Sunday 22nd September 2024 ko 11:00

West Wales Premier League

AFC GLAIS 1 (Lewis Pritchard 55)

Att 191

Entry & Programme £5

The final day of the West Wales Hop saw us move slowly towards its terminus at Cardiff station. We left Carmarthen and headed for Pontardawe, and once again a Cymric portmanteau – this time of Bridge on the River Tawe. Other than the production of tin plate the town as being the birthplace of singer Mary Hopkin and former Pop Idol starlet Rosie Ribbons. You’ve not heard of Rosie Ribbons? Well try asking my wife Robyn; her former workmates back in Bristol still nickname her “Ribbons!” I don’t see the resemblance myself!

Until 2015 Pontardawe Recreation Ground was home to Pontardawe Town and was notorious in Welsh League circles for being in competition with Abercynon for being the worst ground in the league. That shouldn’t be a slight on either football club that’s played here, the issue was and is getting the local council to agree to improvements to the place. That did include the construction of the stand, even if it was the only dedicated cover we saw all weekend!

That hints at why AFC Glais moved in; while the ground has obvious limitations it is more than good enough for Glais in the Swansea League and now the West Wales Premier. And boy did Glais make good use of it on a wet morning in September. From the warm welcome at the gate, to the gazebos selling all manner of food, drink, and merchandise this was a well thought out hosting. I did wonder whether they’d taken their cues from visitors Pontarddulais who too were excellent hosts last year.

The only problem from a Glais perspective was the game. They came into this game on the back of 7 games with just one win versus CK Swiss Valley and with all due respect to them shipping two identical goals in the first 90 seconds of the game killed off their chances here all too quickly.

We watched, we tried to stay dry, but more than anything enjoyed the company of a friendly club… and what a backdrop!