neilhoskins77

Wednesday 12th October 2016 A large drop of fourteen places in the latest edition of the FIFA World Rankings sees us sent back down to 126th place. Northern Ireland are among the nations that are now ahead of us in the Rankings, while Asian nations such as Malaysia, Kuwait, Thailand and Turkmenistan have also overtaken us. Sunday 16th October A huge blow for Santosh Hakkim, who is injured in training today and is now ruled out of contention for a place in the host nations squad for the Asian Under-19 Championship Finals just twenty four hours before the squad is due to be named. The 20 year old left winger has been a regular for East Bengal in the early part of the season and would almost certainly have been included in that squad selection. AFC 2016 Asian Under-19 Championship Finals For just the second time in this history of this tournament that dates back to 1959, India will host the 39th edition of the Asian Under-19 Football Championships. That last time was in 2006, which saw a shock Champion crowned as North Korea defeated Japan in the Final to win their first Title. The tournament is a bi-annual event, though it started out as an annual event before re-calibrating in the late 1970's. India's history in this tournament is poor I'm sorry to report. Their best result came all the way back in the 1970's where they finished Runner's-Up first to the nation then known as Burma when the event was hosted by the Philippines. That was the last of Burma's four successes in a five year spell after a previous five year spell that had seen them been Runner's-Up on four occasions. India would then reach the Final once again in 1974, only to be beaten in Thailand by Iran during a spell of domination for them. In fact this tournament has history for seeing nations produce spells of domination. Before Burma there were success windows during the 1960's for first South Korea and then Israel in this tournament. Then after Burma came Iran's so far unmatched feat of four Title's in a row in the 1970's, where they actually reached five consecutive Finals. That was followed by back to back successes for first Iraq and then South Korea as we moved into the 1980's and the move to bi-annual tournaments. China and Saudi Arabia would then pick up maiden Titles, with Syria springing a surprise in '94 with their shock triumph before North Korea did the same a dozen years later. That shock victory for them in 2006 was the start of this current spell that has seen five different winners for the first time in any five year rolling period of this event. That spell included first wins for Australia after their move from the Oceanic football federation, and believe it or not, Japan, the current holders who won the last edition in 2014 as they hosted for the third time. Will a previous winner add another tournament victory to their nations history? Will we see a sixth different winner in as many tournaments for the first time in the fifty seven year history of the Asian Under-19 Championships? Could host nation India win it for the first time ever?...… Monday 17th October **SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT** India Under-20 Squad for the AFC Asian Under-19's Championship Finals | Name | Position | Club |Height| Age | Value | International Status | | Ganesh Aerts | GK | La Louvière (BEL) | 6'0" | 19 | £1K | Capped at U-23 Level | | Lee Chi Man | GK | Mumbai FC | 5'10"| 16 | - | Uncapped | | Mohammed Babu | GK | Celje (SVN) | 5'9" | 19 | £3K | 5 Under-21 Caps/0 Goals | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | David Doyle | D RC | Mohammedan | 5'6" | 18 | - | Uncapped | | Goutam Pereira | D RC | Mahindra Utd | 5'9" | 19 | - | Capped at U-19 Level | | Saiful Islam Al-Mamun | D C | Churchill Bros | 5'11"| 20 | - | Uncapped | | Sher Gonsalves | D C | FC Kochin | 5'9" | 20 | - | Capped at U-19 Level | | Harvinder Kumar | D/WB L | Madras Sporting Union | 5'9" | 18 | - | Capped at U-19 Level | | Jason Singh | D/WB L | Vasco | 5'7" | 16 | £16K | Uncapped | | Anwar | D/M C | East Bengal | 5'10"| 19 | £3K | 5 Under-21 Caps/0 Goals | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Amit Singh | DM, M C | - | 5'10"| 18 | - | 11 Senior Caps/0 Goals | | Sanjay Singh | D LC, M L | Indian Telephone SC | 5'7" | 18 | - | 7 Senior Caps/0 Goals | | Anthony Ansari | M C | Churchill Bros | 5'6" | 20 | £1K | Uncapped | | Ripon | M C | Goan SC | 5'9" | 19 | £5K | Uncapped | | Shahidul Islam Rana | AM R | Churchill Bros | 5'8" | 19 | £1K | 1 Under-21 Cap/0 Goals | | Giles Finn | AM RL, ST | East Bengal | 5'5" | 17 | - | Uncapped | | Mohammed Alam | AM L | Assam Dynamo | 5'9" | 20 | - | Uncapped | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Abdul Babu | AM/F C | JCT | 5'8" | 17 | - | Capped at U-19 Level | | Arman Kabir | ST | Mohammedan | 5'9" | 17 | £1K | Uncapped | | Mohammed Islam | ST | Air India | 5'9" | 18 | £12K | 1 Under-21 Cap/0 Goals | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ...okay, so lets call that last part very unlikely at best! It's unlikely we would have qualified for the Finals were we not hosting it, and our Group is a tough one. More about that later. It's a largely inexperienced group that will go to the Tournament, nine of the squad of twenty have played no International Football at all. Only two have played Senior International football, and one of them is currently without a club. So needless to say heroics here are going to be unlikely. Sixteen year old Lee Chi Man is a Hong Kong national who has just joined Mumbai FC, his first Senior club. He is joined by two more established keepers who are both plying their trade in Europe, particularly Mohammed Babu who has had a great start to life in Slovenia and second tier side NK Celje. Australian born defender David Doyle is yet to make his Senior bow for Mohammedan as his third season with them gets underway. His inclusion has the Geelong born 18 year old declared for India now. He'll be part of a defensive group that with only one exception is either uncapped or has not played any International Football higher than Under-19 level. It's the 'Singh's' who bring the experience to the midfield area. With eighteen Senior Caps between them, they will be the ones who we hope will bring the squad together and guide the youngsters through the tournament. Left winger Sanjay has continued to resist the lure of chances with more high profile domestic clubs and remains with the semi-professional Indian Telephone Industries Sports Club where he is the Captain. It's a slightly different story for Amit who is currently out of the game and hoping to impress some suitors during this tournament, including French top tier outfit AJ Auxerre who are said to be interested in securing his signature. At the other end of the spectrum is British/Indian attacking midfielder Giles Finn, a seventeen year old who was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon and is entering his first Senior football season with domestic heavyweight club East Bengal. Up front we have included eighteen year old Mohammed Islam who has already amassed almost fifty League appearances and has started the season with new club Air India with three goals in as many games. Seventeen year old Arman Kabir can match that with Mohammedan after failing to make his Senior debut last season.

