I have returned............

Hello to all.

Welcome to my first post of 2012

Apologies for those who have missed my postings about Neath FC and the Welsh Premier League. I have had a rather hectic and hard few weeks to get through before getting back into my blogging.

However all is done with now and it is full steam ahead towards the second half of the season.

Since I have been away the leagues have been split. And fighting for the WPL title alongside Neath will be TNS, Bangor City, Llanelli, Bala and Prestatyn Town.

As from now my blog will be updated with all the goings on from the Gnoll and the WPL in general.

Hope you all see this as a good thing. And hope that 2012 is looking to be a great year for all my readers.

The league table and Neath FC fixtures are fully up to date and in the next few days expect many posts about the previous months games and happenings.

Love to you all.

SPR

Sorry for the lack of posts

Hello to all.

The lack of recent posts is mostly due to the fact I have returned home for Christmas.

Ohhhh..... and also Neath have not played a game since December 4th due to postponements.

Regular posting will resume around December 27th when I return to my rightful spot watching the Eagles and reporting on their game against league leaders Llanelli.

All the best

Sam

Neath FC P-P Port Talbot Town

Drip, drip, drip.

Sam Roberts reports from the Gnoll.

Mark Whitby calls game off at 14:20. Waterlogged pitch.

Full credit to Neath FC ground staff for attempting to make the pitch playable.

Rearranged for ..................... to be announced

Referee: Mark Whitby

Attendance: About 100 people refunded

Neath appoint Director of Football

Neath FC have this week announced the appointment of David Adams as their new director of football.

(Adams on the right pictured here with Gavin Rhodes of Manchester United FC)

The Eagles have brought Adams in to work alongside Kristian O'Leary, helping the former Swansea City player make the transition from playing into management.

He has also completed consultancy work in the past with Swansea City and Cardiff City, and holds badges up to and including the UEFA A License.

Adams will combine the role with working at Glamorgan University as a Senior lecturer in the faculty of Health and Sports Science.

Neath FC 4-0 West End FC – Welsh Cup third round – 4th December 2011

The Eagles stormed into round four of the cup with a 4-0 win over Division 1 side West End at the Gnoll on Sunday.

Neath FC manager Kristian O’Leary made 6 changes from the side that drew at Bala Town last week with Toby Jones making his first competitive start for the home side. Adie Harris also returned to the side after a long layoff with an ankle injury while Matthew Collins took a spot on the bench after his spell out with injury. Luke Bowen, Garyn Preen and Sam Gwynne were also given a starting spot for the home side while Kerry Nicholas took over from Chris Doran between the posts.

West End clearly set out to frustrate the attacking powers of Neath with a compact and strong formation. This however did restrict the actions of inspirational skipper Neil Phillips who did seem rather secluded in the more attacking role without any real support behind him. The formation though seemed to work as the Eagles did struggle to make any real chances in the first half hour.

Arguably the best chance of the first half hour fell to the away side. Kai Edwards with a rare mistake, the defender slipped 25 yards from goal and Neil Phillips played in Ashley Curtis, the young forward showing a quick turn of pace and ran into the Neath box only to fire over under pressure from Matthew Rees. A good chance though, and one that West End would come to rue later in the game.

After a rather frustrating first half for both teams it was the Eagles that managed to sneak ahead in first half stoppage time. The ball played out wide left to Garyn Preen, the speedy winger then cut inside on his right foot and shot. His initial attempt was blocked by Kieran O’Brien, however luck was on Preens side as the ball returned straight to his feet and he took his second chance superbly firing home from 10 yards.

HALF TIME: NEATH FC 1-0 WEST END FC

O’Leary’s men came out from half time with Matthew Collins introduced in place of Adie Harris, both players recently returning from ankle injuries. They began with clear determination and within 2 minutes of the restart the lead was doubled, Garyn Preen again the goal scorer. The young forward combined superbly with Toby Jones, Preen passing to Jones only for his pass to be returned on the edge of the West End penalty area, Preen then flicked the ball up with his right foot and smashed the ball home from just inside the area. A great finish by the speedy young player and a great sign for the Eagles future with both Preen and Toby Jones looking a real threat going forward.

The away side never really got a chance to get going in the second half before the lead was doubled and things looked even worse for them on 53 minutes as the home side grabbed a third goal. Neath were awarded a free kick on the edge of the West End penalty area, usual free kick taker Lee Trundle stepped aside and gave the returning Matthew Collins a chance from 20 yards. A chance that he took superbly, taking one step forward he then curled a shot superbly into the top left hand corner giving Evans no chance in the West End goal.

The home side could have been 4-0 up on 56 minutes. Preen playing the ball into the penalty area from the left and after Trundle dummied the ball, Luke Bowen smashed a shot against the cross bar. A huge let off for the away side.

A commanding performance in the second half with the Eagles really looking like the only side who were going to score, Bowen fired over from a good position after a nice pass from Matthew Collins. Neath could also have felt quite aggrieved not to have received a penalty, the referee waving play on after it appeared Garyn Preen was tripped from behind.

The game was finished off with a superb fourth goal for the Eagles. Matthew Collins had a fantastic 45 minutes of football for the home side and floated a fantastic ball over the West End defence and onto Craig Hughes; the experienced forward brought the ball down superbly then fired a left footed drive from the left side of the area that flew past Evans into the right hand corner. A superb flowing move and a fantastic way to finish off the match.

