Croesyceiliog 1 - 0 Tredegar Town
Welsh League Division 2
12th December 2009. Kick Off 14:00

Woodland Road, Croesyceiliog.

Croesy continued their excellent home record in all competitions this season and secured their fourth clean sheet in five home fixtures in all competitions as they overcame Gwent rivals Tredegar Town. However, the visitors will have felt extremely unlucky to have not left Woodland Road with something, and probably the win.

It was Croesy who started the brighter and after just five minutes Nick McGrath made a great run in behind the Tredegar back three and found himself one on one with the goalkeeper. However, despite showing great technique his shot flew just over the crosssbar. Ten minutes later it was Calum Miles who found himself in behind the Tredegar back line and with the keeper and last defender caught out on the edge of the box it semed all Miles had to do to score was lift it over the two of them, but unfortyunately his chip wasn't struck cleanly and the goalkeeper saved.

The visitors hit back with some fine passing moves and created a great opening when a cross from their left flank was met by the onrushing midfielder who blazed over the bar from 10 yards out. The visitors then pulled off the move of the game when they strung together some 10 passes inside the Croesy half culminating in a one-two making room for a shot for their Captain from the edge of the box, but again the shot was off target.

With ten minutes of the half remaining, Croesy Captain Mark Morris was guilty of missing a great chance when he threw his left foot at the ball when faced with an open net following a set piece. Had he been aware of ow much time he had he would surely have controlled the ball and rolled it in with his stronger foot.

Croesy goalkeeper, jonathan Chorley kepf the game deadlocked at half time with two fine saves near the end of the half from 2 long range efforts on goal.

Croesy started the second half on the back foot as Tredegar spent much of the first 20 minutes of the half attacking the hosts goal and keeping posession well despite the pitch cutting up. Jonathan Chorley was called into action a couple of times as shots from the edge of the area were on target, but it was the constant pressure on the Croesy back four which was most concerning for the home supporters during this 20 minute period.

With 25 minutes to go Manager, Gareth Morgan, had seen enough and made a double substitution as well as a change in formation. It was not long before the more attacking line-up, coupled with stronger central midfield formation and personnel paid dividends. First Nick McGrath made use of the space he now had and got in behind the Tredegar back three and provided a great cross for Tony Southard who's effort went into the ground and hit the far post.

Just two minutes later, it was the attacker on the other side of the now front three, Tony Southard, who got in behind the Tredegar defence and provided a dangerous pass accross the six yard box where Captain Mark Morris was there to strike the ball low and hard towards the bottom corner. The Tredegar defender tried in vain to stop the ball crossing the line by using his hand, with Richard Perry slamming home the rebound. However the linesman later confirmed that the ball was already over the line before the hand ball had occurred.

Straight from the kick off Tredegar found themselves in on goal but a last ditch tackle saw the attacker thwarted, and this proved to be the visitors last geanuine opening of the game. Southard nearly secured the points 5 minutes later but fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Croesy then saw out the last 15 minutes without having too many scary moments and seemed to have learned the lessons of previous games in how to see out such a game.

Croesy were delighted to secure the three points at full time on a day where so many other teams in the league dropped points.

Other Division 2 Results 12/12/2009

AFC Llwydcoed	3	-	1	AFC Porth
Caerau (Ely)	3	-	3	Newport YMCA
Croesyceiliog	1	-	0	Tredegar Town
Cwmbran Celtic	6	-	0	Llanwern
Cwmbran Town	4	-	1	Newcastle Emlyn
Maesteg Park	3	-	3	Cardiff Bay Harlequins
Porthcawl Town	2	-	3	Llangeinor
Treharris Ath Western	3	-	3	Penrhiwceiber Rangers
UWIC	2	-	2	Ammanford