Friday 30th September 2016 We will entertain Glenavon at The Showgrounds tomorrow afternoon, our first game of October will see us immediately go into a two week break after it. We're the bookmakers favourites against the side who sit one point and two places below us going into the month of October. They have won just once in the Premier Division this season, a home win over Dundela over a month ago now. They have seen more success in the All-Ireland Cup which has also produced a more recent home win over Glentoran. The squad depth at their club has taken a huge hit over the summer, a dozen leaving and only three coming in as reinforcements. I'm hoping we can add to their problems before heading into this short break. We have lost a little depth ourselves though on the eve of the game. 21 year old Scottish defensive midfielder John Robertson played for the Reserves team in their win over Ballymena United tonight and in an accidental collision has suffered a broken pelvis that will rule him out of up to six months, which would mean him being sidelined for all but the tail end of this campaign. It's a blow for a player who played twenty five times for us in the First Division in a season and a half since I arrived at the club. Saturday 1st October Northern Irish Premier Division The Showgrounds, Coleraine Coleraine v Glenavon Attendance :- 450. Weather :- Dry, 20c. This will be the clubs 21st meeting with Glenavon since this save began, but the first in almost three years. I go with the same starting lineup that earned a point in Dungannon last time out, but there are changes amongst the substitutes. Ryan Young and Stuart Shaw both make their returns to the matchday squad from injury, replacing Declan O'Hara and Gerry Nixon. It would be a disastrous start for us as our visitors opened the scoring inside five minutes with their first attack of the game. Following a short throw in on their right Shaun Hutchison released overlapping full back Kieran Duffie into acres of space, and his cross to the far post cut out everyone in the box with the exception of the arriving Ryan McIlmoyle who applied the finish. He would quickly almost add a second moments later when he was found unmarked from a set piece in the same spot but this time sent his header high and wide. Pat McIlroy would do the same at the other end when his link up play with Frank Nouble produced our first half chance, but we were being very careless with our possession of the football today. McIlroy would waste a better chance as the half hour mark approached, getting in front of his marker to get his head to a beautiful Dean Britton cross but he couldn't keep his header down. Ten minutes before the break a former player of mine, Jordan Baker, sent Joe Finlay into space and he beat Liam McLeary at his near post, but he hadn't beaten the offside trap and that one was chalked off to our relief. A poor first half then, and that would produce the hair dryer treatment at the break as I told the players that I expected a far better performance in the second half. They took that advice and went on the attack, Stuart Murray's header from a corner just glanced a little too much and missing the target before a dipping shot from Nouble didn't quite dip enough. When Nouble got the ball again in the 51st minute, he would lay it off this time to Gavin Whelan who sent in a through pass down the side of McIlroy that gave him the jump on his marker, and he made no mistake this time as he guided the ball beyond Tuda Murphy's dive and into the far corner to level the game up. Now we would see if either side had it about them to go on and win the game, Chris Ramsey's attempt with a 25 yard drive shortly before he was substituted producing a superb tip over from McLeary. At the other end some nice passing got us upfield quickly, but Ryan Nelthorpe's attempt at heroics were sadly lacking in direction. A triple change brought on fresh legs with Ryan Young, Chris Johnston and Stuart Shaw all coming on. It was Shaw's first appearance since his injury against Wrexham in late July, and he made an immediate impact. With ten minutes to play the Scot picked up the ball played square by McIlroy, held off Duffie and then curled his shot from the edge of the box out of Murphy's reach and into the top corner! Now we just had to hold on for ten minutes. We would manage only three minutes though, McIlmoyle with a cross from deep on the left and substitute Michael Hall was at the far post to volley home an equaliser and earn Glenavon a share of the spoils. Coleraine (0) 2 - Pat McIlroy (51), Stuart Shaw (80) Glenavon (1) 2 - Ryan McIlmoyle (5), Michael Hall (83) Liam McLeary; Tony Jones, Andy Dickinson, Stuart Murray (Ryan Young 77), Stewart Devine; Craig Dobson (Chris Johnston 77), Ryan Nelthorpe, Gavin Whelan, Dean Britton (Stuart Shaw 77); Frank Nouble, Pat McIlroy. Unused Substitutes :- Michael Haswell, Alan Dallas. Bookings :- None Possession :- 47% - 53%. Man of the Match :- Ryan McIlmoyle (Glenavon). My frustration at us dropping two points there was tempered with the knowledge that we deserved nothing based on our first half performance, so I guess that makes it a point earned as much as it is two left behind. But with other clubs around us picking up wins we are now pushed down into eighth spot, just a wins worth of points ahead of the Playoff spot, though the same distance away from second place. Plenty of football to be played yet of course, but we don't want to find ourselves having to dig our way out of the group at the bottom end of the table. The Board remain satisfied with how things are going at the club. Unbelievably the one negative factor they have picked out is our 1-0 defeat against the all conquering Linfield side, a club who spend more on a couple of players wages than we do on our whole squad. We lose almost another £28,000 in September, and the clubs debt is now £450,000. Maybe they should be more worried about that than losing to a club with an estimated value almost ten times ours. Sunday 2nd October Two of our players are called up for International Duty for next weeks games. Ryan Young is once again called up by The Gambia to play for their Senior side as they make the trip to Addis Ababa to conclude their FIFA World Cup African Zone Second Qualifying Round Group One campaign against Ethiopia. They are still hoping to qualify for the next stage as one of the best Runner-Up nations. Left winger Dean Britton has one cap for Wales at Under-21 level to date. He will be hoping to add to that number as the 20 year old is called up for their double header of Friendlies, which will be played firstly in Gøta against the Faroe Islands, followed by a trip to play Israel in Herzliya. Thursday 6th October Northern Ireland Under-21's have waited until lunchtime today to name their Squad for next weeks Friendly game against their counterparts from Malta in Lisburn. The call up for Pat McIlroy is not unexpected, the striker is a regular at that level and has eleven caps to his name for the oldest age group level for Ulster. However the call up of Chris Johnston is a surprise. Previously capped at Under-19 level, he was a regular for us in the last two seasons in the First Division, but the arrival of Craig Dobson has saw him make only one substitute appearance so far this season in competitive games. A quick look at the Squad suggests that he is the beneficiary of a weak area for the team managed by Steve Beaglehole. Friday 7th October Dean Britton comes off the bench for Wales Under-21's tonight in Gøta to earn his second cap at this level against the Faroe Islands. He came on an hour into the game that Wales won with a goal four minutes into injury time thanks to another substitute, Jim Wilson of Swansea City. Michael McCartney has returned to training today after missing several weeks with a thigh injury. Saturday 8th October Ryan Young has made his sixth Senior International Appearance today for The Gambia as they win 2-1 against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. The nineteen year old centre back played the entire game as Switzerland based striker Ibou found the net twice to earn the West African nation the win and a place in the next phase of Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup as one of the best Runner's-Up. They are placed in Group Four of that last phase, where five group winners will advance to represent Africa in the Finals. It will be a mighty task for The Gambia, as they are drawn with South Africa once again, as well as Guinea and Morocco. They have already overachieved by making the Third Round, a feat that more established nations such as Egypt and Zambia have failed to manage this time around. Tuesday 11th October Chris Johnston played sixty one minutes this evening on his debut at this age group level as Northern Ireland Under-21's were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Malta in Lisburn. There was also some game time for Pat McIlroy as he came off the bench in the 73rd minute to earn his 12th cap with this age group, but he was unable to find a way to break the deadlock. Thursday 13th October 21 year old defensive midfielder Dean Jones is back in training today. A new arrival at the club this season, former Charlton Athletic youngster Jones has made two appearances from the bench in