(FM'24) Home - Back Where It All Began......

[neilhoskins77]

The Prologue

Getting on for a dozen years, November 2013 to be precise. That is how long I've now been contributing stories into this section of the forum. It's a community I was welcomed into when I was at a low point of my life due to ill health. That first save couldn't have been more local, I took charge of the local football club from the area I grew up and now once again live in. That save took a very early unplanned and dramatic turn when they were taken over by a rich Argentinean and were bankrolled as they moved up the Leagues and brought young talent to the club.

Since then my FM adventures have taken in many countries and clubs from around the globe with a mixed bag of success and failures. My saves often start in the realms of lower league management, often with older versions of the game. This time I'll be using FM'24, my first go at this game in any capacity, which should make things interesting.

This time I'm going back to the area where it all started. Welsh football has undergone a significant restructure since I was last here for a save, and with the aid of the expansion from the workshop, we can reach right down into the lowest level of county football. As always my aim will be to progress up the divisions, preferably while remaining in my local area if possible, and not necessarily staying with the starting club if an opportunity to move for a level increase presents itself. With a huge amount of clubs in such a relatively small area, derby games are a regular occurrence.

Almost a dozen years. And my first role will be a dozen miles away from where it all began. Right at the bottom level of Welsh club football that this expansion pack allows, it's not quite 'home' to start with I suppose, but it's close enough........

**The Minor Details**
This is of course an expansion that has come from the Steam Workshop, and that I am very grateful to be able to use (many thanks to The Shrew). A test save has been performed to ensure stability. It went really well, the only glitch of note is that over time we will see clubs moved into Divisions and Leagues that are outside their own region. From what I understand regarding unlocking the lower levels, this is something that is really difficult to achieve without causing crashes etc. We'll live with it, and while it will be mentioned casually where necessary, it's not something we'll get bogged down with or focus on over time. If you're unfamiliar with Welsh geography, you probably won't even notice it unless it's mentioned. If you're are familiar with some of or all of the weird and wonderful places in the Principality, I hope it doesn't compromise your enjoyment of the game and serves as nothing more than a minor irritation. It will be most noticeable when clubs move between National/Regional and Regional/County Leagues.

[oche balboa]

Good luck with this mate. 

[neilhoskins77]

21 hours ago, oche balboa said:

Good luck with this mate. 

Thank you Oche, always appreciate you reading and interacting with the stories. Hope you're well.

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Newbridge Town FC. A football club that are this year celebrating their 50th anniversary. The town sits a dozen miles from my own hometown, either taking the winding lanes through the northern Newport district and moving into the Caerphilly county border areas, or heading North through Pontypool and then heading back West and dropping into the town from the north. 

In their fifty years of existence, this club has no history to speak of. I arrive in mid-July with no staff, no players, oh and a pre-season friendly arranged for five days time, which might be a stretch. Job advertisements are placed for all critically needed staff roles, but with time not on our side I can't afford to wait for Scouts to apply, and with a handful of suggestions from the Board and a list of players who have played recently in the immediate local area and its surrounding clubs, I set right to work on getting some players into the club, including offers to show up for Saturdays game on a trial basis. The club currently has seven season ticket holders, and eleven followers on our social media account. Real Madrid we ain't! Real Mess more like it!

By lunchtime six players were sitting on contract offers from us, while another half dozen had been invited to join on a fortnight trial basis which would also include the chance to potentially play this weekend in our Friendly match. And if other clubs were watching them, we had every intention of charging any visiting scouts at the gate to watch the game. May as well get some money in the bank out of it at the very least.

By Tuesday lunchtime, all six trialists have agreed to join us for a two week spell. In true trialist style, everyone at the club (well, that's just me right now), was sworn to secrecy on the identity of the players we would be running the rule over, and the printers were informed that for the programme and team sheets they would simply show as 'Trialist'. With the news that we now had some players in the door at least on a temporary basis, an additional Friendly has been arranged for next Friday evening with Shirehampton agreeing to make the fairly short hop across the Bristol Channel. Our league campaign begins the following Wednesday evening, in fact a lot of our games take place on midweek evenings.

While we continue to attempt to bring in players, one who won't be receiving an offer from us is young goalkeeper Joseph Regan. No slight on the teenager at all, just the opposite in fact. Having been on the books for Cwmbran Celtic last season he was very much on our radar, but an offer to him from Cymru Premier outfit Barry Town United has rendered that interest absolutely pointless now.

We do finally have a signing to announce by midweek though. 28 year old striker Lewis Davies is a player from the area, and despite his age he is very inexperienced. He played four times in the Covid interrupted 2019/20 season for nearby Risca United in the then Welsh League Division One, scoring a single goal during that stint, his only Senior goal to date. He spent part of the 2021/22 campaign with Pontymister, playing three times without scoring. He's 5'9, fairly quick, with a decent finish and deceptively good in the air despite his height. He should do well at our level.

Nineteen year old Tom Broder was one of the Youth team strikers at Risca when Davies was there, and there's a good chance he'll be understudy to Lewis once again as he arrives at the club as well. Since then he has also been on the books of Aberbargoed Buds where he played six times in the Ardal South-East Division, the third tier of football in the Principality.

Neither of those two arrivals seems to have gone down especially well with the fans, but the next arrival certainly was received more warmly, 20 year old right back Taylor Davies. He has spent the last two seasons playing football in my hometown with Cwmbran Celtic of the Cymru South, where he has played twenty two games and returned two goals. Plenty of pace, able to cross the ball and starting to show some leadership qualities, he should be far too good for this League, it's just a matter of how long we can keep hold of him at Hendy Park.

The new signings will join the Trialists for our opening game of a pair of pre-season fixtures. We have Johnstown visiting us first up, a team that play at our equivalent level in West Wales, the Carmarthenshire League Division Two. While we are celebrating our 50th season, this will be just their 20th, but they are also starting at the same base level with no manager and no players, so they're effectively a grey team. We'll have a few 'greys' of our own playing as well as we fill in the gaps that we haven't yet managed to recruit for.

Saturday 22nd July 2023

Pre-Season Friendly
Hendy Park, Newbridge
Newbridge Town v Johnstown
Adam Campbell; Taylor Davies, Trialist CB #1, Morgan Davies, Sam Pearce; Trialist CM/LB, Gethin Roberts; Trialist RW#1, Tom Broder, Trialist RW#2; Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Dylan Thomas, Martin Harrison (GK), Tom Morris, Nathan Harris, Osian Dodd, Trialist ST #1, Trialist ST #2.

As you can see from our selection, there's not even enough in the playing ranks yet to pick a full team never mind have any kind of depth. Young signing Tom Broder plays out of position behind main striker Lewis Davies. One Trialist will play the first half in midfield and the second half at left back, while the two Trialist right wingers will spend a half apiece playing on the correct side and the wrong side.

In an afternoon of sunshine and showers in front of almost nobody, we fell behind in the 20th minute when Morgan Davies only partially cleared a cross from the left and Brian Kinsey's volley was deflected beyond keeper Adam Campbell and into the bottom corner. We were level before the break though, a superb team passing move saw Lewis Davies play in Tom Broder and he beat the Johnstown keeper at his near post to level things up. Unfortunately our parity wouldn't last long, we had already had a couple of warnings from corners and two minutes into the second half Kinsey received the ball on the edge of the box and squared it to Kyle Walker who found the net from fifteen yards out. We absolutely bossed the second half, but neither of the Trialist strikers that came off the bench could find the net.

