Match stats:

Steve Boydell
Matthew James (Pen)
Ieuan Evans
Leigh James

So finally the Vader’s are off the mark.

Having being left disappointed by last week’s result against the Bush Kangaroos, the Vader’s were in surprisingly good spirit albeit with some hesitancy due to Tonyerfail A being a league above but it was clear from the off that it didn’t matter what league they were in they were going to have a battle to win this one.

As a trial The Vader’s lined up differently to the previous week, with Coach Steve Boydell taking up the role of target man up front with Blackie, and due to his knee injury Rich Boydell opting to be goal keeper.

From the kickoff the Vader’s looked the more likely to get the chances with both Steve and Blackie holding up the ball up front and wingers Powys and Isaac peeling off to accept the ball for attacks up the flanks.

A big battle was being held in the middle of the park with Titch using his skill to put passes to feet, and the battering ram that is the hambone making sure that even if he couldn’t win the ball he was going to put off the opposition by smashing his way through them. Winning most any aerial balls Hambone was putting himself about and covering at the back when needed.

Within 10 minutes the first goal was to come with Steve Boydell heading in from 8 yards out to get the Vader’s off to the start they needed.
Other chances came in the first half for both sides and Tonyrefail were becoming more and more frustrated by the cat in goal at the Vader’s end in Richard Boydell, his injury ever more evident as the goal kicks were being taken. All defenders were holding Ton out and Allan and Dillo in the centre were letting the opposition know they were there at every opportunity.

Substitute Stephen Gould entered the fray on 30 mins to replace Christian Powys who had up until that point been running himself ragged on the left.

The Vader’s wend into half time 1-0 up and the half time team talk was positive. More of the same was needed in the second half.

So into the second half it seemed no substitutions were needed but 5 mins in Blackie was blowing out of his arse and needed a fag break. On came Blackie’s cousin Ieuan who teamed up with Steve up front.

Just after the substitution Tonyrefail were level with a short range effort and the Vader’s heads dropped immediately. This was to prove fatal as within 5 mins and a misunderstanding between Dillo and Richie “the cat” Boydell saw Tonyrefail move 2-1 in front.

Feeling that changes were needed Lee Issac and Dillo were changed for Byron and Ieuan Morris. With fresh legs the Vader’s pressed and pressed for the equalizer but it was proving difficult to get into shooting postions, something that was talked about at half time and was thought to be easier in the second half.

The pressing however paid off and around 20 minutes into the second half Hambone went on one of his “I’m going all the way unless I fall over” runs and was brought down in the box. After some discussion Titch stepped up and put the penalty right in the corner and the keeper had no chance.

Now at 2 a piece the Vader’s smelt a win and Titch started pushing further into the Ton half of the field.

At around the 70 minute mark Rob Boydell came on for the very tired Michael Riddiford at left back who’d put in a good shift. Rob looked out of his depth at left back and was lucky to have Ieuan Morriss covering behind him who looked composed as well as confident on the ball.

At one point Rob B pushed forward and saw the midfielder commiting himself to the outside, seeing his chance he tried to drag the ball in-field only to miss the ball and to go down like a sniper had popped up in the Gilfach mountain and taken him out, The ball staying in one place like it was made of concrete.

A few minutes later Boydell squandered a one on one with the goalkeeper by panicking and shooting for near post only for it to be saved by the Ton keeper.

Following a promising 5 minutes from Ton and a few good save by Rich Boydell saw a counter attack come to good use as Steve Boydell crossed the ball in only for Ieuan (striker) to look at the ball and think “what the hell do I do now” and then poked the ball in with what looked like his little toe.

3-2 up the Vader’s confidence was growing and more and more attacks were being put together.

Just before the death Jammy the right back who yet again was loving the foul throws hoisted the ball toward goal from 60 yards out only for it to bamboozle the Ton goalkeeper and put the Vader’s 4-2 up and for some reason thought he could get away with shouting “Lee Dixon” It is thought that Jammy won’t let us hear the fkn end of this for the rest of the season, and will probably become more annoying than Blackie and his “assist” against both Coed-ely and the Bush (well a shot wide/assist)

All in all a cracking game and hopefully the Vader’s will take this confidence into the first league game next weekend against Ynysmaerdy away. The team should be proud of the way they dug in in the second half, got their shape back and put the ball in the back of the net.

Quote of the day: You’d better put that on the match report, it was 40, no 50 no 60 yards out….whooo hooo Lee Dixon
…..Jammy in more ways than one! Piss off!
Man of the match: Gareth Hanbury