O65 WorkwearSupermarket.com League 2025/26

28th January
Barry Town stay top after a closely-fought, 1-0 win over Merthyr. They dominated from the whistle and Huish was denied superbly by keeper Rees, but on 20 minutes was unable to prevent Bobbett from putting Barry ahead from a tight angle. Barry then became edgy as Merthyr pushed for parity but it remained 1-0 at the break. The second half was a tense, physical battle with both sides pressing forward, and as the game opened-up Barry full-back, Brown, drove into the Merthyr penalty area but failed to square the ball at the crucial time and minutes later, Merthyr full back, Hill, replicated the move, driving deep into the Barry penalty area only to be denied by a timely challenge from Gibb. Miles entered the fray for Barry and almost immediately got on the scoresheet, galloping into the box before finishing weekly. Barry held on comfortably for the last 10 minutes after Fisher was shown the red card after some agricultural challenges.

An entertaining match between Swansea and Penybont ended 3-1 in end to end encounter with lots of goal-mouth activity. Pasquantonio put the Swans, deservedly, ahead on 20 minutes but Veasey equalised minutes later, slotting past keeper, Meacham. Penybont then got on top, and Jason Morgan stepped-up and scored two well-taken goals within 10 minutes to give his side a 3-1 half-time lead. Swansea will rue a goal-less second half after missing some golden opportunities, but the Bridgend outfit held on for the 3 points.

Pontyclun edged past a, much-weakened, Newport sideNewport 0-1 in another fast and fluid game at Ocean Park Arena. Bassett gave them the lead after 10 minutes driving past keeper, Williams. Despite lots of midfield activity and goal-mouth action neither side was able to breach keepers, Ryan and Williams. The pitch became a lot biggger...when Newport's, Price and 'Clun' captain, White were dismissed, but the latter's side held on for the 3 points and stay in runners-up position.

14th January
Barry Town maintained their 100% winning record with a hard-fought, 0-3 win over Swansea. They flew out of the blocks and for the second week running Huw Davies put them ahead within 5 minutes. The Swans then limited them to hopeful shots from distance with the hard-working Griffiths and Edwards, again commanding at the back and it remained 1-0 at half-time.
In the second half, Barry had the lion’s share of possession, but the Swans were much improved from the previous week and were always in the game, but as they tired, their opponents began to apply real pressure with some astute passing. Miles entered the fray and, again, made an impact.....plundering forward to force Swansea keeper, Meacham, into a fine save. He made no mistake with his second effort and then completed the scoring with a delightful lob over the stranded gloveman to seal a 0-3 victory.

For the second week running, a fine match between Newport and Penybont finished 1-1. Newport had the better of the possession and chances and Herrin put them ahead on the half-hour and it was 1-0 at the interval.
The Gwent boys began to rue several missed chances to put the game to bed...when, inevitably, Les Davies forced an equaliser on the hour. The same player could have clinched victory, but his shot cannoned off the upright with keeper, Williams stranded. Neither keeper was called into action for the last 30 minutes and the game ended all-square.

In another fast and physical encounter, Pontyclun won 3-1 against a markedly-improved Merthyr Tydfil. The Martyrs brought their neat passing game to Ocean Park this week and they could have taken the lead, but then a defensive mistake allowed Fitzgibbon to race through and slot passed stranded keeper, Seago. Minutes later a fine run and cross by Fitzgibbon again found White who made no mistake from close in.
In the second half Sullivan missed a great opportunity to get his team back into the game, but made no mistake on 50 minutes which made the next 15 minutes interesting, but with 5 minutes remaining, White scored his second and they now sit comfortably in second place ahead of Penybont.

