TT No.71: Mike Latham - Sat 9 April 2016- Spar Mid Wales League Division 2: Bettws 2-2 Aberystwyth University; Attendance: 25 (h/c); Admission: £2; No programme |
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Matchday images (26) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/BettwsFC03 The Spar Mid Wales League has among its members
some beautifully situated grounds often in remote rural locations, but few are
as remote as the newcomers to the league this season, Bettws. After dominating the Montgomeryshire League Bettws
stepped up a level this year and have acquitted themselves well and on a
showery and chilly April afternoon they entertained second placed Aberystwyth
University. Bettws is short for Bettws Cedewain, a small
village a few miles north of Newtown in Powys, mid Wales, located also
off narrow B road that runs west from the main A458 between Welshpool and
Newtown. The teams change in the local community hall in the
centre of the village and go to the ground by car, on the B4389 towards
Tregynon. It's a narrow road with limited parking and the actual field is
rented off a local farmer and surrounded by an electronic fence to keep the
sheep away. Apart from two wooden dug-outs and a container that
houses the groundkeeper's equipment there are no facilities as such and most
spectators donned wellington boots and waterproof clothing as they braved a
typically April afternoon that alternated spells of icy rain with bouts of warm
sunshine. The playing surface was excellent, sloping slightly
towards the goal at the Bettws end and the students looked the best team for an
hour, building a 2-0 lead with a penalty and a headed goal from a corner. In the last half-hour the home side came to life
and pulled back two goals, including a disputed penalty and in a frantic finish
both sides had chances to win the game. I got chatting to a couple of home officials and a
retired farmer who is a regular supporter and they all made me very welcome. A
couple more groundhoppers also were part of the assembled attendance- it was
too small to call it a crowd. In a lovely, quiet setting with rolling hills,
woodland and sheep-clad fields all around Bettws is one of the most remote yet
peaceful settings I've ever watched football and I would recommend a visit
here. The Spar Mid Wales League has an excellent website which is regularly
updated and the games I've seen in the league are usually well contested and
played in a good spirit. It was quite a contrast to call in at Park Hall and
watch the TNS-Bala Town game in the Welsh Premier League that kicked-off at
5-15pm. TNS duly clinched their fifth successive title with a 2-0 victory and
will again compete in the Champions League next season. They have upgraded
their 3g pitch since my last visit and erected a new television stand opposite
the leisure centre. With the permanent stand at the far end the ground is
gradually adopting more of a football ground type of feel and the full-time TNS
side played some skilful, precision and technical football at a good tempo to
ward off the challenge of their nearest rivals. Yet here we were earlier in the day at level four
of the Welsh pyramid watching a game on a field rented off a local framer with
less than 30 people in attendance. Quite a contrast but that's the beauty
of Welsh football and why I enjoy it so much. |
contributed on 09/04/16 |
