O65 WorkwearSupermarket.com CUP

30th April
The first o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com Cup semi-final got underway between two under-strength sides at a sweltering Ocean Park Arena.

Barry Town 2, Penybont 0
This was an emphatic win for the ‘hosts’ against the o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com League champions, Penybont....writes Frank Lennon... Barry were ‘on-it’ from the KO and as early as the first minute a long kick from keeper, Mullen found striker, Miles, who, after a customary rampaging run was denied by defender, Roberts...but this set the tone for the rest of the game. The Barry back-line of Brown, Gibb and Staddon nullified Veasey and Penybont’s main threat, Morgan, and keeper Mullen was rarely troubled, whilst the midfield of Branch, Huish and Evans dictated all aspects of the contest. Roberts, Moglia, Whitmore and Braham did their best to keep their opponents at bay, with Miles, Branch and Huish all having shots blocked by a defiant Penybont rear-guard and it was still scoreless at the interval.

The second half continued as the first, but the fatigue was showing on the ‘visitors’ as they lost Paul Morgan and Pope to injury. Brown had a shot blocked and Miles went close again, but in the 50th minute Mackay gave Barry the lead...calmly slotting home after another direct run from Miles. Minutes later Huish drove into the box but his shot was acrobatically tipped away by keeper, Braham. He was not to be denied however, and in the 60th minute his angled drive from 25 yards arrowed into the corner of the net to put the game beyond Penybont and cap a fine victory for Jimmy Blackie's charges. Barry now face the winners of Swansea v Newport in the Cup final on 21st May.

9th April
The o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com Cup competition got underway today with two preliminary matches played under the cloudless skies at Ocean Park Arena.

Merthyr Tydfil 0, Swansea 1
An interesting game between two teams with contrasting fortunes this season. Swansea started the season well and were pushing for honours but then struggled in their most recent fixtures, including a hefty defeat against today’s opponents! Merthyr, started the season poorly but were victorious in their last 3 fixtures and they took this form into today’s match and dominated for large periods with some intricate football. They failed to convert their chances, either through profligacy or fine keeping by the ever-reliable, Meacham AND inevitably this would come back to haunt them. Swansea won the tie when Algieri was put through and slotted neatly in the corner to put his side into the semi-final where they will face Newport.

Penybont 4, Pontyclun 0
The o65 WorkwearSupermarket.com League champions, Penybont advance to the semi-final on 30th April after a convincing win over Pontyclun. The match itself was a fairly even encounter with White and Thompson busy for Pontyclun, but as usual the prolific Peter Morgan was the difference. He scored his first after a mazy run and shot which ‘Clun’ keeper, Eastman, failed to hold, enabling a simple tap-in from the rebound. Eastman redeemed himself minutes later with a superb tip-away, but Morgan’s then slalomed past defence and keeper to make it 2-0. The second half followed a similar pattern with Morgan completing his hat-trick and namesake, Paul also getting on the scoresheet. Barry Town await in the semi-final!