|
TT No.58: Mike Latham - Sat 31 January 2015: Vale of Clwyd & Conwy League, Normac Precision Premier Cup Rd One. Bro Cernyw 0-7 Prestatyn Sports; Attendance: 20 (h/c); No admission or programme. |
|
Matchday images (20) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/BroCernywFC
Another Saturday dawned with postponements arising here, there and everywhere after a week of low temperatures, snow and rain. If the frost didn’t bite then water-logging might. I decided to play safe and headed once again to North Wales, which had escaped the worst of the elements. Once again the league’s excellent website gave up-to-date information of postponements and venue changes. I had intended to visit Llansannan but their game was switched to the Oval at Llandudno. In the end I ended up a few miles away in the village of Llangernyw situated on the A458 road between Abergele and Llanrwst. Llangernyw, the home of Bro Cernyw, is a mostly Welsh-speaking village of around one thousand inhabitants set amidst glorious scenery. The football ground is to be found to the south of the village behind the junior school with great views of rolling sheep-clad hills. There is plenty of parking and a few benches dotted around to ease the burden of tired limbs. The pitch is sloping and heavy but perfectly playable and five minutes after the scheduled 1-30pm start the cup-tie springs into life. The school was opened in 1969 and is named Bro Cernyw after the local area, which comprises the villages of Llangernyw, Pandy Tudur and Gwytherin. Llangernyw sits in the beautiful Elwy Valley close to where the River Cledwen joins the River Elwy. The village is positioned close to the beaches and also Snowdonia national park and has an antique shop, a village shop with a post office and two pubs. A yew tree that grows in the grounds of the 13th century church is said to be around 5,000 years old. The village is also the birthplace of Sir Henry Jones (1852-1922), a Welsh philosopher and academic and a museum in his honour adjoins the football field. He is credited with being one of the forefathers of the Welsh education system. To be honest I hadn’t expected an even game and I wasn’t to be disappointed. The home side were without a win in their 12 league games, the away side challenging for the title. The form book was proved to be correct as Prestatyn Sports looked a thoroughly decent, well organised side and won this at a canter. 2-0 up at half-time, the visitors strolled to victory in the second half and played some good, constructive football in a generally well contested game. Late in the first half a home forward uttered a profanity after being given offside. It was an act of frustration rather than directed at the official and this type of incident is now common in the English games I witness. Alright, it didn’t sound great but I’ve heard a lot worse. No matter the referee, operating a zero tolerance approach to what was to me a well-spirited game of football flashed a red card with the flamboyance of a Shakespearian actor. The home side’s already uphill task was now much greater and it put paid to any hopes a neutral had (ie me) of seeing an even game. Sports dominated the second half and scored five further goals. At least the 1-30pm kick-off gave time for a beach walk afterwards and in no time Finty was galloping on the beach at Abergele (low tide arranged as if my magic). It was wild and woolly on the coast with a severe wind chill but she seemed not to notice it. |
|
contributed on 31/01/15 |