Newbridge Town (1) 1 - Tom Broder (41)
Johnstown (1) 2 - Brian Kinsey (20), Kyle Walker (47)
Attendance :- 17
Bookings :- Taylor Davies (71), Trialist ST #2 (74)

So Johnstown head back West with the win, but I quite liked what I saw from our patchwork lineup. They gained some good familiarity with the 4-2DM-3-1 formation we had setup in, looked threatening from set pieces and passed the ball around neatly. Plenty to be happy about despite the result, and now we have six days to try and bring in some reinforcements, and hopefully some staff as well.

[neilhoskins77]

We are one of a string of clubs to miss out on a 23 year old centre back with a good amount of experience in the Gwent County League, as Iestyn Moore will instead sign for Cwmbran Celtic, where he will probably struggle to get a game quite honestly.

But we soon have better news, with 23 year old goalkeeper James Aurelius signing up to join us. He has spent the last two seasons with Abergavenny Town, the 6'2 tall shot stopper playing six times in that period. He had a huge amount of interest from other clubs, but we got the jump on them and will bring in a player who will finally get regular First Team football for the first time in his career.

Also signing up as part of our bunch of misfits will be Trialist CM/LB #1, now revealed to be 30 year old Nathan Arthur. Bringing us some hugely needed versatility with his ability to play in the centre of the park as well as at left back, he has also played only six Senior games in his career, all with Merthyr Saints. And that is a career that saw him play just one season back in 2010/11 before taking his leave from football and only returning to the game last season. This will be the first time he has played for a club outside of his hometown of Merthyr.

The signings continued to come thick and fast as our squad started to fill up ahead of Friday night's Friendly. 26 year old six foot four tall centre back Joshua Payne spent the last two seasons with Cardiff Draconians where he made twenty eight appearances and scored six times to increase our threat from set pieces. Joining him is talented 22 year old centre midfielder Glynn Hobbs who sat out last season after playing nine times for Brecon Corinthians in 2021/22, as well as Trialist ST #2, otherwise known as Sean Feeley. A 27 year old striker who stands six foot two tall, he has scored fifteen goals in 62 Senior games during a career that started with Penybont, then saw him head to Cwmbran to spend time with both Celtic and Croesyceiliog before more successful goalscoring stints with Abergavenny Town and Risca United.

Trialist RW #1 would be next through the door, identity now revealed as 22 year old right winger Liam David Thomas Williams, who heads back his native South East area of the country having spent time with Penybont and more latterly Ammanford. Like many in the squad he is very inexperienced with only nine Cymru South appearances from last season to fall back on, though he did impress in the Friendly against Johnstown.

So we're in better shape for our second and final pre-season friendly game with our visitors from across the water in Bristol. With new arrivals in place and the remaining trialists still at the club, I'm hoping we can step it up a notch from last week for this one. For the sake of continuity and avoidance of my own confusion, remaining trialists keep their same tag from last weekends game.

Friday 28th July 2023

Pre-Season Friendly
Hendy Park, Newbridge
Newbridge Town v Shirehampton
James Aurelius; Taylor Davies, Trialist CB #1, Joshua Payne, Sam Pearce; Nathan Arthur, Glynn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feeley, Trialist RW#2; Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Morgan Davies, Adam Campbell (GK), Tom Morris, Nathan Harris, Osian Dodd, Trialist ST #1, Tom Broder.

Our new players are all involved, while our three remaining Trialist players will all have a chance to earn a deal with the club going forward. There are still more grey players involved than I would like, but we're getting there with our recruitment.

Despite more new arrivals and this being only our second game, the cohesion seemed much better. We almost caught our Bristol based opponents on the counter attack after breaking up a corner routine, a positive step up from last week that we've been working on. A superb solo run from Sean Feeley saw him fluff the finish, but we would take the lead from a set piece, Liam Williams corner met with a near post downward header by Joshua Payne. We were fully in control, Nathan Arthur sending a shot from range off the bar on its way over. Arthur would move to left back at half time with a grey midfielder brought on, while Feeley and Lewis Davies made way for our Trialist ST #1 and Tom Broder, who would this time play further forward. It was the Trialist ST #1 who would increase our lead though, a corner that was only partially cleared and recycled well, with Arthur getting space in the box and squaring the ball for it to be fired into the top corner. We almost added another, the Trialist ST #1 showing speed and getting into the box before picking out Liam Williams who had switched wings at half time. He moved the ball onto his right foot and sent a shot off the underside of the bar. We look good going forward, but need some more work defensively, keeper Taylor sending a long 65th minute punt down the park, Jordan Bance headed it on to Matthew Davies, and his cross was headed home by Jordan Hibberd from close range. We would reinstate our two goal advantage almost ten minutes later, another counter attack after the play was broken up, and the Trialist ST #1's shot thumped the post, running loose towards the penalty spot where Broder had an open goal. The game was now far more open than I'd care to see in a competitive game, and doesn't really suit us, Bance scoring for Shirehampton with just over five minutes to play, but we would hold out for a much needed boost ahead of the big kick off.

Newbridge Town (1) 3 - Joshua Payne (11), Trialist ST #1 (49), Tom Broder (74)
Shirehampton (0) 2 - Jordan Hibberd (65), Jordan Bance (84)
Attendance :- 17
Bookings :- None

That was encouraging, and we're now starting to get some applicants for the backroom staff too over the weekend, just in time as well with the domestic campaign beginning on Wedensday evening.

The weekend also produces a shock too, as I'm astounded and delighted to be able to add Robbie Patten to our playing staff. A 26 year old midfielder who excels in the defensive arts of a midfielder role, he is a former Cardiff City youngster who has since spent time with Merthyr Town and over the border with Chippenham Town. He then spent four seasons with Barry Town United, playing fifty times for them before taking last season away from football. There were clubs of a far higher standing that were interested in this player, but they all seemed to have their focus elsewhere, and he was keen to get sorted out for the season with it close to getting underway. Keeping him long term is unlikely I suspect.

The weekend was very successful overall. As well as the arrival of Robbie Patten, we also brought in a group of players that all have things in common. They are all from the Cwmbran area, and they are all former team mates of each other with the town's senior club in the Welsh football pyramid, Cwmbran Celtic. 25 year old six foot two tall centre back Jason Stanley spent four years (three seasons) at the club without making a single First Team appearance and is now keen to finally get his go at Senior football. Attacking left back Lewis Adams was at the club for exactly the same time frame with Stanley and also failed to make a single First Team appearance, also 25 years old he has joined his mate making the move to us at Newbridge. With an identical career path is another left back, Lee Cheshire, who will compete with Adams once more for a place in the team, this time at Hendy Park. Then there is Warren Evans, a 20 year old who also spent most of that time frame with Celtic before making the move across town midway through 2022/23 to try his luck with Croesyceiliog, but still awaits his Senior debut. He can play in the centre of the park or a more attacking position, as well as providing extra cover out to the right side. 22 year old defensive midfielder Jai-Jnr Johnson did play fourteen times for Celtic over the Covid interrupted period between 2019 and 2022, the last season of which he also spent part of with Croesyceiliog, before returning back to Cwmbran Celtic for a brief second spell.

The odd one out of the new arrivals is a 31 year old striker, the artist previously know as Trialist ST #1, or as he is more widely known, Matthew Thomas. A local to the area who started with Risca United and then Abercarn United, where he notched eighteen goals in just fifteen games. He went back to Risca before trying his luck with Carmarthen Town and Cinderford Town, then returning to West Wales with Carmarthen again. When that didn't work out, he made another return to Abercarn, before landing back where he started with Risca. He has twenty goals in fifty Senior games overall, so at our level, you'd expect him to find the net.

