Tregaron, it was back through the centre of the town and 6 miles up the B4343 to Pontrhydfendigaid, home village of Bont FC. In another Division 2 game, Bont entertained Llanfair United who won 3-2, attendance 244.
The third and final Saturday game was in Division 1, a few miles from Aberystwyth at Bow Street. Tywyn Bryncrug were the visitors to the Cae Piod ground and they won 2-1 in front of the biggest attendance of the three matches, 285.
Sunday 28th August 2011
11-30 am Rhayader Town 2 Carno 3 (att 287)
3-00 pm Builth Wells 1 Dyffryn Banw 0 (att 271)
6-30 pm Talgarth Town 2 Rhosgoch Rangers 2 (att 314)
After staying overnight at the excellent Miners Arms at Pontrhyd-y-groes, first stop on Sunday 28th August was the Division 1 game between former league leaders Rhayader Town and Carno. Once again it was the away team who came out on top, this time by the odd goal in five, attendance 287. Y Weirglodd was certainly an impressive venue with a nice stand on halfway with more seats behind one goal.
From Rhayader, it was south to Builth Wells for another Division 1 game at a ground I previously visited in 1992. On another day, Builth could have recorded a substantial victory but overcame plucky visitors Dyffryn Banw with a single second-half goal. The attendance at Lant Fields was 271.
It was back to Division 2 for the third and final Sunday game at Talgarth Town who entertained Rhosgoch Rangers. On last season’s hop, Rangers defeated Town 10-0 but this time round, the game was a close affair that finished all square at 2-2. The biggest attendance of the seven hops games played so far of 314 saw the game.
Monday 29th August 2011
2-15 pm Meifod 3 Four Crosses 8 (att 212)
5-30 pm Waterloo Rovers 2 Montgomery Town 4 (att 333)
After a quick trip back home, I decided to miss the first game on Monday 29th August, a 1-1 draw between Llansantffraid Village and Welshpool, attendance 245.
The second Monday game was a reverse fixture from last year. Twelve months ago, it finished 0-0 between Four Crosses and Meifod. Goals flowed this afternoon with Four Crosses winning 8-3 at Kings Head Field, attendance 212.
My own personal eighth game of the weekend (and for some their tenth) was a 5-30 pm kick-off at Waterloo Rovers, previously visited in 1993. Visitors Montgomery Town gave up a two-goal lead only to recover and maintain their 100% start to the season with a 4-2 victory. The attendance at Maes Y Dre of 333 set the highest crowd of the weekend.
