Match stats:

Matthew James
Liam Barry (Pen)
Robbie Walters
Matthew James
Stephen Gould

So into season 3 The Vaders go, and with a cup final and promotion from the previous season the team are ambitious and full of confidence.

This confidence showed in a competitive yet seemingly easy win over last years premiership champions Coedely.

No doubt Coedely were the favourites having breezed the premier division in 2011/12, and having previously beaten The Vaders 6-1 in a pre-season friendly when the Vaders were formed in 2010/11.

This confidence was soon to be seen as a missed header in midfield saw the ball bounce to one of the Coedely forwards and The Vaders had to watch as he slotted it past Cookie and onto the unfortunate sliding boot of defender Allan Thomas, who turned it into his own net.

The Vaders though immediately re-grouped and within 4 minutes were level courtesy of a lovely effort from Titch.

The remainder of the first half was then a hard fought midfield battle with Coedely seeing very little in the way of chances, and the ones they did have were hit so far out of the field the balls are more than likely up in Croeserw. The Vaders dominated in every area of the park and were creating some chances. One paid off as a ball was put through for Robbie Walters to go one on one with the keeper. The defender determined to catch Robbie had very little choice but to bring him down. Narrowly avoiding a red card, somehow he got away with a yellow. Step up the oldest midfield maestro in the Bridgend League Liam Barry, not the best penalty we’ve seen him take, but it was a goal and that’s all that mattered.

So The Vaders went into the break 2-1 up, and full of confidence that this bunch of whingers could be beaten if the effort could be maintained.

Soon after the re-start The Vaders pushed for more goals, and within 10 minutes a cross ball from Matthew James to Robbie Walters who controlled the ball and shot from what seemed an impossible angle only to find the ball beyond the keeper and smashing the back of the net. 3-1 to The Vaders.

Shortly after Centre half/sweeper Christian Powys had to come off with an injury to his ankle. Loosing his height and the third leg he uses to clear the ball from time to time would no doubt cause some problems for the team. Right back Allan “Cwtch” (no longer “Captain Cwtch”) Thomas was moved to CB and Tom Evans came on for Powys and went into RB with a look of determination and a readiness to smash some skulls.

Within 2 minutes the change caused issues with Coedely playing a ball through the centre and finishing in the top left corner of Cookies goal.

Disappointing, but The Vaders didn’t let their heads go down and cracked on, and began crafting some more chances. Balls were coming in from Ieuan Morris and Richard Boydell on the flanks, and breaks were even being constructed at the back by CB Scott Sainsbury and LB Gareth “Gwmba” Hanbury.

It wasn’t long before Titch was put in on goal and finished from 20 yards, putting The Vaders 4-2 up with around 10 to go. It should have been 5 when Ieuan Morris gambled off a defensive error, skinned the defender and made the keeper look a tool when he sold him a dummy, enough to make room for an easy goal. Seeing Robbie Walters directly across he unselfishly passed the ball only for Robbie to put the ball somehow over the bar. Who knows how he managed to get that much lift on the ball from that little distance.

Cameo appearances from Rob Boydell, Gareth Blackwell and new boy Morgan Evans helped rest some tired legs in midfield and up front and the Vaders saw the 90 minutes out to win 4-2. A fantastic start from the Vaders, and a performance reminiscent of beating the Roid Cow at home last season.

The Bush next week, let’s hope The Vaders can play the same style of football and boss the game like they did in this one.

Man of the Match: Gareth Hanbury
Cock of the Week: Allan Thomas (own goal)
Quote of the Day: Rob Boydell: I’m glad he didn’t send him off, it would have spoilt the game