On the eve of the season getting underway, with priority pieces all completed, I add a little more depth with the signing of Trialist RW #2. The twenty eight year old right winger Callum Holden has spent his Senior football career moving across South Wales only to play very little football as a result. He has just two appearances on his resumé so far, after failing to appear for Cambrian & Clydach Vale, Treforest and Port Talbot Town, he then played once in 2021/22 for Pontyclun, and after sitting on the sidelines for Goytre United for the first half of last seasons 2022/23 campaign, he moved across to Cwmbran Town, where he again featured just once. With very good pace and some ability to cross the ball, I think he'll see more action in Newbridge, though will have a fight to become a regular.

We'll see if is in line for an immediate Newbridge Town debut in the next update, where we get our Gwent County League Division Four campaign underway, starting with a visit from the red hot favourites for the Title........

[neilhoskins77]

The credibility of this Division, the eighth tier of football in Wales, has just received a boost as Fleur-De-Lys Welfare have appointed former Cardiff City, Exeter City, Oxford United, Newport County and Wales Under-21 defender Lee Jarman as their new manager. Now 45 years old, he held the role of Player/Manager at Barry Town United, before a short spell in charge of Penybont in the JD Cymru Premier when he was appointed in January. That's a very impressive appointment, and could turn the pre-season predictions on their head if there is a common ground between Jarman's footballing contacts and the Welfare's ability and willingness to back their new manager.

Back at our own club, we have secured a £6,500 jersey sponsor for the season on the eve of our kick off, a huge boost to our finances before the season gets underway at Hendy Park tomorrow night with a visit from Brynmawr United. Before that game I get the news that my first choice of the applicants for the assistant managers job has accepted the role. The 36 year old has previously performed the same role at North East Premier Division side Rhostyllen when he was living up in that area. As well as my assistant, I've also got him added to my Scouting options as well to make sure he is kept plenty busy enough with us. Welcome to the club Welsh 'C' Licence holding Ian Jones.

Wednesday 2nd August 2023

Gwent County Football League Division Four
Hendy Park, Newbridge
Newbridge Town v Brynmawr United
James Aurelius; Taylor Davies, Jason Stanley, Joshua Payne, Lewis Adams; Robbie Patten, Glyn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feely, Warren Evans; Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Lee Cheshire, Adam Campbell (GK), Nathan Arthur, Jai-Jnr Johnson, Callum Holden, Matthew Thomas, Tom Broder.

Our late pre-season recruitment push, mainly from Cwmbran based players, means we are much better equipped for today's opening day of the 2023/24 season with a home game against promotion favourites Brynmawr United, a club just ten miles north of us. The only grey in our squad today is our substitute goalkeeper, but the team largely picks itself for now.

An evening that started with a downpour but quickly turned to glorious late summer sunshine. Not exactly the metaphor for our opening game of the season however. We were the better team early on with large amounts of possession and a large amount of crosses into the Brynmawr box, but they failed to lead to a chance at goal. Then we were caught by a text book sucker punch as a Kian Howells strike from range skidded across the turf and found the bottom corner. Our continued measured approach saw us almost equalise immediately when Sean Feeley smacked a shot off the upright, before finding the leveller moments later when Feeley played Lewis Davies in between the centre backs and he lifted his shot over the onrushing keeper to square the game up. Our hard earned parity lasted barely two minutes before Callum Thomas was sent into the right channel of the box and shot across goal inside the far post. We would spend the rest of the game back in control with another barrage of corners and deep crosses. Just as it started looking like we were going to begin with a defeat, full back Lewis Adams deep 81st minute cross pitted Feeley against both centre backs, a tussle he won and powered his header into the roof of the net to give us a share of the spoils!

Newbridge Town (1) 2 - Lewis Davies (29), Sean Feeley (81)
Brynmawr United (2) 2 - Kian Howells (20), Callum Thomas (31)
Attendance :- 133
Bookings :- None

Feeley was named 'player of the day' for that opening round of the Gwent County League Fourth Division as we earn a point in a game that many believe will be as hard as it gets for us in the League this season. 27 year old Feeley is settling quickly into his role behind the striker, a goal and an assist on his debut indicating his ability to be very effective there too.

The extra chairs are out for the staff meetings, as Callum Lloyd takes on the role of Chief Scout at the club, with Michael Davies working underneath him in the Scouting team. Lloyd is 36 and will be largely doing his job from home in the Rhondda Valleys while travelling across to Gwent to watch games when he needs to in his first ever backroom role. Davies is the same age, and while he is originally from Swansea he has been living in Gwent for some years now. It's also his first backroom role, and he will largely be Lloyd's eyes and ears. We're hoping that a Physiotherapist and Goalkeeping Coach will be appointed next week.

Those new additions to the backroom are in place ahead of our second game of the week, another home fixture to start the campaign as we entertain Garnlydan at Hendy Park this weekend. Only a couple of miles north west of midweek visitors Brynmawr, the area is actually part of Ebbw Vale and is another indication of how close together a lot of the teams in this Division are to each other geographically. They lost their opener in midweek to Ashvale and will be hoping to earn their first points of the campaign at our expense.

Trialist CB #1 has decided his future lies elsewhere. That player was 23 year old Curtis Hicks who spent last season in Cwmbran with Croesyceiliog, but has taken a footballing opportunity elsewhere in Wales and has slipped away from us unfortunately. Also not coming to Hendy Park will be veteran left winger Scott Evans. This one is less of a surprise, it would have been a long shot to get the former Swansea City, Kilmarnock and Llanelli man to join us, though we were encouraged by the low level he played at two seasons ago. But he has been snapped up by JD Cymru South Division Title hopefuls Briton Ferry Llansawel. We do have one new arrival though, 21 year old goalkeeper Joshua Ellis has played only five times in three seasons during his time with Monmouth Town, and will now travel further from the border area and into the Principality in search of regular First Team football. He will need to shift James Aurelius from the spot though.

Saturday 5th August

Gwent County Football League Division Four
Hendy Park, Newbridge
Newbridge Town v Garnlydan
James Aurelius; Taylor Davies, Jason Stanley, Joshua Payne, Lewis Adams; Robbie Patten, Glyn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feely, Warren Evans; Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Lee Cheshire, Joshua Ellis (GK), Nathan Arthur, Jai-Jnr Johnson, Callum Holden, Matthew Thomas, Tom Broder.

An unchanged team despite the quick turnaround, and we didn't just look the better team from the off, we were far superior. Sean Feely's charged down early shot ricocheted right to Robbie Patten but his effort was easily fielded by Roberts, before Taylor Davies' deep cross to the far post found the head of Warren Evans, his effort tipped over by Cai Roberts. There was no keeping us out in the 27th minute though, with the troublesome two up front finding a way through, Feely making a powerful run into the right channel of the box and cutting the ball back to Lewis Davies who swept home from fifteen yards out. Patten had another go as we sought to increase our lead, meeting a free kick with a looping header that landed on the roof of the net. After a half time pep talk, that's an uplifting speech rather than a visit from Guardiola, we went right back to our task of securing the points. First Lewis Adams with a curling shot that just missed the target, and shortly after Feely, who's shot from the edge of the box was simply too powerful for Roberts to stop finding the target as we doubled our lead. We were in complete control...and then it all went to s**t! Within minutes and from their first real attack of note, Kieran Wharton dropped a free kick into the box that Richard Fisher found time to pull the ball down and in almost an exact replica of Callum Thomas' goal in midweek shot across James Aurelius and inside the far post. And in the 73rd minute we were undone once more by a set piece, this time we were guilty of failing to clear the ball properly that Kristian Griffiths whipped in from the right touchline, Nathan Jones headed it back into the danger zone and Ben Fortune hooked it into the top corner on the turn. Tom Broder hit the base of the post very late on after coming off the bench, but we were only able to blame ourselves for throwing away a pair of points thanks to a pair of poorly conceded goals today.