competitive games so far this season after being a regular starter for Lurgan Celtic over the last two seasons in the Premier Division. Friday 14th October After a two week break we are back in action tomorrow afternoon with a home fixture against Institute. The Drumahoe based side have been a regular fixture in the Premier Division in recent years, now participating in the top tier for the fifth consecutive season. We go into the game as favourites, and a place lower than we were in as Glentoran win 3-0 away to Dundela tonight to kick off this round of the Premier Division. Saturday 15th October Northern Irish Premier Division The Showgrounds, Coleraine Coleraine v Institute Attendance :- 526. Weather :- Dry, 7c. Pat McIlroy plays the 50th League game of his young career this afternoon. Ryan Young returns to the starting lineup in the only change to the eleven, replacing Stuart Murray who is amongst the substitutes. That bench shows one further change, with Lee Ward brought back into the matchday squad following his own return from injury at the expense of Alan Dallas. Our best attendance of the season so far is present at The Showgrounds for this one today. Craig Dobson curled a shot wide of the target from a free kick on the edge of the box as we attempted to make a fast start. Instead we would fall behind, Jack Smith and Jake Woodward doing the work to earn space and play Sam Winnall into the left channel, and his low cross to was turned in by Sam Kearns in the 12th minute. Institute would then do what teams in Ulster often do after taking the lead, they would sit right back. Pat McIlroy sent a shot just over the bar right after the goal, and then the Under-21 International striker received the ball on the corner of the box and played in Frank Nouble who would find the far bottom corner of the net, his celebration cut short by the offside flag unfortunately. McIlroy sent an effort just past the top corner of the goal frame and Nouble forced Martin Weir into a point blank save as we continued to push for an equaliser. Dean Britton's effort to lob Weir when he wandered off his goal line was audacious given it was from the touchline on the halfway line. Better to stick to what we know, and Stewart Devine's 37th minute corner was glanced home off the near post by Andy Dickinson to level things up. Five minutes later and we had turned the game on it's head, Dobson found Nouble on the edge of the box and he played a reverse ball into McIlroy who stayed onside and lifted his shot over the onrushing Weir to put us ahead! That first half may not have started too brightly, but we certainly turned it around, and now Institute had to get back into the game against a side that were less keen to sit back. Devine sent a free kick just off target as we actually pushed to increase our advantage, Nouble just failing to get on the end of a Tony Jones cross and McIlroy putting too much on his finish as the hour mark approached. But Institute were making their way back into the game, Jones made a mistake that gave possession to Ryan Charles, but Liam McLeary bailed out his full back with a good stop to keep us in front. Charles would have another go from further out that would fail to work McLeary as I replaced a limping Dobson with Chris Johnston. Our guests were throwing players forward, and I made late changes to put more players at the back end, and while Institute continued to knock at the door, they were unable to find a way through. Coleraine (2) 2 - Andy Dickinson (37), Pat McIlroy (42) Institute (1) 1 - Sam Kearns (12) Liam McLeary; Tony Jones, Andy Dickinson, Ryan Young, Stewart Devine; Craig Dobson (Chris Johnston 78), Ryan Nelthorpe, Gavin Whelan, Dean Britton (Lee Ward 90+1); Frank Nouble (Stuart Murray 90+1), Pat McIlroy. Unused Substitutes :- Michael Haswell, Stuart Shaw Bookings :- None Possession :- 52% - 48%. Man of the Match :- Andy Dickinson (Coleraine). Andy Dickinson nets his fifth goal for the club since arriving at The Showgrounds almost two years ago, while Pat McIlroy scored for the fifth time this season as we return to winning ways and climb right back up to third spot in the Premier Division. While it is our first win in four, it does also leave us unbeaten in three, showing us as difficult to beat on our return to the top tier of Ulster football. We have three games left in October, all away from home, and two of them in the League before we come up against Institute once again, this time in Cup football.

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.

I'm already hooked. Best of luck with this one!

Friday 14th August 2009 After our midweek Cup exploits, we return to League football tomorrow afternoon with a home game against Peterhead the next in the diary. Our guests have played four games this season to date, with a fifty/fifty split of wins and losses. They have managed to split that equally between League and Cup games too, and in the Cups they have both performed and been on the end of giant killing feats. According to the bookies it's the home advantage that is making us the favourites for this fixture. Saturday 15th August Dumbarton v Peterhead Scottish Second Division Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton Midfielder Angelos Tsiaklis is brought into the squad as a substitute in the only change from last time out, and for a match that was even and fairly dour to start with. Peterhead had edged the early running when it came to chances, but they were from range and gave Rab Douglas no trouble at all. Midway through the half we had our first chance of note, Derek Carcary getting to the byline and cutting it right back to the edge of the box for Graham Alexander, his feint to shoot sucking in a few defenders and earning him the extra yard of space he wanted before letting fly, just barely missing the top corner. The next time we attacked would see a flurry of corners, Regillio Nootimeer's header was deflected away from goal, and when Darren Barnard sent over another delivery the Dutchman would connect again, this time more cleanly and it found the back of the net in the 34th minute, his first goal for the club. The first half had seen a spate of bookings, and before the break our skipper Gordon Lennon failed to heed the caution he already had, as he left a foot in as Jordan Topley tried to make his way into the box, a second yellow card sending Lennon for an early bath while we reorganised, Nooitmeer out to the right and Brian McGovern replacing striker Stephen McConalogue as we retreated to a 4-4-1. A now rare excursion forward early in the second half saw Barnard's cross find the head of Carcary, but with all the power already on the cross he couldn't guide his header home, missing the target. And Barnard would quickly be involved at the other end, the extra man telling as Williamson's diagonal pass into the box saw Barnard marking two players, and he picked the wrong one as Charlie King took the ball and beat Douglas at his near post to level. With over half an hour to play, a draw would be a result that we would take right now. With Stephen Murray now also on a booking, I took measures to patch up our left side, David Lowing and Marc Anthony replacing Barnard and Murray. After finding a way through once by using the extra man smartly, Peterhead had now reverted back to type and were shooting from range, with no success to speak of. Our attacking opportunities were slim, but there was always one option at our disposal, set pieces. And when we won an 84th minute corner, Alexander swung it over and picked out McGovern who muscled his way into space on the edge of the six yard box and connected with an unstoppable close range header that would win it for us late on as he became the second defender today to net his first Dumbarton goal! Dumbarton (1) 2 - Regillio Nooitmeer (34), Brian McGovern (84) Peterhead (0) 1 - Charlie King (55) Rab Douglas; Gordon Lennon ©, Regillio Nooitmeer, Alan Lithgow, Darren Barnard (David Lowing 71); Derek Carcary, Graham Alexander, Ryan McStay, Stephen Murray (Marc Anthony 71); Stephen McConalogue (Brian McGovern 42), Brian Carrigan. Attendance :- 1,289 Our highest attendance of the season were thoroughly entertained when it looked that would be unlikely in the opening quarter or so of this game. With the red card taken into account, that might even be our best performance of a very good start to the season as we showed great tenacity to win all three points when even getting a draw would have been a success as we played over half the game a man down. Gordon Lennon is fined a weeks wages for his red card, complaining he feels the punishment is unfair as it came for two yellows, whereas i felt his judgement to make that challenge when already on a yellow was worth the fine alone. With a suspension now to be served, he is allowing the very impressive Regillio Nooitmeer to take his spot back at right back, and if the Dutchman continues his impressive form, Lennon may be sat around waiting for an opportunity to claim it back. Right now, Nooitmeer looks a superb summer signing based on his early season outings. Monday 17th August Goalscoring defenders Regillio Nooitmeer and Brian McGovern are both included in the latest version of the Second Division Team of the Week. Thursday 20th August Attempts to improve our quality