FULL TIME: NEATH FC 4-0 WEST END FC

A great performance by Neath as the attacking forces shone through. Full credit to Anthony Wright’s West End side that came to the Gnoll and gave the game a real shot and showed why they are having such a successful season in Division 1. Overall the quality within the home side shone through with youngsters Toby Jones and Garyn Preen looking very composed and attacking all throughout the game. Neath’s next game is at the Gnoll next Sunday against local side Port Talbot Town. Kickoff is at 14:30.

Star Man for the day would be Garyn Preen. The young forward took full advantage of only his 3^rd start of the season with 2 well taken goals either side of half time. He looked a threat to the West End defence whether challenging from either side of the pitch of bursting through the middle making a real nuisance of himself. A great performance by Preen who may just give Kristian O’Leary a potential selection headache ahead of next week’s game against Port Talbot.

Neath FC: Kerry Nicholas, Jack Lewis, Kai Edwards, Matthew Rees, Luke Cummings (Matthew Whatley, 67), Sam Gwynne, Garyn Preen, Toby Jones, Lee Trundle, Luke Bowen (Craig Hughes, 79), Adie Harris (Matthew Collins, 45).

Subs Not Used: Chris Jones, Paul Fowler.

Goal Scorers: Garyn Preen (45) (47) Matthew Collins (53) Craig Hughes (88)

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: None

West End FC: Richard Evans, Chris J Hole (Ashley Curtis, 27), Kieran O’Brien, Danny Kavanagh, Josh Medwin, Jordan Davies, Sam Brown, Christopher Hole (Ricky Hayden, 80), Kieran Cullen, Neil Phillips (Lee Morgan, 62), Alex Chrysanthou.

Subs Not Used: Carl Smitham, Rory Smitham.

Goal Scorers: None

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: None

Attendance: 164

Referee: Dean John

Match Report by Sam Roberts

West End FC confident of Welsh Cup upset

West End FC manager Anthony Wright is confident his side can upset Welsh Premier League side Neath FC in the Welsh Cup 3^rd round on Sunday afternoon.

The MacWhirter Welsh League First Division side overcame league rivals Cwmbran Celtic 2-0 and Cardiff Corinthians 2-1 in the previous rounds to set up this third round tie against the Eagles.

The home side will be approaching the game with renewed confidence under caretaker player-manager Kristian O’Leary. Unbeaten under O’Leary’s leadership the Eagles will be hoping to avoid any cup shocks in this third round tie.

Although the visitors go into the game on the back of a 4-1 loss to Taffs Well last weekend, manager Wright has total confidence in his players and their ability to cause a cup shock on Sunday.

“It’s not my mentality or the player’s mentality to go out and play for a draw or play to keep the score down. Our mentality is to go and win the game. If we can do that it will probably be one of the clubs biggest upsets in its Welsh Cup history. It’s a huge opportunity for the boys.”

West End are currently sitting in third position in the First Division and Wright has a lot of belief in the squad he has assembled in his three years in charge. He even made comparisons between his side and those at the bottom end of the WPL table.

“League position we have done great, we are currently third in the league, we do not pay our players a penny, they all play for the badge. Our aim for the season is to finish in the top four, that’s the standard we are setting for ourselves.”

“The gap between us and Neath is massive, but is the gap massive between us and the Carmarthen’s (Town) and other struggling teams? No, it isn’t a massive gap between us and them. There is a huge gap in Welsh football between every other club and Neath, Llanelli, Bangor City and The New Saints.”

Wright admitted his pre match preparations had altered with this trip to the Gnoll in mind, with the quality of the Neath FC squad making him change a few things within his side.

“Of course, it’s changed out of respect. The team itself has many ex-professionals in it and the majority of them could still play in the Football League. We know we are up against it, we are not naive enough to believe otherwise, but one thing we will do is give a good account of ourselves and a good account of West End Football Club.”

West End captain Neil Phillips has made 7 Welsh Premier League appearances during his career and understands the step up from Division 1.

“A lot of it is to do with training, certain clubs in the Welsh Premier League are full time and so their players play the game as a job and therefore train more often. I have played at that level myself but have struggled with fitness. Fitness and financial differences are the main differences between the leagues.

Phillips also gave his opinion on the home side and how he sees his team lining up at the Gnoll on Sunday.

“Well its Neath FC, a big name in Welsh Football, if we beat them it’s a big scalp. We have honest good hard working side that are going to give 100% on Sunday, I think we will set our stall out where we will be solid at the back and counter when we can.”

Phillips admitted that there was one Neath FC player he was really looking forward to being on the same pitch with.

“(Lee) Trundle, obviously...After watching him play for Swansea City, everybody knows he is a class player. As long as he doesn’t megs me...”

Both Neil Phillips and Anthony Wright have faith in the idea West End FC will not only leave the game with their heads held high, but also a cup upset to be proud of. Obviously none of us will know the final score until 5pm Sunday afternoon, but all we can be sure of is that West End are entering this game with confidence in their ability and nobody should underestimate them.

Sam Roberts

RIP Gary Speed

A day many people will never forget. The whole footballing world has been stunned.

Rest in peace Gary Speed

Enough said.