Newbridge Town (1) 2 - Lewis Davies (27), Sean Feely (52)
Garnlydan (0) 2 - Richard Fisher (56), Ben Fortune (73)
Attendance :- 24
Bookings :- None

That was incredibly frustrating. We had almost three times as many shots and an XG that was almost three times that of our visitors. But our inability to defend set pieces saw our lead wiped out and a return of just a point when it should have been a far more healthy three. And to top it off Warren Evans tweaked his ankle ligaments just before Garn's second goal, and now we have an issue filling a gap in the lineup that we don't really have any cover for just to ice the cake. We have another game in midweek, and we immediately see if there is any possibility of bringing someone in. It's going to be a long season, we play everyone four times in total, so basic squad depth is not going to be enough unfortunately. If we can't bring anyone in, then full back Lee Cheshire who made his Senior Debut from the bench in that game may have to be utilised a little further up the park as an option around the issue. With a goal and an assist, once more Sean Feely was named as the Divisions best player for the second round of fixtures, though don't read too much into that, as the League is still full of grey players at this point. With the focus on how much we struggle at set pieces, James Aurelius has come under the microscope and was highlighted as having a bad day.

Maybe the arrival of a goalkeeping coach will help Aurelius. From nearby Newport, thirty year old Martin Powell is the one who has accepted the role at the club, and will work with both our goalkeepers and also deal with their training schedules. As a popular common denominator in our backroom, this is Powell's first job in football. He is joined later in the day by a fellow Newport native, as 26 year old Morgan Jones is appointed in the role of Head Physio at the club. His first job is to help get Warren Evans fit again and back on the park.

[neilhoskins77]

With our next game only a little over twenty four hours away, we have got a left winger in. Iwan Lloyd isn't the ideal solution to our problem as the 20 year old is a right footer, so will naturally be looking to cut inside rather than send in the crosses that Feely and Davies thrive on. His football, or lack of as it really should be described in his career so far, has all been in the north. He never made the grade at Porthmadog, and in three and a half seasons with Llanystumdwy he has played only eight times, of which seven were last season. Despite our low level of football, this is a big chance for Lloyd as we have a lot of games with not a lot of depth, and he could put his foot in the door here.

Also arriving in time for our next game is 25 year old Dan Eedy. The 6'3 attacking midfielder has flitted in and out of football over the last four years or so, playing three times for Swansea University in the 2019/20 season, the 20/21 campaign then being washed out, before returning to his former club for another season and then sitting out another season once again. His arrival actually compliments the signing of Lloyd, as Eedy is left footed but is more comfortable on the right side. He can also play behind the striker, giving him the ability to provide cover for Feely. I admit to being concerned at a 6'3 forward with a ability rating of one for heading, but the versatility is more than welcome and if he plays on the wing then the heading won't matter a great deal. On social media however, there is some backlash that we have brought in a player that is unlikely to contribute anything on the park.

There is still time for one more new arrival, as 30 year old centre back Joshua Fitton arrives to boost our fragile defence. Standing 6'1, he has played the last four seasons at a higher level of football, firstly for Caldicot Town in the old Welsh League Division One, before moving on to spend the last three seasons with Undy Athletic, seven games with them being his highest appearances in a single season so far. I think describing him as a no-nonsense type of defender is not doing him a diservice, but again it's another signing that the fans consider a poor one. We'll see.

Our new players are all hoping to be involved when we take on Rassau in a midweek League game and our first away fixture of the campaign. Unbeaten in their two games to date with a win and a draw, they are the next door neighbour village in Ebbw Vale to Garnlydan who held us to a draw on the weekend, once more showing how many local derbies there are going to be in Division Four this season.

Wednesday 9th August

Gwent County Football League Division Four
Ebbw Vale Sports Centre, Ebbw Vale
Rassau v Newbridge Town
Joshua Ellis; Taylor Davies, Jason Stanley, Joshua Payne, Lewis Adams; Robbie Patten, Glynn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feely, Iwan Lloyd; Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Lee Chesire, James Aurelius (GK), Joshua Fitton, Nathan Arthur, Jai-Jnr Johnson, Dan Eedy, Tom Broder.

Joshua Ellis makes his debut in goal as we switch goalies in an attempt to try and plug our leaky defence. In the only other change to the starting lineup, Iwan Lloyd comes in for a debut of his own on the left wing in place of the injured Warren Evans. The other two new arrivals Joshua Fitton and Dan Eedy are both amongst the substitutes.

Both teams play with a very similar style and formation, and under the lights of the Ebbw Vale Sports Centre chances were at a premium in the early stages. In fact it took almost half an hour for anything of real note to happen, Glynn Hobbs sending over a cross from the right that debutant Iwan Lloyd headed against the cross bar. We had clearly tightened things up in our end at set pieces, but ruined all that work with an individual mistake on the half hour mark, Jason Stanley collecting the short distribution from our keeper and trying to find Hobbs who wasn't even looking in the same direction, the pass going right by him to Tim Williams who quickly passed to Scott Hughes and he found the bottom corner of the net. Clearly Lloyd took Tim Williams part in that move personally, as two minutes later on the touchline on halfway right in front of the dugouts he took out Williams with a ridiculous and crude two footed tackle that rightly saw him shown a straight red card. I moved us into a more counter attacking setup leaving Liam Williams and Lewis Davies further forward to make sure the floodgates didn't open, and while the hosts had much of the territory and all of the possession they weren't doing us any damage. With a little under twenty minutes to play I changed us back into our usual formation but with three centre backs instead of a flat back four, reasoning that we may as well lose by two or three with a fight than just roll over and lose by a goal. But finally in the 84th minute they found their second goal, Richard Spencer sending it long to Josh Williams on the right, and he moved into the box before sending a low cross towards the penalty spot where Jonathan Rowlands was waiting to apply the finish. Maybe Rassau relaxed too much at that point, as we immediately replied, Liam Williams twisting and turning on the right, earning his yard of room and crossing to the far post where the arriving debutant Dan Eedy was in position to jump earlier and higher than a static defender, his header just barely crossing the line behind Ilan Harvey after coming down from the underside of the bar. Unfortunately, a consolation is all it would prove to be though.

Rassau (1) 2 - Scott Hughes (30), Jonathan Rowlands (84)
Newbridge Town (0) 1 - Dan Eedy (85)
Attendance :- 30
Bookings :- Lewis Adams 15. Sent Off :- Iwan Lloyd 32

While being a man down for an hour isn't exactly a fair test, we remain unable to stop the issues in defence even when the goals are not coming from set pieces. While we are clearly very capable of scoring goals ourselves, we are currently needing to score two or three each game to get anything out of it at all. It's not a situation that can carry on, we need to bring that down by half at least or better yet if possible.

Iwan Lloyd's keeness to make an impression on his debut didn't go to plan at all, and the winger crossed the line and cost his team. Ironically when Dan Eedy came off the bench and played out on the left wing as we tried to salvage something in the latter part of the game, he did really well and also proved that at 6'3 he can absolutely head the ball and that low rating could be a myth, or a mistake. With Lloyd now suspended for a game, he will have to watch on and see if Eedy can show him how it's done next time out.