2026
7th January
A tight game between Newport and Penybont ended 1-1, but the current title-holders had ‘Taffy’ Eveleigh to thank, for a glorious piece of artistry minutes from time to draw the sides level. Skyrme put Newport ahead on the half-hour mark and they were worthy of their half-time lead. The second half was a more even affair....but a draw, albeit last gasp,....was a fair result.
Pontyclun secured an emphatic 1-5 victory over an unusually lacklustre Merthyr. Bassett put them ahead on 10 minutes with a fine strike from the edge of the box and they controlled the next 15 minutes - but failed to capitalise and, inevitably, Owen equalised when he drove home from a tight angle to make it 1-1 at the interval.
Straight from the restart, Bassett put Pontyclun ahead with a fine 35-yard shot, which evaded Merthyr glove-man Seago and minutes later Maclachlan headed home unchallenged from clsoe-in. Bassett and Goodridge were now controlling matters and the latter extended their lead on the hour. White completed the scoring late-on to secure a deserved 3 points and move pontyclun comfortably into second spot.
Barry Town maintained their 100% record with a deserved 2-1 win over Swansea. They started strongly and Davies put them ahead on 20 minutes. They should have kicked-on and played some attractive football up to the last third, but it remained 1-0 at the break.
Barry started the second half with real intent with Branch and Staddon impressing, but they struggled to break-down a defiant Swans back-line with Edwards and Griffiths outstanding. Barry heaped pressure on the Swansea back-line, Huish clipped the ball inches wide after a lovely move involving Staddon and Marshall and minutes later Huish was denied by keeper, Meacham. The Barry defence were rarely troubled until a mistake on 55 minutes enabled Hope to equalise and....he should have given his team the lead, when he was gifted another opportunity minutes later, but failed to capitalise on a rare defensive lapse by Gibb. Barry regained the lead when Miles drove home from the tightest of angles on the hour following a mix-up in the Swans defence. In the last 20 minutes Barry heaped pressure on the Swansea back-line, with Miles, Brown and Evans all denied by Meacham, but they were worthy of the 3 points.

17th December
A fine game between Merthyr and current title holders, Penybont ended 2-a-piece, although Merthyr will rue some missed opportunities in the first half, when they dominated with some fine interplay with Fisher, Picton and Lambert prominent. Challenger gave Merthyr the lead early on, but Morgan (Jason) equalised on 25 minutes when he crashed home past keeper, Seago. Hill put Merthyr ahead once again, and they then had several chances to seal the game but it remained 2-1 at the interval. Penybont came back into the game in the second half and earned a share of the spoils when Veasey converted on the hour and a fine, competitive game finished 2-2.
Barry Town made it four wins from four with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over hosts, Pontyclun. Huish opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a 25 yard screamer into the top corner and although Barry had the better of the opportunities, striking the woodwork three times, it remained 0-1 at half-time. In the second half, the hosts remained dangerous on the break, but Barry were well-marshalled defensively by Gibbins. At the other end ‘Clun keeper and supremo, Ryan was forced into three fine saves before Miles headed home Branch’s corner. Pontyclun defender, Fitzgibbon was denied by Barry keeper, Mullen after a mazy run from deep and with minutes remaining Barry would have put the game to bed but for some stubborn defending....but they deservedly claimed the 3 points.

26th November
Merthyr continued their resurgence with a hard-fought 2-0 win against hosts, Newport. Both teams moved the ball well and possession was shared until Challenger put them ahead from the penalty spot on 15 minutes. Merthyr then kept the ball well with their short-passing game and it remained 1-0 at the interval. A fairly even second half was punctuated by some robust tackling which saw Newport’s striker, Williams leave the field. A goal on the hour mark by Owen ensured that Merthyr claimed all 3 points.
An entertaining game between Pontyclun and Swansea ended all-square after Evans had put Swansea ahead in the 10th minute after good work by Pasquantonio. Pontyclun dominated for long periods and White ensured a share of the spoils with a 48th minute penalty, albeit his side will rue several missed chances, and the Swans will thank gloveman, Meacham, for two superb saves to keep his side in the game.
Barry Townbeat title holders, Penybont 3-1 after dominating the match from the off. ‘Bont’ keeper, Davies, made 3 excellent saves from Mackay, Bobbett, and Brown before Staddon finally put his side ahead on 25 minutes, and a stubborn Penybont rear-guard kept it to 1-0 at the interval. Minutes into the second half, Penybont stunned the hosts when Peter Morgan’s cross was headed home by Jason Morgan, unchallenged. Barry pressed forward and pressurised the hard-working Penybont defensive line with Davies again outstanding, saving acrobatically from Bobbett and Marshall before Gibbins eventually volleyed home from a corner on the hour. Bobbett’s perseverance found Miles in space and he coolly slotted home Barry's third from 35 yards, to put his side clear at the top of the o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com League.

