Match stats:

Matthew James

As very disappointing Sunday on which The Vaders went down 3-1 to a team they should have beaten with their eyes closed. Failure to play basic football between defence to midfield provided very few chances up front and when they did “C**k of the week” Blackie had to try harder to miss than poke the ball into the goal, words like muppet, benched, and water boy come to mind. 🙂

It wasn’t going to be a good day when the Vader’s went down 1-0 in the space of 5 minutes, bad defence from the first Blaengarw corner saw a big scramble in the goal area only for it to fall to a Blaengarw player who put it away with no challenges being made in front of him.

The Vader’s looked clueless on the back foot and were lucky not to concede more goals in the first ¼ of the game. Going forward wasn’t much better and it seemed there was nobody willing to take a shot at goal and wanted to walk the ball into the goal, something that wasn’t going to happen as Blaengarw got 11 players back behind the ball every time they lost possession.

Around ½ hour into the match the Vaders started to settle, and although the ball was still missing out Hambone and Sainsbury in the middle some chances were starting to appear. Tom Evans missed another sitter when he (and credit to him) tried to use his left foot to finish and ended up putting the ball in the river, a theme that was developing and the subs spent a lot of time in Tudor Estates source of drinking water.
A bad tackle on Dillo saw him replaced by Powys at left back who played a good game once he’d settled into the pace of the game.

A second goal for Blaengarw just before half time really put the dampeners on things and the silence between the team at half time spoke volumes. In an attempt to create more chances titch was to push up beyond Blackie and use him to gamble off. The Vader’s started the second half much better and were actually using the right and left wings to good purpose. A few free kicks and shots went just wide or were saved by the keeper who up until now must have been cold and lonely due to the lack of activity his end.

Nothing seemed to be coming off even though all the football was now being played by the Vader’s. Changes were needed, and with the agreement of all subs to play from both sides, Blackie was replaced by his younger, fitter and skinnier cousin who runs kinda funny but was at least doing that (running that is) More changes were needed but as the stand in coach was about to make these changes “K –Swiss Berkamp” AKA Jammy now AKA the hand of god AKA Lee James decided to spoil a strikers chance of a volley by leaping with his hand at the side of his head using it as an extension to his Swede only to give a penalty away and to be shown a straight red. Another contended for “C**c of the week” had emerged.

Changes were made to reflect this with Sainsbury dropping in front of the now back 3. Allan was replaced by Doug at right back and Rob Boydell replaced Tom Evans who had put in another solid performance at left midfield.

Just after the changes a free kick was given outside the 18 yd area and Titch stepped up and scored a contender for goal of the season so far with a perfectly placed free kick which went up an around the wall and crashed right in the bottom hand corner of the goal leaving the keeper no chance.

So 3-1 and for some reason the Vaders got their tails up and really pressed for more goals, something which had been lacking all game. Hambone just missed a shot from far out and more opportunities were coming. Unfortunately too little too late and the game ended 3-1.

A very disappointing loss on the Vader’s first home game, against a poor opposition, who in all reality should be beaten away from home.
Plus points are the field was very nice and the changing rooms and showers are looking good after a re-vamp of Caerau’s facilities.

Shame about the time spent retrieving shots from over the bar. The Subs had cuts to prove it too.

Man of the Match: Matthew Evans (without him we would have lost by about 6)
Cock of the Week: Gareth Blackwell (Who couldn’t hit a cow’s ar*e with a banjo)
Quote of the Day: N/A