Another injury has cropped up, Robbie Patten had to come off with an ankle issue, though it doesn't appear to be anything more than bruising and he shouldn't miss any game time.

15 year old Kieran Jones has become our latest signing. Recommended during a recruitment meeting with the Scouts, the teenager doesn't turn 16 until mid October and we will be his first Senior club. Blessed with high levels of pace and acceleration, he's a defenders nightmare to be quite honest with you, meaning our already tortured defence doesn't need to wait until matchday to get made to look second rate, they simply have to turn up to training to be schooled by someone who still needs a babysitter when his parents go to the pub. He rejected a late hijack bid from JD Cymru South side Baglan Dragons, believing he has better First Team prospects with us at Newbridge. The fans are delighted, they think the Newport based right winger could be a potential star at Hendy Park. He is joined by 16 year old left back Hassan Ali who has also joined the club. An Aberdare born Welsh/Somali, he also has zero experience of Senior football, and is very balanced in that it's hard to describe him as either an attacking full/wing back or overly defensive. He's a depth signing that I was talked into as I was convinced that he could actually become a very good player as he matures and gets some games.

One of the defenders who will be looking to stop young Jones in training is another new arrival at the club. 24 year old Lewis Baldwin was a youngster with first Cardiff City and then Merthyr Town, failing to make a First Team appearance for either. He had some limited First Team experience in the JD Cymru Premier with Carmarthen Town, before moving on to sit largely on the sidelines with Pontypridd United and Penybont. He spent last season in the JD Cymru South with Barry Town United, featuring just once. After being overlooked by higher profile teams and seeing the season start without managing to secure a club, the 6'2 centre back has been convinced to drop down the levels and turn out for us. It should be a great signing, if only based on the quality of clubs that were said to be interested, though of course none of them actually finalised a deal. Did they see something we missed, or was it the other way around?

Hoping to break into the back line with Baldwin is 20 year old Steffan Jenkins. The 6'4 centre back was supposed to start the season with Trefelin Boys & Girls Club of the JD Cymru South, but they appeared to have developed cold feet over signing the defender who had played the previous two seasons with Seven Sisters, making almost forty League appearances for them having previously been on the books of Briton Ferry Llansawel. The scouts say that his decision making and good positioning are qualities that could help us turn the corner with our suffering defence. If this doesn't work I might just waterlog the pitch before every game until teams get sick of us and just hand the points over!

We face Mathern next in the League. If we think we have problems in defence, they are nothing to those of the side relegated from the Gwent County Third Division last season. They shipped eight goals in their two opening games at home in successive loses, before conceding two more during a 3-2 away day win last time out against Garnlydan. That win leaves them one point, one place and one win better off than us, and reputation alone I suspect has made them the favourites for our midweek trip out towards the border, and the Thornwell Pavilion that Mathern share with several other local clubs. You'd expect there to be goals in this one. Bryanmawr United beat bottom of the table Blackrock Rovers last night away from home to move up into sixth and shuffle both teams another place down the table.

Wednesday 16th August

Gwent County Football League Division Four
Thornwell Pavilion, Chepstow
Mathern v Newbridge Town
James Aurelius; Taylor Davies, Steffan Jenkins, Joshua Payne, Lewis Adams; Jai-Jnr Johnson, Glynn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feely, Dan Eedy; Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Lee Cheshire, Joshua Ellis (GK), Lewis Baldwin, Joshua Fitton, Nathan Arthur, Kieran Jones, Tom Broder.

James Aurelius reclaims his spot in goal for this game, while there is a debut at centre back for Steffan Jenkins with Jason Stanley left out of the squad this evening. Despite Robbie Patten being passed fit to play some part at least, I didn't risk him and Jai-Jnr Johnson instead starts in the midfield, with Dan Eedy also starting on the left with Iwan Lloyd suspended. New signings Lewis Baldwin and teenage winger Kieran Jones are included amongst the subs and are in line for debuts.

You can see why Mathern concede so many goals. They are happy to allow crosses to be bombarded into their penalty box despite not being very good at dealing with them. We had already given them a warning shot when Sean Feely just missed the target with a header from a corner, but their reprieve was brief. From a 15th minute short throw in, left back Lewis Adams whipped in a cross to the far post, where even under tall winger Liam Williams was winning his share of headers, and he powered home a downward header from close range. We quickly made that two, a cross only partially cleared and came back into the right channel of the box for Lewis Davies, his deflected cross to the far post saw the defender fail to match Dan Eedy's run and he smashed the ball home from close range. Two in as many minutes had us in absolute control, but we're not exactly water tight at the back ourselves, as Mathern proved straight from the kick off, Andy Rees sending the ball over our back four and Lewis Jones raced onto it, drawing James Aurelius off his line before guiding his shot by him and halving the deficit within seconds. Thankfully, we didn't collapse as we have shown ourselves capable of doing in the past weeks, and in the 26th minute we had our two goal cushion back, once more there was only a partial clearance from a free kick this time, and Adams was only too happy to send a cross right back in, this time picking out Feely who found the net with an unstoppable header from close range. We continued to throw in the crosses, why wouldn't we, Eedy sending a looping header onto the roof of the net. Mathern had clearly had a good talking to at the break, and Aurelius was called into action after the restart, particularly when being forced to scramble across his goal and tip over a top corner bound volley, and then getting down low to tip a shot around the post after a mis-control from Taylor Davies in his own box. Lewis Davies took a knock and while he said he was fine to continue, I wasn't prepared to risk him and with a reshuffle I gave a Senior Debut to 15 year old winger Kieran Jones, albeit out of position, as he went to left wing with Feely up front and Eedy behind him. There would also be a debut for Lewis Baldwin later in the half. With the game all over as a contest, our last two subs took centre stage during injury time to add a bit of gloss to the performance and the scoreline, firstly Lee Cheshire connecting with Liam Williams corner at the near post in the 92nd minute and sending his header crashing in off the underside of the bar, before in the 95th minute Nathan Arthur's cross was deflected beyond the far post, teenage debutant Kieran Jones retrieving it and then picking out Tom Broder with a pull back, and he sent his shot across goal and into the far corner to round off a perfect evening for us in the shadows of the original Severn Bridge.

Mathern (1) 1 - Lewis Jones (18)
Newbridge Town (3) 5 - Liam Williams (15), Dan Eedy (17), Sean Feely (26), Lee Cheshire (90+2), Tom Broder (90+5)
Attendance :- 191
Bookings :- None

At the fourth attempt we get our first win on the board, and we did so with a spectacular performance that I now want to see a lot more of from us. We were super clinical, and stuck to the game plan of causing havoc in the Mathern box with crosses that we were told well in advance they were ill equipped to deal with.

With a goal and an assist to his name, Liam Williams was named man of the match, while Sean Feely found the net once again, as did Dan Eedy in his first start for the club. The opportunity to give some game time to 15 year old Kieran Jones was there to be taken, and he marked the occasion with an assist in injury time as well. At this level of football, and let's be realistic, it is basically park football and only a step or two above Sunday League, we must not be afraid to give youngsters a chance. And we won't be, which is just as well, as our scouts seem pretty adept at picking them out......