5th November
A competitive match between Penybont and Pontyclun ended 1-1. There was plenty of goalmouth action, and Fitzgibbon capped off a fine performance when he found the net for Pontylcun in the 26th minute. Minutes later Jason Morgan equalised to take the teams in all-square at the break. There were chances created and spurned by both teams in the second half but the match ended with the spoils being shared.

In another tightly contested match Swansea hosted Merthyr Tydfil, and although there was plenty of good interplay, it took until the hour mark for Lambert to put Merthyr ahead with a fine strike. Myserscough equalised for the Swans with minutes remaining, capitalising on a mistake in the visitors defence and the game finished 1-1.

Barry Town hosted Newport in the final fixture of the day, and after a fairly scrappy opening the game sprung to life when Stu Evans clipped home expertly to give the hosts the lead. Goalkeepers’ Hill and Sully both made important saves, and on the half hour mark, Kev James powered a header in from a corner to make it 1-1 going into half-time. Barry improved after the break and man of the match, Huw Davies rifled home from the edge of the box to put Barry back into the lead. Marshall made it 3-1, heading home an Evans corner, before Newport had the chance to get back into the game, but Hill saved Rowland’s penalty! Miles secured the win, galloping clear and slotting home astutely past Sully.

8th October
Barry Town 3, Merthyr Tydfil 2
The first round of games in the O65 WorkwearSupermarket.com League finally got underway after a delayed start as Barry Town narrowly defeated Merthyr...writes Frank Lennon...Barry started well enough and dominated possession but Merthyr keeper, Seago was alert to any through balls and dealt comfortably with efforts from Bobbett, Staddon and Gibb and although he was in no man’s land when Marshall struck the bar, he was rarely troubled. Bobbett was unlucky not to convert a superb ball across the goalmouth by Evans but he made amends minutes later, finally beating the stubborn Merthyr rear-guard, and sliding home when found neatly by Gibb. Merthyr pushed for parity and Barry became ponderous and susceptible to Merthyr’s quick breaks and Challenger was allowed to draw Merthyr level with a strike to the bottom corner. Minutes later the same player seized onto a poor clearance before scrambling the ball home past an inert Barry defence to make it 2-1 at the break. In the second half, Barry, who were missing talisman, Branch, pressed forward but without any real invention. Staddon just failed to convert an Evans cross but they were repelled by O’Sullivan and his stubborn defensive colleagues until Brown equalised after one of his customary mazy runs. Debutant, Davies entered the fray and made an immediate impact shielding the ball from the defenders and bringing the midfield into the game. Merthyr were still confident they could take advantage of their opponent’s hesitant defence and Challenger had two great opportunities to complete his hat-trick, but shot tamely at keeper, Blackie. At the other end there was suddenly more cohesion and Barry were peppering Seago’s goal, finally Staddon converted from 15 yards to seal a hard-fought win for his team.

Pontyclun 2, Newport 1
In the second game of three, Pontyclun secured a hard-fought win against Newport. The latter were missing many of their World Cup winning o70s contingent, but still took a 15th minute lead when Herrin crashed home. Although openings were created at both ends, glove-men, Sully and Ryan, were rarely tested until ‘Clun defender, Fitzgibbon, slalomed through the Newport defence before sliding in Maclachlan, who finished sharply to make it 1-1 at the interval. The game, continued to ebb and flow into the second half and although there was plenty of goal-mouth incident, a second goal by Maclachlan was enough to secure a 2-1 victory for Pontyclun.

Penybont 4, Swansea 3
In the final game of the day, title holders, Penybont edged out Swansea in a competitive encounter between two evenly-matched sides. Steer put Penybont ahead before Leigh equalised for the Swans after a powerful free-kick by Mysercough. A fine shot by Veasey which looped over World Cup winning goalkeeper, Meacham, restored Penybont’s lead and then a mix-up in the Swansea defence allowed Steer to ‘rebound’ the ball into an empty goal for 3-1. Mysercough made it 3-2 at the interval with an astute finish. The end to end action continued into the second half, Newport keeper, Pearce, making a series of fine stops at one end and, Meacham, doing likewise at the other. 75 year old Mike Williams made it 4-2 with a rare goal, and despite Griffiths scoring for the Swans with minutes remaining, last year’s champions got their season off to a winning start.