Set The Bar High.

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Intro

The Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League Premier Division is at the 7th Tier of Welsh football. Promotion from this league would see teams, dependent presumably on geographical location, enter the South Wales Alliance League amongst others.

The TERV Premier Division has 12 participants this season and AFC Bargoed are currently in 6th place. Their last game was actually against today’s opponents on Monday evening and ended in a 1-0 to Bargoed. Prior to that a decent draw against 4th place Cilfynydd was sandwiched between losses to top side Talbot Green and bottom side Rhydyfelin Non Pol.

Church Village FC are a few places lower than AFC Bargoed, lying in 9th position currently. Three losses in a row is not ideal preparation for this match, however one of those was a 3-2 defeat at the hands of league leaders Talbot Green which suggests a strong showing from Church Village.

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The Ground

I was originally going to go to Llantwit Major today, but that game was pushed back by a week by the league. So I was left having to find an alternative game to attend. It took a lot of umming and ahhing but I got there in the end. Bargoed Park would be a gem at just about any level of non-league football. It is set within the pleasant park of the same name and the focal point is an imposing grandstand which stands in front of the changing rooms. Behind one of the goals is an unusual-looking covered seated area, while at the end opposite is a small structure that I was unable to decide the use of. The pitch is surrounded by an oval gravel track. Bargoed Park seems to still be used for rugby as well as football, as rugby posts are still present behind the football goals.

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The Match

The first thing that struck me in this match was the apparent lack of a league-appointed referee; one of the Bargoed staff donning a bib and brandishing a whistle. The club-appointed linesmen were also probably the least mobile I’d ever seen and didn’t seem to be helping with any decisions. The first chance of the game came after 5 minutes as the lively David Griffiths crossed to Dylan King, who could only scoop the ball over the bar from close in. Church Village were next to threaten when Gareth Davenport fired a free kick wide of the target. The home keeper Kyle Thomas was tested twice in quick succession on 25 minutes – the second an save amazing from a Craig Harris which Thomas turned onto the bar. On 36 minutes Thomas made another decent stop, this time from a Matthew Mantay volley. The Church Village pressure finally paid off a minute later as the unfortunate Struan Houston turned a cross into his own goal. Just two minutes later the visitors doubled their lead – a lovely lob over the keeper by Nathan Came who got on the end of a through ball. The hosts rallied and got a goal of their own before half time – Dylan Thomas with the finish from a low cross after a good Bargoed attack. It was a frantic end to a fairly even half.

The home side started the second half strongly – a deep free kick from Callum Bateman just about turned behind by visiting goalkeeper Grant Roberts. The resulting corner caused chaos in the Church Village 6 yard box, but the killer touch couldn’t be applied. Bargoed didn’t have to wait long for the equaliser, however, as Dylan King got on the end of a ball over the top; just about getting to it before Roberts and toeing it into the net. 5 minutes later the home team completed the turn around – King finding himself one-on-one with Roberts and coolly slotting home. Bargoed held their opponents at arms length for the majority of the remainder of the game – the visitors restricted to a handful of half-chances. Bateman crossed to Came who leaped well but could only head over with 10 minutes to go. 7 minutes later Houston competed with Roberts and got the better of the keeper. The Bargoed winger got his shot off but found Gareth Davies in the way. With time running out the home side were forced into desperate measures – Bateman bringing down Came who appeared to be through on goal. The full back was not sent off, and didn’t even seem to be booked. The free kick came to nothing, and the referee blew for full time as the ball went out for a corner.

I really enjoyed my visit to Bargoed Park – the ground itself is a hidden gem, and the match was an enjoyable one played in the right spirit.

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The Photos

The full gallery of match photos is also available HERE