16 year old Philip Jones is from Merthyr Tydfil, part of a family who live on a notorious estate and have their heritage and historical roots in Northern Ireland. He has always been ahead of his age group football wise. But he has a reputation as a trouble maker, kicked out of every school he has been to, and in trouble with the law. Will time around a Senior Football Club and older players allow Philip to mature and break the cycle that at this rate would almost certainly see him end in young offenders or even prison? No other club has been willing to take the chance on the volatile and confrontational winger who can play either side of the park. He's now getting his chance at Newbridge Town.

The exact opposite of Phil Jones is 16 year old Finley Davies. A left winger who has had a fairly privileged upbringing in Brecon, the scouts believe he is probably the best of the teenagers that we have brought in so far. He's a straight 'A' student who will play football around his continued studies, he is described by everyone as an absolute pleasure to deal with, the kind of lad you hope your daughter brings home to meet the family as her first boyfriend. It will be an interesting dynamic between some of these youngsters, you can't help but wonder how Philip Jones and Finley Davies are going to get on and find common ground as potential team mates!

Our first win on the board moves us back up into the safe mid table area, and we have three games left in August, starting next midweek with a return home to start a trio of games in a week, first facing a winless Fleur-De-Lys Welfare team, then travelling to face Blackwood Town before finishing the month against rock bottom Blackrock Rovers.

[neilhoskins77]

The appearance from the bench against Mathern last time out has meant that Kieran Jones has become the youngest player at 15 years and 302 days in both the history of Newbridge Town, and of the Gwent County Football League Division Four.

We start our run in to the end of August this weekend with the opening of a trio of fixtures, a visit from Fleur-De-Lys Welfare. There is a mutual respect between managers at the club it would seem. In the build up I tell the press that Welfare are lucky to have a guy like Lee Jarman at the helm, and given time he will turn the Trelyn Park club around after they have gone winless in their opening four. In return Jarman stated that he had seen a few Newbridge games, and admired the way we set ourselves up and played attractive football. I'm hoping he's right and that we can put on an attractive show against them and notch a second consecutive win.

Wednesday 23rd August

Gwent County Football League Division Four
Hendy Park, Newbridge
Newbridge Town v Fleur-De-Lys Welfare
James Aurelius; Taylor Davies, Joshua Fitton, Joshua Payne, Lewis Adams; Jai-Jnr Johnson, Glynn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feely, Warren Evans; Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Lee Cheshire, Joshua Ellis (GK), Lewis Baldwin, Finley Davies, Dan Eedy, Kieran Jones, Tom Broder.

Steffan Jenkins is left out of the matchday lineup this evening, with Joshua Fitton moving up into the team from the bench and one less defender selected amongst the bench personnel to allow the selection of teenager Finley Davies. There is a return on the left wing for Warren Evans who passed a fitness test, though I was warned that he wasn't fit for a full ninety minute run out. Dan Eedy drops down to the bench as a result, and Nathan Arthur sits this one out.

We were very ambitious to get a win here, largely due to in depth scouting reports that told us Welfare are not a very good side, particularly at the back. Just like Mathern last time out, you could see right from the off that Welfare have issues, and Lee Jarman cut a frustrated figure early on, even more so when his team fell behind. Not one or two, but three Fleur-De-Lys players missed the chance to deal with Lewis Adams corner as it came through the penalty box, instead Glynn Hobbs sidefooted it home at the far post to open his account for the club and put us a goal to the good. We would have a chance to increase that lead from the penalty spot, Lewis Davies barged over by Ifan Cotterill and the ref awarded the spot kick, but Davies effort was weak and Luka Polegek made a comfortable save. Good attacking play from our guests saw their best chance come before the break, a low cross from the right was placed ideally away from the retreating defenders, but Adi Lee smashed a low shot into the side netting. Instead it would be us who would increase our lead as the hour mark approached and we were bombarding the Welfare box with set piece deliveries. One saw sub Dan Eedy produce the required piece of magic, his low cross from the right picking out Hobbs on the edge of the box who drove a low shot inside the far post for his second of the evening. We should have added more, Jai-Jnr Johnson sent an effort over the bar while Lewis Davies connected with a header from teenage debutant winger Finley Davies' cross that brought another good save from Polegek. By the end, we were more than happy to ensure we kept hold of our clean sheet and no more, as we earned a second consecutive win.

Newbridge Town (1) 2 - Glynn Hobbs (7,59)
Fleur-De-Lys Welfare (0) 0
Attendance :- 248
Bookings :- None

Glynn Hobbs first goals in Newbridge colours bring us a win that nudges us up the table and into fourth spot and we're starting to build a bit of momentum now. That clean sheet was quite a relief as we haven't looked capable of managing that so far this season. Hopefully it's more of a relection on our improvement, and not how bad Fleur-De-Lys are. With Blackrock Rovers getting their first win of the season, Lee Jarman sees his Welfare side drop to the foot of the League tonight.

The game also brought a debut for Finley Davies on the left wing, the sixteen year old almost marking his Senior Football bow with an assist, skinning an opponent down the touchline and sending in a cross that Lewis Davies got on goal. Had that gone in he would have matched Kieran Jones' debut, and Jones also got another outing from the bench tonight.

It's a quick turnaround for our next match, a weekend trip to nearby Blackwood Town, a team who we leapfrogged in the week as they were held to a draw by Garnlydan. We sit fourth and fifth respectively with identical records, and us ahead only by virtue of our better goal difference. Lewis Davies cruised through a fitness test with no problems having got a kick late on in the midweek game. Warren Evans is passed fit too, though his came with a warning that his match sharpness still needed work and the medical team recommended limiting his involvement to 75 minutes should we opt to use him.

Saturday 26th August

Gwent County Football League Division Four
Blackwood Comprehensive School, Blackwood
Blackwood Town Boys & Girls Club v Newbridge Town
James Aurelius; Taylor Davies, Lewis Baldwin, Joshua Payne, Hassan Ali; Jai-Jnr Johnson, Glynn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feely, Finley Davies; Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Jason Stanley; Joshua Ellis (GK), Robbie Patten, Philip Jones, Dan Eedy, Kieran Jones, Matthew Thomas.

Rotation is required during this heavy schedule, and Lewis Baldwin comes in for Joshua Fitton at centre back, while Lewis Adams is rested and there is a Senior Football debut for 16 year old Hassan Ali. Further up that left flank there is a chance for another teenager as Finley Davies gets a chance to show what he can do with his first opportunity to start. On the bench, Jason Stanley, Robbie Patten and Matthew Thomas return, with Lee Cheshire and Tom Broder left out of the matchday squad today, while another young potential debutant in Senior Football is also amongst the substitutes as Philip Jones is called into the squad for the less than ten minute hop west for this game.

Set pieces were our weapon of choice here as we had put so much work into them on the training ground. Glynn Hobbs had the first crack with a curling free kick that ruffled the roof of the net as it flew over the goal frame. Better luck would come from a corner in the 19th minute though, debutant Hassan Ali's first effort wasn't great, but the ball came back to him and he sent a much better cross in this time, Hobbs meeting it at the far post with a downward header that beat the keeper at his post and gave us a lead. We should have had a quick second when Ali linked up with Finley Davies down the left and he showed some dazzling footwork to beat two markers before whipping in a cross that Liam Williams volleyed wide. We had been the better side by a mile in that first half and I was looking for more of the same in the second half. I largely got that too, as we continued to pass the ball around neatly and dominate possession, giving Blackwood a bit of an education in the art at the Comprehensive School. I was confident enough to start emptying the subs bench, but it was very noticeable how agitated Philip Jones was at being left sat there. I left him there a while longer, before eventually bringing him into the game, but not before putting an arm around his shoulder and telling him to enjoy himself and show everyone what he can do. The kid relaxed immediately, and took his confidence onto the park shortly after Sean Feely had failed to trouble the keeper with his shot after a superb run late on in proceedings. With six minutes to play Taylor Davies found Philip in acres of space down the left wing. The teenager beat his marker for pace before a deep cross that switched the play to Kieran Jones, his cut back to Dan Eedy was cleared off the line and out for a corner though. No problem though, as Kieran's inswinging corner beat the first cluster of players and found Philip on the edge of the six yard box, and he gleefully thumped a close range volley high into the net to settle the game and introduce himself to Senior Football in Wales!