and depth at the club are doomed to failure today. Free agent and highly rated left sided 23 year old Ryan McCay has rejected our offer, instead signing for First Division club Morton. Interestingly, our offer matched, and in some ways exceeded that of the second tier club. We have also missed out on striker Johnny Russell, the highly rated Dundee United striker who we had to deal with last season during his loan spell with Forfar Athletic. We tried to get him to join us for the rest of the season on another loan deal, but he has instead accepted an offer to move south of the border on a temporary spell with Shrewsbury Town. Friday 21st August Tomorrow we begin a sequence of four consecutive away games, two in the League and two more in the Cup. In fact five of our next six are away from our own stadium. It's Stranraer first in the League, they have taken four points from their opening three games to date in the Second Division. Saturday 22nd August Stranraer v Dumbarton Scottish Second Division Stair Park, Stranraer The west coast of Scotland, and some very stereo-typical Scottish weather to welcome us, as it is absolutely pouring down here. The suspension of Gordon Lennon means that Regillio Nooitmeer moves back out to right back, and Brian McGovern steps into the lineup today, with Jim Lauchlan included in the matchday squad to fill the spare space on the bench. Otherwise, it is as you were for us. The first attack of the game would bring the opening goal, Graham Alexander combined with Brian Carrigan who in turn played the ball in front of Derek Carcary on the right. The winger beat his man to earn crossing room and sent it deep to the far post, picking out Stephen Murray who finished with a sidefoot volley to open his account for the season. A header from Simon Heslop at the other end hit the side netting before disaster struck. Carcary was on another attacking raid, twisting inside his marker and then outside. But on the second twist his studs stuck in the turf and the winger collapsed to the ground clutching his lower leg. After a few moments of treatment he would leave the park, not on the stretcher which was encouraging, but needing to be assisted all the same. We re-organised, Carrigan moving out to the wing and David Murray coming on to go up front for his first League action. The entire complex of the match had now changed though, and Stranraer had their tails up with the speed and skill of Carcary no longer a threat to them. Alan Lithgow had to intervene when a long cross came back across goal and Lee Bradbury was looking at a tap in. But after surviving through to the break, we wouldn't manage much further into the second half, Joe Dingwall sent the ball down the left for the overlapping Heslop and he sent a low cross towards the penalty spot where Paul Heckingbottom, the former Bradford City left back and new arrival for Stranraer, inexplicably found himself. He didn't get all of the connection he wanted on the shot, but just enough to squeeze it past Brian McGovern and under the dive of Rab Douglas as it rolled into the bottom corner. They seemed pretty content with their lot, and we were struggling to get anything going at all as a pretty bad tempered game at times meandered it's way to an inevitable draw. But I had more important things to worry about than dropping two points today. Stranraer (0) 1 - Paul Heckingbottom (53) Dumbarton (1) 1 - Stephen Murray (10) Rab Douglas; Regillio Nooitmeer, Brian McGovern (Jim Lauchlan 71), Alan Lithgow, Darren Barnard (David Lowing 71); Derek Carcary (inj - David Murray 22), Graham Alexander, Ryan McStay, Stephen Murray; Stephen McConalogue, Brian Carrigan. Attendance :- 667 Disaster is a big word, but in context, it is the right word for today. Let us not underplay it, Derek Carcary is a huge part of the way we play. We constantly use his direct running, ability to cross the ball and chip in with goals as an attacking weapon, and without him we lose a lot of our identity and the way we play as it takes away the fear factor from the opposition. Without Carcary to worry about, we are a much easier side to play against, the last hour or so of todays game proving the point. The news on Carcary is not as bad as first feared, but it isn't great either. The 23 year old winger who averages a goal involvement per competitive game this season including his assist today, has suffered damage to his ankle ligaments and will miss anything up to two months of football. We don't have a direct replacement for him, which means potentially changing the way we play. Stephen Murray can switch wings but he is left footed, though it allows us to then use Marc Anthony or Alan Moore down that left side. Brian Carrigan, Ross McCord or Paul McLeod can all play down the right.....but none of them offers anything close to what Carcary does. The best solution is to try and find a right winger who can replace him, even if only temporarily. On the bus trip back home, I send the text messages to the Scouting team with their urgent instructions for the coming hours and days. 'Find me a right winger!'

I should get a statue in Naples for managing eighteen months with Napoli! Great story and good fun as always Mr Wilson.

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.

**Please note that the Groups are 2 points for a win and not 3 points, they will be amended when there are more games played as it's not straightforward to correct the ones already posted. Apologies** November, Year #1 The Qualifying for the European Championships is now underway, but November is a quieter month with only Friendlies in the schedule for most of the nations. The exception is Group Eight, which has five nations in and extra gamedays, which includes this month. European Championship Qualifying Group Eight France (0) 0 Denmark (0) 0 Iceland (0) - 0 Italy (2) 2 - (De Napoli (28), Baresi (45) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pos | | Pld | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Agst | GD | Pts | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1st | France | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | 2nd | Portugal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 2 | 3rd | Italy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 2 | 4th | Denmark | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5th | Iceland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Group Eight takes centre stage, and Denmark kick off their campaign away to France with a goalless draw that I suspect they will be pretty pleased with. In the other game Italy get off the mark after their defeat in Portugal in their opener, and secure a win away to Iceland who I hate to call the whipping boys of the Group, but that certainly seems to be their fate here I'm afraid. Ecuador (1) 1 - Hurtado (83) Algeria (1) 1 - Tayeb (28) Austria (0) 0 Australia (1) 3 - Farina (9,72), O'Connor (59) Czechoslovakia (1) 2 - Moravcik (44), Kubik (83) Poland (1) 2 - Prusik (20,86) Mexico (0) 1 - Aguirre (89) Luxembourg (0) 0 Uruguay (0) 0 Scotland (0) 1 - Hansen (80) Romania (1) 2 - Lasconi (44,79) Cameroon (0) 0 There was a huge shock for Austria at home to their visitors from Australia who recorded a handsome and unexpected thrashing of their hosts, which may have been even worse but for a few goals chalked off for offsides. Our own group opponents Czechoslovakia continued to be frustrated on the International stage as they were held to a draw at home to a Poland side who were reduced to ten men in the first half, yet still managed a late equaliser moments after the Czech's thought they had won it. Mexico's blushes were spared at home to minnows Luxembourg with a very late Aguirre winner, while the Scots picked up their first positive result of the save against Uruguay. December, Year #1 Year one of the experiment will come to an end with another batch of Friendly matches, including some interesting neighbourly derby games. International Friendlies Chile (1) 2 - Hormazabel (19), Aravena (65) Argentina (0) 0 France (3) 3 - Poullain (7), Stopyra (20), Rocheteau (44) Belgium (0) 0 Sweden (0) 1 - Hysen (84) Bulgaria (0) 0 Peru (0) 0 Switzerland (1) 1 - Hermann (30) Albania (0) 0 Cyprus (0) 1 - Nicolau (82) South Korea (1) 1 - No Soo Jin (16) Holland (1) 1 - Gullit (1) It has been many years since the glory days of Chilean football, but are they about to open a new chapter in this blast from the past? A home Friendly win over next door neighbours Argentina certainly gives them hope that will be the case. There was no such hope here for Belgium, who were thrashed when they crossed the border into France, all the damage done in the first half by the French who took out their frustration of being unable to break down Denmark in last months Qualifier. I'm not sure how much we have learnt about Cyprus from their late victory in a clash of two minnow European nations, and we already knew that Gullit is more than capable of finding the net, but his Holland side have now played three games in this save without managing to record a win yet. January will be another quiet month, notable most likely for our first look at the Brazilian team of this era, before the Qualifying action resumes for all the European nations in February as we continue this return to the yesteryears of International Football.

