Tywyn Bryncrug 4 Bow Street 0
Spar Mid Wales League Division One
At: Cae Chwarae Bryncrug Playing Field
Kick-off: 11-00 pm
Admission: ticket; Programme: £1 (8 pages)
Weather: sunny
Attendance: 267
Duration: first-half: 45:21; second-half: 47:54
We took the scenic route for the last 17 or so miles to the village of Bryncrug, passing the picturesque Llyn Mwyngil (also known as the Tal-y-llyn Lake) along the way.
The home club, who call themselves ‘Tywyn Bryncrug’ without an ‘and’ or ‘&’, play in Bryncrug, a couple of miles inland from seaside resort of Tywyn on Cardigan Bay. Cae Chwarae (which translates to ‘Playground’) is an interesting ground with spectator access only down one side and behind the road goal. It includes a changing room block complete with tea bar and a small stand set at an angle to the pitch containing around 50 red seats. Of course, the views of the hills looking up the pitch from the road end were fabulous.
While today’s attendance of 267 is no doubt the biggest for a league game for some time, Tywyn Bryncrug hosted then Welsh Premier League champions Llanelli in a Welsh Cup tie back in 2008 and attracted an estimated 400-strong crowd.
In a repeat of a game on last year’s hop which Bow Street won 1-0, it was the visitors (in black and white stripes) who got the game underway defending the road end in the first half. They thought they’d taken the lead in the 8th minute when Rhys Llwyd had the ball in the net, only to have the ‘goal’ disallowed for offside.
Mathew Davies sent a free header wide of the Tywyn Bryncrug goal and these early scares seemed to wake up the home side who took a 27th-minute lead. Mark Edmondson, in space on the right drilled a low shot into the far left corner of the net.
I watched the first half behind the goal at the main road end with views of the surrounding hills beyond the far goal – a “beautiful setting” commented one hopper stood near me.
Tywyn Bryncrug doubled their lead in the 42nd minute through Ben Holt’s low shot and by half-time had added a third goal from the penalty spot. Street goalkeeper Dylan Jones brought down Holt and Paul Grant successfully found the right-side of the net from the spot.
Half-time and a real treat. I’m not sure how many ground offer ice cream cones (can’t think of any off the top of my head) so it was just a case of whether to choose ‘cherry’, ‘apple pie’ or ‘passion fruit’. ‘Apple pie won the day!
“C’mon Bryn, same again”, shouted one local at the start of the second half and they did just that by scoring a fourth goal nine minutes after the restart. Aston Heath found Holt in space at the far left post and he made no mistake to score his second of the game.
Edmondson headed against the post as Tywyn Bryncrug looked for a fifth goal. It didn’t matter as the game was over as a contest though Bow Street had a couple of late chances for a consolation, which proved elusive. Ben Wright produced a couple of saves to keep out shots from Mathew Davies and Rhys Llwyd during the closing stages.
Off to Aberdyfi via the town of Tywyn, wondering if the goals would dry up in the seventh match of this year’s hop.
Tywyn Bryncrug (orange/black/black): 1. Ben Wright, 2. Ryan Goddard, 3. Gerwyn Pugh, 4. Arwyn Davies, 5. Paul Grant, 6. Matthew Jones (capt), 7. Aston Heath, 8. Daniel Gwynne, 9. Ben Holt, 10. Mark Edmondson, 11. Nick Williams. Subs: 12. Mike Roberts (for Goddard, 67), 14. Tom Allen Davies (for Holt, 72), 15. James Owen (for Edmondson, 80).
Bow Street (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Dylan Jones, 2. Neil Evans, 3. Jac Williams, 4. Gwion ap Dafydd, 5. Owain James (capt), 6. Gwyn Jones, 7. Ciaran Cotter, 8. Michael Gornall, 9. Rhys Llwyd, 10. Lee Jones, 11. Mathew Davies. Subs: 12. Nicky Smith (for Gywn Jones, ht), 14. Liam Button (for Cotter, ht), 17. Danny Evans (for Neil Evans, 72).
Referee: Mark Farington (Newtown).
Assistants: William Owen and Gwilym Lewis.
Goals:
1-0 Mark Edmondson (27)
2-0 Ben Holt (42)
3-0 Paul Grant (44 pen)
4-0 Ben Holt (54)
Cards:
Tywyn Bryncrug: Ben Holt (YC, 38)
Bow Street: Dylan Jones (YC, 43)Neil Evans (YC, 55)