Blackwood Town Boys & Girls Club (0) 0
Newbridge Town (1) 2 - Glynn Hobbs (17), Philip Jones (85)
Attendance :- 37
Bookings :- None

Now that was a very encouraging afternoon. Glynn Hobbs scoring again, debutant Hassan Ali teeing him up as part of his man of the match winning first outing, Kieran Jones notching another assist this afternoon, Philip Jones taking my words on board and producing a devastating seventeen minute cameo appearance that included a debut goal, and James Aurelius with a confidence boosting second successive clean sheet and this one not even requiring a save of any note.

We're up to third in the table, and some of the more established players at the club are going to have quite some job on their hands keeping these newly arrived teenagers from stealing their places in the lineup. Not a bad problem to have from a managers point of view though I'm sure you'd agree! At 16 years and 20 days of age, Philip Jones has become the youngest goalscorer in the history of the club and Division Four.

We'll complete our August schedule with a return to Hendy Park for a midweek fixture with a Blackrock Rovers side that were 'rock' bottom of the Gwent Division Four as recently as a week or so ago. However a 3-2 win away to Ashvale, followed up by Sunday lunchtime 2-0 home triumph over Garnlydan has moved them up into ninth place and within reach of the mid table pack. This game has been highlighted by the media as the game of the round to watch out for.

Wednesday 30th August

Gwent County Football League Division Four
Hendy Park, Newbridge
Newbridge Town v Blackrock Rovers
James Aurelius; Taylor Davies, Steffan Jenkins, Joshua Payne, Lewis Adams; Jai-Jnr Johnson, Glynn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feely, Finley Davies; Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Jason Stanley, Joshua Ellis (GK), Robbie Patten, Philip Jones, Warren Evans, Kieran Jones, Matthew Thomas.

There is a return into the back four for Steffan Jenkins and Lewis Adams this evening, with Lewis Baldwin and Hassan Ali dropping out of the squad for this game. The only other change is amongst the substitutes with Warren Evans brought in for bench duty in place of Dan Eedy.

Talk about a flying start, Rovers first touch of the ball was to pick it out of there net as Liam Williams made a driving run infield off his right wing and then slipping in a through ball that Sean Feely let run by him to eliminate the defence and then lifted it over the advancing keeper into the far corner to give us the lead with just 23 seconds on the clock. That set the tone for the evening as we dominated proceedings, seeing a huge amount of possession and basically not giving Rovers a sniff. Both Feely and Williams brought smart saves out of Jack Small as the advantage was kept at just one, but we finally managed to increase the lead before the break. Lewis Adams sent in the latest cross from the left, and Lewis Davies and a defender maybe got in Small's way and prevented him claiming the cross, which he spilled right to Williams who found the net despite the desperate effort of the defender on the line to keep it out. As a summer downpour moved over the ground, the surface became almost as slick as our passing as we continued as we were after the break, and Finley Davies was certainly enjoying himself, seeing plenty of the ball and making some great runs as his team mates seemed to be actively trying to get the teenager on the scoresheet. He was eventually replaced as the subs made their way into the game, and Warren Evans almost showed him how it was done as he crashed a curling shot off the cross bar. But in the dying seconds and with Rovers minds seemingly on their trip home, Adams whipped in another of those crosses from deep on the left, and with the ball clearing all the defenders it landed on the head of Matthew Thomas who guided it home with a downward header to add a little polish to the scoreline and netting his first goal in Newbridge colours.

Newbridge Town (2) 3 - Sean Feely (1), Liam Williams (45), Matthew Thomas (90+3)
Blackrock Rovers (0) 0
Attendance :- 37
Bookings :- None

Almost 70% of the possession tells it's own story. Rovers may as well have brought their own football with them, as we weren't giving them a kick of ours. We were dominant in every aspect. But for a superb individual performance from Liam Williams on the opposite wing, it may well have been a man of the match outing for Finley Davies who was certainly strutting his stuff this evening at Hendy Park in a performance that belied his young age.

That win moves us up into second, and we have had a superb last couple of weeks and looked like the class of the Division. Maybe we are and a few extra weeks together have simply increased our cohesion. Maybe we are just ahead of the game with the signings coming in far earlier than they have for other clubs, some of which are still searching for a manager never mind players. It's a long old season at this level with a lot of games to be played. We won't be counting our chickens here.

[neilhoskins77]

At 34 years old, Irish midfielder John O'Donovan has become one of the older players we have signed to try and help us escape the bottom tier of the county-wide football pyramid here in Wales. In his prime O'Donovan was considered a star player, but despite now being termed as a veteran he has only played thirty League games in his career, returning fifteen goals from them and all were with Penrhyndeudraeth. In fact all of his football has been played in the North, and his move into the South area will also see him play football in this part of the Principality for the first time.

Even more of a veteran is 37 year old striker Mark Godfrey, who has also signed for us. He has played his entire career, which it should be noted has been very stop and start, with Llanystumdwy and has come to us with the knowledge that if he fits in well there could be a backroom opportunity awaiting him. Besides that, he is also a clinical finisher and offers a different option up front to the more finesse style of Lewis Davies.

Tomorrow we play away from home against Twyn Y Ffald Blues. It's another very short trip for us to the Blackwood based club who go into the weekend sat in 8th position in the Gwent County Fourth Division with their only win to date coming against the early leaders and our closest geographical rivals in this Division, Fields Park Athletic, who we face next. Twyn Y Ffald have lost only twice from their seven games, so are certainly the early draw specialists.

One player who won't be waiting on news of the team selection for tomorrow is Callum Holden, as the 28 year old right winger has today been released from the club. With multiple options on both wings now present at the club, Holden was deemed surplus to requirements, and the decision was made to cut him loose this morning. He played two competitive games for us, both from the substitutes bench, and with an average rating of 6.6. Best of luck to Callum with his next club.

Saturday 2nd September

Gwent County Football League Division Four
St David's Road, Blackwood
Twyn Y Ffald Blues v Newbridge Town
James Aurelius; Taylor Davies, Jason Stanley, Joshua Payne, Lewis Adams; Robbie Patten, Glyn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feely, Finley Davies, Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Lewis Baldwin, Joshua Ellis (GK), Jai-Jnr Johnson, Philip Jones, John O'Donovan, Kieran Jones, Matthew Thomas.

So we make the short hop into next door Blackwood once again for this Saturday afternoon fixture and our opening match of September. Steffan Jenkins is rotated back out of the squad with Jason Stanley returning to the lineup, while Robbie Patten switches with Jai-Jnr Johnson and starts todays game in midfield. Warren Evans is also left behind in Newbridge this afternoon, with John O'Donovan making the trip and named amongst the substitutes as he hopes to make his debut after signing this week.