Wednesday 1st June 2016 Davide wins his 15th cap at Under-21 level this evening as the Swedish and Italian age group sides begin their unnecessary and overly long series of games against each other. This one was held in Landskrona, and ended in a 1-1 draw. Saturday 4th June Landskrona would play host once more as Sweden and Italy went head to head for the second time this week at Under-21 level. This time Davide was on the bench, and would come into the game to earn his 16th cap at this level in the 75th minute. By that time Italy had just gone a goal to the good, and Davide would assist on a second goal in the 84th minute, flicking the ball on to Andrea Petagna to finish and secure a 2-0 win for the Young Azurri. The two teams will play each other twice more next week too. Tuesday 7th June Game Three of this series between Italy and Sweden at Under-21 level is the only only one to take place outside Sweden, as it is hosted by the Italians in Casarano. A pair of first half goals by Alberto Cerri, and a second half strike from Bryan Cristante guide Italy to a comfortable 3-0 win. Davide plays the full ninety minutes for his 17th cap. Wednesday 8th June Having returned to Italy from Sweden, there is now a trip back to Sweden for Davide and his team mates to play a second game in twenty four hours. The logic to this is zero, as they will then have to travel south again to get to Greece for the Under-21 Euros. A 2-0 defeat in Kalmar simply makes the trip even less logical. Davide came on as a 78th minute substitute to earn his 18th cap. Monday 13th June Cap number nineteen for Davide is a far more important one. It was earned this evening at the Georgios Kamaras Stadium in Athens, where Italy defeated Germany one nil in both nations opening Group B game at the UEFA 2016 European Under-21 Championship Finals. A placed shot by Bryan Cristante in the 28th minute would settle the game, a third goal in his 20th cap at this level for the Benfica midfielder. Davide played the full ninety minutes in the Young Azurri's winning start to the campaign. Wednesday 15th June Danilo will have a new team mate at Chelsea next season in the form of 18 year old Makelele. However as part of the deal that has seen The Blues purchase the left footed Brazilian centre back for £3.6 million from Vitoria Guimarães, the Portuguese club will see the player remain with them on loan for the upcoming 2016/17 season. The general feeling in the media is that Chelsea have overpaid for the defender who played twenty six times in the top tier in Portugal last season, his second campaign in Europe. Thursday 16th June Italy's progress in the Under-21 Euro's is in doubt after they this afternoon lost their second Group B match. Davide won his 20th cap against Romania, once more playing the full game, and saw his side go ahead at the Panachaiki Stadium in Patra through a spectacular 31st minute lobbed effort by Inter Milan's defensive midfielder Lorenzo Crisetig. He wouldn't have banked on his Inter team mate George Pușcaș becoming the star of the day. The forward who has spent the season on loan in Holland with Vitesse Arnhem volleyed home a 58th minute equaliser, before steering in the winner off the post twenty minutes later. The result means that Italy have to beat Croatia on Sunday to advance into the Semi-Finals. Sunday 19th June They never make it easy for themselves, but Italy are through to the Semi-Finals of the age group Euro's after a 2-1 victory over Croatia tonight. The Azurri were back in Athens and the Georgios Kamaras Stadium for this one, and Davide was once more at centre back, only able to watch on as Bruno Petkovic of Italian club Catania had his nation in front in the 25th minute. The Italians were level five minutes later with a screamer from distance courtesy of AC Milan forward Andrea Petagna. What followed was a tense game that saw neither side willing to take a chance in case of making a mistake. Eventually the mistake would come, goalkeeper Markovic spilled a shot with ten minutes to play and Bryan Cristante pounced on the loose ball to book Italy a date with Spain in a midweek Semi-Final. Wednesday 22nd June Italy remain in the capital and the Georgios Kamaras for tonight's Semi-Final, with old foes Italy and Spain meeting in the Under-21 Euro's for a spot in the weekends Final against Holland who booked their place last night with a penalty shoot-out victory over Croatia. Unfortunately Davide was dropped for this one as Luigi Di Biagio reorganised and saw Alberto Cerri head his side in front in the 12th minute, only for José Rodriguez to level the game back up after half an hour. Torino full back Riccardo Fiamozzi put Italy back in front early in the second half, his cross evading everyone and finding it's way into the back of the net. But back came the Spaniards once more, this time the leveller came through Raúl De Tomás on the hour mark. But Fiamozzi, who had never scored at International level before tonight, put Italy back ahead again with a 71st minute free kick, and this time there would be no way back for Spain. After being defeated in last years Under-19's Euro's Final, can Italy go one better this year in the Under-21's version? Friday 24th June Interesting news coming out of Stamford Bridge today, as Chelsea have announced a link up with Sky Bet Championship club Watford. The link allows Chelsea to send players out on loan to Watford, who have no obligation to play them, and Chelsea can recall them at any time. The wages will still be covered by Chelsea, and an annual Friendly will be hosted by Watford who will also keep the profits. Chelsea have arrangements with Leyton Orient who are also in the Championship, Vitoria Guimarães of Portugal, as well as ADO Den Haag and Vitesse Arnhem of Holland. Hopefully there will finally be an opportunity for Danilo at one of those clubs if not elsewhere. Saturday 25th June Davide is recalled by Italy Under-21's for tonight's Final of the 2016 UEFA European Under-21's Championships, which is being held in Nea Smyrni. It was a fairly bad tempered start, during which Holland took the lead in the 7th minute with a header from AZ Alkmaar striker Joël Donald, the 20 year old will join Sparta Rotterdam next week actually. And he will head there sporting a Winners' medal from these Championships, as try as they might and Italy could not find the reply. Once more, honours elude our boys as Davide picks up another Runner's-Up medal! ***CLUB/INTERNATIONAL HONOUR*** Davide Di Cianni - 2016 UEFA European Under-21's Championship Runner-Up Medal - Italy Under-21's Thursday 30th June This season summary is supposed to include the stats throughout the entire season, showing all the appearances and info from each competition. It doesn't.....because I'm an idiot and forgot to grab the data before the game clicked over to the season. Doh. Davide Di Cianni 2015/16 Season Summary Highest International Honours :- 22 Caps/0 Goals for Italy Under-21's Current Club :- Cardiff City (Sky Bet Championship) Current Transfer Market Value :- £775,000 Curent Contract :- £12,500 per week, two years remaining. If last season wasn't a break out season for Davide, then this one absolutely was. He has been a regular starter for both Cardiff City and Italy Under-21's, earning a new contract with his club that see's him now earning three times as much money as he was last year. He has absolutely benefited from Sam Allardyce coming into the club, and his performances for City have transferred onto the age group International stage as well, though that first honour eludes him as he is on the defeated finalists side once again for the second summer in a row. I doubt he ever wants to go to Greece ever again! