Cefn Cribwr FC

Cambrian Lakeside Sports Academy, the current home of Cambrian & Clydach Vale Boys & Girls Club based in the Rhondda Valley and play in the Welsh second tier in the Cymru South.

As of this season, it has also been the home of Cefn Cribwr FC who have a groundshare deal with Cambrian & Clydach while Cribwr’s current ground Cae Gof undergoes the necessary changes the bring the ground up to league standards… I hate those rules!

Cefn Cribwr play their trade in the third tier of the Welsh Pyramid in the Ardal South West League and are nicknamed the “Riders”.

May is here which means the season is drawing ever closer to the end… But there’s still time to get games in. Today it’s going to be a long drive down to South Wales to see a ground that so many hoppers have recommended: Garw SBGC! They face Cardiff Airport in their last home game of the season, let’s drive!

To the M1 then the M42 then the M6 and then the M5… Now the M50, now the A40 onto the A449… It’s a lovely drive I’ll give it that! To the M4 and now up the A4061, nearly there… Yes! Made it with 20 minutes till kick off… Hang on, the game is off! WHAT THE F***! Just over three and a half hours drive for nothing…

2:30pm kick offs don’t seem so good now… Please Futbology find me a game… Cefn Cribwr vs Pontyclun half an hour away, let’s go! We may miss kick off but we can’t come all this way empty handed! This is a nice drive as well! When in Wales! Into Clydach Vale Country Park and quickly into the ground 10 minutes into the game with the score thankfully 0-0. £5 to watch this Welsh tie… They’ve let me in for free! No card machine… When is my luck going to run out?! Thank you Cefn Cribwr!

13 minutes in and Cefn’s number 7 is played through into the box on the left, he shoots… It’s saved! Good play there from Cefn!

20th minute and it’s a corner for Cefn, it’s played to the edge of the box for the shot… It’s flicked on by Cefn’s number 10… It’s saved! Good reactions from the keeper there! Pontyclun get the ball away from danger.

The rain is coming down at speed… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: “Thank the lord for 3G pitches on a day like today!” Both teams are having a fair share of possession but a first half with little action… That I saw anyway, ends 0-0.

Second half, 49th minute and it’s a throw in on the right for Pontyclun, it comes for number 9 who goes for the half volley from just outside the box… Oooooh! It’s just wide of the far post.

52 minutes now and Pontyclun break forward, number 9 is played in and the keeper charges out to him, number 9 gets there first… “HANDBALL!” The keeper stops it and it’s cleared but nothing is given by the Referee!

55 minutes on the clock and Pontyclun come forward, it’s threaded through to number 9 who’s in, he gets a toe to it… It’s wide! So close there for Pontyclun!

1 minute later and Cefn come forward, it’s played through to number 8 in the box on the right, he shoots… Saved! It comes back to number 8… He tries to control it with his arm after a collision with a Pontyclun defender and it’s a free kick for Pontyclun.

1 minute after that and Cefn come forward down the right, the Pontyclun defender gets there and holds off number 8… Wait no he doesn’t and number 8 gets his foot to the ball… And he’s put it past the keeper! Poor defending! Cefn don’t care! They take the lead! 1-0!

70th minute and it’s a free kick on the left for Cefn, number 14 plays it in, number 4 with the header… It’s there! A free header and it’s 2-0!

78th minute and the ball is on the right near the dugouts… Oh dear! A nasty challenge by Pontyclun’s number 7 and tempers fray… A few punches in there… There’s going to be a few reds here surely! The Referee consults with his assistants… Pontyclun’s number 7 is off! That was expected! Yellow cards for 3 other players, 2 Cefn and 1 Pontyclun for the melee… Cefn’s number 6 is off as well! Surely for violent conduct in the midst of all that. It’s 10v10!

84th minute and Cefn come forward, it’s played in to number 7 in the box on the left, he goes for the far corner… It’s off the post! The rebound comes back to number 9 and he’s clattered down! Penalty! Never in doubt there! Number 14 to take… He scores! 3-0! That surely is the game for Cefn now!

Play goes on… More tough tackles flying in and it certainly hasn’t been a game that I would’ve liked to have officiated! It does end 3-0 and out comes the sun!

FT: Cefn Cribwr 3-0 Pontyclun

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 2/10 – Not much noise sadly…
• The Ground: 9/10 – Absolutely beautiful! Picturesque at all angles but my only room for improvement and it may seem slightly harsh but for a club at this level, a good clubhouse would make it a 10 for me! Other than that, this is beautiful!
• Expense: 10/10 – £67 for fuel… But nothing else and free entry! I’m happy with that!
• Overall Experience: 8/10 – Relieved to get a game in after all that and I’m glad to see this hidden gem! Garw will have to wait. The man on the gate here was very friendly as well!

29/40