A poor early pass out from James Aurelius had us on the back foot in the third minute, the ball turned over and quickly came back into our box where Jason Stanley unwisely left his feet in an attempt to win it back and conceded a penalty. Aurelius would make amends though, flinging himself to his right to stop Jason Harrison's effort and clutching hold of the ball with the second grasp too! After that early scare we quickly settled into our normal flow, slick passing springing Finley Davies on the left, his cross headed over by Lewis Davies. We had made a change to put Robbie Patten on free kicks, and he thumped a curling 25 yard dead ball effort against the upright as we started to pin the Blues back. Then in the 14th minute Lewis Williams was instrumental as we took the lead, firstly running the ball out from the back, and then when he received it back, standing up a cross to the far post that Finley Davies arrived to head back across goal and inside the far post for his first ever Senior goal. We were bossing our hosts now, and the teenage goalscorer was going right through his bag of tricks to thoroughly annoy both the locals and Blues defenders in equal measures, Ross Andrews having to tip the ball wide when he tried a speculative long range curler. Williams had two failed chances to increase the lead before the break, but we were dominant in every way with the exception of the scoreboard. That was addressed quickly after the restart though, Williams corner cleared back out to Finley Davies, and he picked out Stanley who's header was initially saved, but as Lewis Davies and a defender fought over the loose ball it came back into the path of Stanley who lashed it high into the roof of the net for his first Town goal. A Sean Feely effort required another save from Andrews, and led to a string of corners as we looked to increase our lead, something that would eventually come in the 78th minute as another recycled set piece saw Lewis Adams tee up Finley Davies near the corner of the box, and he drove his low shot beyond the dive of Andrews to notch his second of the game, taking his leave shortly after as I emptied the bench to get on some fresh legs and give some lads some game time, another teenager almost getting on the scoresheet as Kieran Jones was played in on goal and lifted his shot over Andrews only to see it come back off the post.

Twyn Y Ffald Blues (0) 0
Newbridge Town (1) 3 - Finley Davies (14,78), Jason Stanley (47)
Attendance :- 35
Bookings :- Lewis Baldwin 84

That is now four consecutive clean sheets, but it was Finley Davies' performance that was deservedly recognised with the man of the match award today. He was one of five players that came off in one go in the 79th minute, right after his second goal. When asked after the game why I brought him off, I replied that I was worried that someone might take exception to the way he was gliding through the defence constantly and make a genuine attempt to injure him.

That win takes us above Fields Park Athletic as they are held to a one apiece home draw by Garnlydan. We'll face the now second placed team at Hendy Park on Wednesday evening. Technically it would be a 'derby', but with one or two exceptions pretty much every game we have played so far would be classed as a 'derby' game. But to us, this one really matters. They are the only other club from Newbridge in the Gwent County Fourth Division, so this is for bragging rights in this valley town.

On the day of the game the local independent bookmaker is very much hedging his bets, but has the visiting Fields Park side as the narrow favourites despite being managerless and also despite our superb recent form. The Board at Hendy Park having been saying since the weekend that they would be happy with a draw.

Wednesday 6th September

Gwent County Football League Division Four
Hendy Park, Newbridge
Newbridge Town v Fields Park Athletic
James Aurelius; Taylor Davies, Jason Stanley, Joshua Payne, Lewis Adams; Robbie Patten, Glyn Hobbs; Liam Williams, Sean Feely, Finley Davies, Lewis Davies.
Substitutes :- Lewis Baldwin, Joshua Ellis (GK), Jai-Jnr Johnson, Philip Jones, Mark Godfrey, Kieran Jones, Matthew Thomas.

Gameday for the 'Newbridge Derby', and a bumper attendance is in the ground for this midweek evening fixture. No really, there are over fifty people here for this one. Just one change tonight and it's amongst the substitutes as John O'Donovan is rotated back out and Mark Godfrey is into the squad, the veteran in line to make his Newbridge debut tonight.

This had been billed as a close game, but we made an absolute mockery of that suggestion! In the 6th minute Joshua Payne headed a long ball upfield clear, picking out young Finley Davies in midfield. The youngster brought the ball down, spun past a defender and used his acceleration to sprint between two more and into the box before curling a low shot around David Jones dive and inside the far post to open the scoring with a spectacular individual goal. And they would keep coming too. Five minutes later a team effort saw the ball won back and played gradually through the team and up the park before being sent out to Liam Williams in space on the right wing. He beat his man for pace on the outside and sent over a cross that Sean Feely couldn't quite reach, but Lewis Davies did, sweeping home from close range to double our lead. Number three would come as the mid point of the half approached, Williams corner was cleared back out, but between him and Finley they would get it back into the box and the former would cut it back to Glynn Hobbs who's deflected effort found its way into the net. Sit on our lead a bit? Not a chance! Number four came moments later, Feeley starting a counter attack that Finley joined in with, before sending it back to Feeley in the box and his emphatic powerful finish for his fifth of the season clicked the scoreboard over once more. This was becoming a rout, and number five came right from the kick off, Feeley involved once again with a powerful run, and while they got the ball off him this time, it broke loose into the path of Williams who's low drive was probably heading wide until defender Joshua Jones stuck out a foot to try and clear, the pace of the ball instead seeing it ricochet off his boot and spin high into the top corner to increase the Fields Park misery! Outrageously we would have to wait almost another ten minutes for another goal, but it duly arrived ten minutes before the break, Taylor Davies looping cross headed home at the far post by Finley with the aid of some poor goalkeeping by Jones in the visitors goal. The next ten minute spell would see us miss several more chances to increase our lead still further, oh and James Aurelius got what I believe was his first touch of the ball as he claimed a cross. Sorry, I nearly forgot, we also scored out seventh goal too, Feely intercepting a loose pass in the centre circle and sending Lewis Davies into a one on one with a defender, the striker using his opponent to disguise his intention from the goalie, and then shooting low from 20 yards out and picking out the bottom corner to notch his second of the evening. With such a commanding lead it was always likely that the second half would be considerably quieter, but we did improve the scoreline ten minutes after the restart, a partially cleared corner was lobbed back towards the far post by Finley, and Jason Stanley got his name on the scoresheet with a powerful header back across goal. The bench was emptied in the 65th minute as the second half progressed to allow some of the players on the sideline to experience this incredible Derby Day, and one of them would add the finishing touch as well. After Jai-Jnr Johnson, Philip Jones and Matthew Thomas had all come close to netting themselves, it would be debututant Mark Godfrey who would get the ninth goal with an unstoppable volley from the corner of the box with just two minutes left to play. What a day!

Newbridge Town (7) 9 - Finley Davies (6,35), Lewis Davies (11,43), Glynn Hobbs (22), Sean Feely (24), Joshua Jones (25 og), Jason Stanley (56), Mark Godfrey (88)
Fields Park Athletic (0) 0
Attendance :- 54
Bookings :- None

That is how you put your closest rivals in their place, as Fields Park were sent back across town very much with their tails between their legs. While I wouldn't say I'm surprised we have given someone an absolute battering, I am surprised at who it was on the receiving end. Athletic had come into this evenings match in second spot, and they have now slipped down to third spot after Ashvale won to overhaul them while we went four points clear at the top. Ashvale are one of the two teams we haven't met yet, and they are coming up soon on our schedule.

With two goals and two assists on the evening, there is no surprise that Finley Davies is selected as the Player of the Round in the Gwent Fourth Division, and he now has four goals and three assists in just five competitive matches for the club. While I'm now afforded something approaching god-like status with the clubs Board for our start to the season, we must be wondering how long we will be able to keep gifted young gems like Finley at Hendy Park.