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Danilo Di Cianni 2015/16 Season Summary Highest International Honours :- 6 Senior Caps/1 Goal for Wales Current Club :- Chelsea (Barclays Premier League) Current Transfer Market Value :- £2,400,000 Current Contract :- £120 per week, one year remaining. It's more of the same for Danilo, as the forward continues to sit on the sidelines at Stamford Bridge, and is yet to make his Barclays Premier League debut for The Blues. He is now desperately in need of a loan spell if he isn't deemed good enough for the First Team at the Bridge. It hasn't stopped Chris Coleman picking him for Wales however, and he has moved up to half a dozen caps now while also scoring his first Senior Wales goal against Austria earlier this year. This is going to be the final year of his contract at Chelsea though they do have the option to extend him by an extra year if they wish, and he still isn't being paid enough money to start paying tax! As time passes, it starts to look more and more like a poor decision by Danilo to move to such a big club so early in his career. Chelsea keep winning trophies, but Danilo's lack of involvement means he isn't collecting the medals to start his collection.

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.

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.

Thursday 1st September 2016 Life in Europe hasn't quite got off to a perfect start for Mohammed Babu. Our Under-21 capped goalkeeper has suffered a groin strain after making his debut for NK Celje in Slovenia and will now be out for around a month. He had kept in a clean sheet in their 4-0 home win over NK Krsko. Wednesday 7th September Sad news today with the information that at the grand age of just eighteen Karan Mollah has announced his retirement from football. The French based midfielder was called up into one of my early Senior Squads in October 2013 after landing the India job as I capped him to ensure he remained in the Indian National Pool, suffering ridicule from the media as a result. But I gave him his debut anyway, he came on as a sub for the final three minutes of a 2-0 win over Myanmar in a Friendly in Rangoon, which it would turn out would be his one and only Senior International appearance. I did always keep an eye on his progress however, and he was also called up into age group squads. Now Mollah has left the game and returned to his education after a brief footballing career. Sunday 11th September It's another retirement to report that has an impact on our National Pool depth, and this time it is the Brazilian born striker Edu who has decided to hang up his boots at the age of 33. Released by Mohun Bagan at the end of the season, Edu had already announced his intention to make the 2016/17 season his last in professional football. However his failure to successfully find a new club to spend the campaign with despite continued interest from several Portuguese clubs has meant a change in plans and he has finished his career slightly earlier than intended. He played eight times for his adopted nation, the last of those caps coming in the summer at Windsor Park in the defeat to Northern Ireland as a substitute. He scored twice for India. Monday 12th September Today brings better news as 22 year old striker Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury has found a new club. The 6'4 target man who we were very keen to keep in our Pool has signed for Besançon Racing Club, a third tier club in the National Division that finished sixth last season and were in the promotion hunt for all bar the final few weeks of the campaign. Chowdhury has spent the last two seasons at this level with Vannes Olympique, scoring three times in fifteen appearances for the club during his time there. He has signed a one year deal with the club that have their home in a city in the East of the country and near the Alps region very close to the border with Switzerland, and initial impressions are that he has been seen as an option to give the club more size up front as they don't appear to be getting too much from their current big striker Liam Bonin. His International Career to date has seen Chowdhury earn three Senior caps, but arguably his finest moments in an India jersey came for the age group sides as he found the net for both Under-20's and Under-23 sides. Wednesday 14th September Without playing we have moved one spot back up the FIFA World Rankings this month, moving ahead of Mozambique and back up into 112th position, one spot behind South American nation Venezuela. Saturday 24th September Sandip Kumar was always expected to leave India to play football at a higher level, but I didn't see this move coming. The 24 year old six foot tall striker has three International Caps to his name, and has spent six seasons with East Bengal where he has a superb scoring record. Now they have cashed in on him and sold him for £60,000, but he isn't headed to Europe. He has signed a two year deal with Iranian Premier Division club Pegah Gilan Rasht, a surprise move that sees him moving forward as part of a young squad that is packed with Iranian age group International players. Wednesday 28th September Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury is starting to move up the pecking order already at French third tier club Besançon Racing Club as he makes appearances from the bench in the first two games he was eligible for. But after a 3-0 defeat this evening away to US Créteil Lusitanos, his new club have sacked their manager David Vignes. Let's hope that whoever steps into the job is keen to utilise the big striker. The return to India of centre back Udofia Chiukwama lasted just six games. The 28 year old Nigerian had a falling out with his club Karnataka State Police, probably not the best idea to fall out with the police. He has packed his bags and returned to Nigeria, where he has signed once more with his former club Gateway in the Nigerian Premier Division. I don't anticipate this having any impact on his prospects of playing for India in the future. With competitive football on the horizon for India's Senior National Team in the new year, there is a return to competitive action coming up at age group level next month, as we host the 2016 AFC Asian Under-19 Championship Finals, though it's the Under-20's who are actually competing as they were the Under-19's when the Qualification process started. With China, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam in Group C with us, we have a great opportunity to run the rule over some of our potential young prospects moving forward.

2016/17 Northern Irish Premier Division League Table, Up To & Including Wednesday 28th September 2016 | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | 1st | | Linfield | | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 16 | | 2nd | | Ballymena Utd | | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 12 | | 3rd | | Dungannon | | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 11 | | 4th | | Cliftonville | | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 10 | | 5th | | Dundela | | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 10 | | 6th | | Portadown | | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 9 | | 7th | | Coleraine | | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 8 | | 8th | | Institute | | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 8 | | 9th | | Glenavon | | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 7 | | 10th | | Glentoran | | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 11th | | Newry | | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 3 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 12th | | Lurgan Celtic | | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 3 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday 1st September 2016 It would appear that Glentoran have had a good shake of the money tree and come up quids in. Last seasons Northern Irish Cup and League Cup Double Winners have slipped under my radar over the summer, but a review of the now closed Summer Transfer Window reveals what they have been up to, and moneybags Linfield might just have some competition coming their way. In the 2014/15 season Glentoran spent less than £50,000 on transfers, though even that is a fairly significant figure in Northern Irish football. Last season they increased that hugely to close on £400,000, and were rewarded with their pair of Cups and a return to European Football in the UEFA Europa League, which saw them get spanked 7-0 on aggregate by Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia. But they are still making some serious cash, netting almost £300,000 alone from gate receipts for the home leg, and this time they have increased their summer spending to a cool £1 million on transfer fees! Almost half of that would be spent on their new club record signing, nineteen year old defender Luke Griffin from Leeds United for £475,000. They also spent £230,000 on bringing eighteen year old right wing back Bob Douglas back to the UK after the English teenager had spent the last two seasons in Switzerland with Servette where he failed to make his Senior Debut. He will have to compete with another teenager for the spot as they also pay £180,000 to Hull City for 17 year old right sided Alex Austin, who's first season as a pro with the Coca-Cola Championship side also failed to see him play any First Team football. The club from The Oval are going to have to be kept an eye on this season! Into September we go then, which has just three fixtures pencilled in for us, all away from home and the first one being this evening, a re-arranged fixture against the the reigning Champions from Linfield, who are chasing a hatrick of successive League Titles which would move them on to a huge total of fifty eight in their history if they are successful. Their unbeaten start to the season suggests there is every chance too. I'm annoyed this game is being played tonight, firstly as it was only postponed in the first place for an Antrim Cup game, surely a Premier Division match should take priority there. But more so as it's now taking place on a date when we lose striker Pat McIlroy who has travelled with Northern Ireland Under-21's for International Duty. We would have also been missing Ryan Young, but he doesn't travel until tomorrow. Funnily enough, Linfield have no fewer than seven age group International players, and all but one have them have delayed their travelling until tomorrow. One rule for one, another for us it would seem! Need some more numbers? Linfield have no less than ten players in their First Team squad who earn at least £1,500 per week, and less than five that earn under £500 a week. Meanwhile we have two who earn £425 a week, and then another two who get £300 at the top end of our payroll. This is what we are up against this evening. Unsurprisingly we are the heavy underdogs for this game. Club Captain for us Keith Steenson is considering an offer to hop across the Irish Sea and play for Wealdstone in the Blue Square North for five months after we accepted their loan offer which includes paying his £25 per week salary for the duration. The hometown lad who has played over sixty League games for the club has, as expected, found himself on the fringes of the team so far this season. Northern Irish Premier Division Windsor Park, Belfast Linfield v Coleraine Attendance :- 6,143. Weather :- Dry, 26c Look at that attendance figure! Just another, though very extreme example, of the difference between the 'have's' and the 'have not's' at this level in Ulster! Our trip to the National Stadium in Belfast see's Frank Nouble recalled from the bench to replace the missing Pat McIlroy with John Green recalled to the matchday squad for bench duty. Ryan Young plays before heading out to South Africa on International Duty tomorrow. We are sporting our awful all-canary yellow away strip this evening. It wasn't just a large crowd at Windsor Park, it was an expectant one too. They don't see Linfield lose very often, and nothing they had seen from us so far this season particularly impressed them. Ryan Young lost an early race to Rhys Devlin, who proceeded to stuff the finish by sending it high and wide of the target. He would have another go shortly after, Liam McLeary having to punch that one to safety as it dipped and swerved, one of Devlin's last contributions before going off with a knock. We had very little of the ball in attacking areas, and a set piece was clearly going to be our best chance of breaking the Champions down today, Tony Bowler making a spectacular tip over the bar on the half hour mark when Young connected with Gavin Whelan's corner delivery. We remained level at the break however after Michael Graham's cross from a quick counter attack was headed wide of the target by Jack Brown. Ryan Young had hobbled around for the last ten minutes of that half, and at the break it was clear he wasn't fit to go back out, Stuart Murray replacing him for his Coleraine debut. Brown attempted to make amends for his late first half headed miss with a mazy run into the box, but McLeary was off his line quickly to close down the shot, then making an excellent low stop from Nathan Fearon's shot at goal after he connected with Michael Constable's cut back from the left. We were under all kinds of pressure, and after a while of being at breaking point we eventually snapped in the 71st minute, Ole Petersen recycling a cleared set piece to John Stevenson who would find the fairly quiet so far Mark Miskimmon on the edge of the box, the striker too strong for Murray and spinning away from him after holding the ball up and curling it away from McLeary's dive and into the near top corner. I sent on John Green for Craig Dobson as we went to three up front to try and find a way through, but we failed to create a chance worthy of the name. Linfield (0) 1 - Mark Miskimmon (71) Coleraine (0) 0 Liam McLeary; Tony Jones, Andy Dickinson, Ryan Young (inj - Stuart Murray 45), Stewart Devine; Ryan Nelthorpe, Gavin Whelan ©; Craig Dobson (John Green 81), Dean Britton; Frank Nouble, Gerry Nixon. Unused Substitutes :- Michael Haswell, Alan Dallas, Chris Johnston. Bookings :- None Possession :- 51% - 49%. Man of the Match :- Mark Miskimmon (Linfield). No disgrace whatsoever here, we leave Belfast with our pride very much intact, and there will be a lot of teams that won't be able to say the same during the course of the season after facing Linfield. We gave them very little trouble either, that Ryan Young header was the only effort on target that we managed. We're still a long way away from being on a level with the Linfield's of the Premier Division. Speaking of Ryan Young, he has done quite some damage by struggling on for around ten minutes at the end of the first half. The nineteen year old centre back has suffered a thigh strain that comes with around a month on the sidelines. I receive a frantic call from his International Manager, with Belgian veteran Paul Put urging me to put him on a flight and allow his backroom to administer a pain killing injection that would get the player through Saturday's vital World Cup Qualifier in Johannesburg against South Africa. Not a chance he is told, and Young is withdrawn from International Duty, leaving Put furious that we played the defender in what he called a 'meaningless game' that close to him being due to play for The Gambia. Friday 2nd September Club Captain and local lad Keith Steenson has packed his bags and left for England. The 20 year old has accepted the opportunity to play a five month loan spell with Wealdstone who sit in sixth after half a dozen games in the Blue Square North. He leaves for that spell with out best wishes, and I'd love to see him back here in February better equipped to be a Premier Division player for the club he loves. Saturday 3rd September Our Premier Division match away to Glentoran that was scheduled for three weeks today has been pushed back in the schedule to a midweek date in mid-October, this time due to an Antrim Trophy fixture. That is very frustrating, as it now makes our game away to Dungannon next weekend our final match of September pending any Cup games being added. Three weeks without a League game, before five games squeezed into October as there is also a fortnight without a game there too. Tuesday 6th September After being left as an unused substitute for the first game of the double header, a 2-0 defeat in Sarajevo against Bosnia & Herzegovina Under-21's, there is a recall this afternoon for Pat McIlroy in the final UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group Two Qualifier. That one took place in Dasaki Achnas against Cyprus, and Northern Ireland ended their campaign with a 2-0 victory that leaves them fourth in the five nation section. McIlroy played eighty minutes in his eleventh cap at that level, before being substituted for a defender with ten minutes to play as the age group Ulster team looked to protect their lead in the final ten minutes. Friday 9th September Fringe players and those recovering from injury are selected for the Reserves trip to play Glentoran Seconds this evening at the Billy Neill Complex. The game ends goalless, but ninety minute outings in particular for Stuart Shaw and Lee Ward are pleasing. Tomorrow afternoon sees the First Team play in the final game that is currently scheduled for September. We're headed to face Dungannon who sit just one spot behind us in the early Premier Division table and rely heavily on the goals of 30 year old forward Aaron Baker, who has netted double figures in League goals in each of his seven seasons as a regular for the Swifts. Like us, they also lost 1-0 to Linfield in their last game which for them was over two weeks ago now, as they have started with two wins, two defeats and a draw. Home advantage has helped make them the bookies favourites for tomorrow though. Saturday 10th September Northern Irish Premier Division Stangmore Park, Dungannon Dungannon Swifts v Coleraine Attendance :- 217. Weather :- Dry, 22c. Two changes are made from the defeat last week against Linfield. With Ryan Young sidelined for the month, Stuart Murray steps into the lineup with veteran centre back Declan O'Hara recalled to the substitutes bench. Up front sees the return of Pat McIlroy after his return from International Duty with the Under-21's, and he partners Frank Nouble with Gerry Nixon dropping to the bench and John Green left out of the matchday squad. Liam McLeary had to be alert early on, the keeper making a point blank save to keep out Aaron Baker after the dangerman was found in the box by a Barry Callaghan cross from the right. Baker would try again shortly after, this time with a header from a corner that he had no right to win when surrounded by defenders, his header drifting just off target. He would complete a hatrick of early chances when Dale Hayes picked him out as he moved off the shoulder of his marker, this time his shot was hit into the ground and dealt with comfortably by McLeary. The other Callaghan would hit the post with a header next, Aaron coming closest so far as Dungannon piled the pressure on, while our only response was a Gavin Whelan shot on the turn that rolled just the wrong side of the upright from our point of view. Our luck finally ran out midway through the half, everyone pre-occupied with Baker's whereabouts as Trevor Graham let a low shot go from the corner of the box that McLeary saw late and failed to get to in time at his near post, he would want another go at that one I suspect. With their goal on the board, the Swifts immediately switched into a more defensive mode and the game turned around, our first chance at an equaliser coming through Dean Britton who rode a challenge and sent in a shot that just missed the top corner, before Andy Dickinson did the same with a header from a Whelan corner. Half time arrived with us very much in the ascendancy, but forced into a change. Frank Nouble had come off worse from a late first half fifty/fifty and came off with Gerry Nixon replacing him, a struggling Stuart Murray also coming off for Declan O'Hara. Our momentum that had built since the goal was largely gone though, and we were now struggling to create much of note despite enjoying plenty of the ball. A Pat McIlroy effort from range was the closest we had come to troubling Lee Hollis. Then with twenty minutes to play McIlroy received the ball on the dead ball line from a throw in and whipped in a cross that Britton tried to get his head to, but seemed to be dragged to the floor by John Evans. Not so in the opinion of the ref, who ignored McIlroy's protests and awarded only a corner. However a corner is almost as good as a penalty kick in our hands, and the keepers hands were an issue for the hosts as Stewart Devine put it right under the cross bar where Hollis' attempt to grab it went badly and he spilled it right to McIlroy, the striker not getting all he wanted on his shot, but enough to send it rolling into the bottom corner from three or four yards out. Dungannon were now trying to get back to how they had played for the opening quarter of the game, but we weren't having that as Craig Dobson was sacrificed for Alan Dallas as we shut up shop at the back to head home with another valuable early season point. Dungannon Swifts (1) 1 - Trevor Graham (22) Coleraine (0) 1 - Pat McIlroy (71) Liam McLeary; Tony Jones, Andy Dickinson, Stuart Murray (Declan O'Hara 45), Stewart Devine; Ryan Nelthorpe, Gavin Whelan ©; Craig Dobson (Alan Dallas 84), Dean Britton; Frank Nouble (inj - Gerry Nixon 45), Pat McIlroy. Unused Substitutes :- Michael Haswell, Chris Johnston. Bookings :- Stewart Devine 35 Possession :- 40% - 60%. Man of the Match :- Aaron Callaghan (Dungannon Swifts). That was a nice one to come out of with a point. You do have to wonder though what might have happened if Dungannon hadn't immediately gone into their shells after going in front, a move I'm sure they regret with the benefit of hindsight. I'm glad we didn't have to find out! Something I am finding out though is that Frank Nouble may be made of glass. The striker that I have put a lot of my wage budget into seems incapable of getting through a game without sustaining a knock of some kind, and doesn't look like the striker who reintroduced himself to the Coleraine supporters in pre-season with a four goal striking masterclass in our first game of the summer to announce his return. Instead it is Pat McIlroy who is the striker currently finding the net to help us put points on the board at the start of the campaign. Wednesday 14th September With no game scheduled for another two and a half weeks, I send a strong Reserve side to Dundela this evening. That didn't go very well as it turns out, with the team losing 1-0, during the course of which Dean Jones pulled a hamstring and Michael McCartney suffered a thigh strain. Ironically it was Nouble who I was most worried about, but he got through the full ninety minutes though he was largely ineffective while doing so. Thursday 22nd September The draw is made this evening for Round Three of the Northern Irish League Cup. Sixteen teams go in the hat, so the chances of drawing another Premier Division team were high. We're paired with Institute, the team based in Drumahoe who are currently enjoying a fifth consecutive season in the top flight of domestic football. The Third Round tie is a two legged affair, with us travelling for the opener on Wednesday 26th October, and hosting the return a fortnight later with the winners on aggregate earning a place in the Quarter-Finals. They are a club we will be seeing a lot of going forward as we also host them in a Premier Division fixture on Saturday 15th October. Our original scheduled fixture for Wednesday 26th October, a home league game with Dunela has now been pushed back to November 2nd, the Wednesday between the two League Cup fixtures, so it's going to be a very busy six or seven week spell coming up. Friday 23rd September Both Frank Nouble and Lee Ward get themselves on the scoresheet this evening at The Showgrounds as they turn out for the Reserves team once again, with both playing the full ninety minutes, as did Scottish striker Stuart Shaw. That is where the positive news ends, as our second string are defeated 5-2 by Newry City's Reserves. Wednesday 28th September We slip down into the bottom half of the table tonight as teams around us continue to play games as we are sat idle. Ballymena United spring a surprise with a 1-0 home win over Linfield that takes big rivals up into second spot, while Dundela score a home win over Newry City and hop up into the top half at our expense. September has been pretty quiet for us, but October and November are going to see the pace increase with busy schedules.

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........