Weather hits football again (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Weather hits football again

9:27am Monday 11th February 2013 in Sport

Heavy rain caused the decimation of the local football programme at the weekend with waterlogged pitches causing postponements across the region.

The Welsh League division three relegation battle between Newcastle Emlyn and Abertillery Bluebirds was called off as were eleven league and cup games in the Costcutter League.

Division One leaders Lampeter Town consolidated their advantage with a 6-0 caning of Bargod Rangers at North Road.

Maximum points left Town eight points clear of champions New Quay in second but have played four games more than their rivals while St Dogmaels, aided by the demise of Pencader, are a point behind Quay but have a game in hand and if winning their outstanding games would be top of the pile.

Lampeter led 3-0 at the interval, the goals netted by Jason Jones, Mark Rivers and Luke Lovell. As the homesters continued to dominated during the second period Jones and Lovell were on target again while central midfielder and skipper Marc Evans also got on the scoresheet.

Division Two leaders Cardigan Town reached the last eight of the Easter Monday League Cup without kicking a ball in anger.

The Magpies were scheduled to host Aberaeron Reserves of the first division but when the King George V Playing Field strip was ruled unplayable the previous day Town gave up ground advantage and the game was switched to the Square Field.

But the Black and Ambers failed to raise a team and conceded the tie.

At the eleventh hour Cardigan were given a league outing at Ffostrasol and this game went ahead resulting in a 4-1 win for Town.

It was a big surprise that the game was given the all clear and such were the atrocious underfoot conditions it was nothing short of miraculous that it was completed.

Taking up the story Town manager Seamus Doherty said “Referee Alun Jenkins asked us if we wanted to play and we decided to get the game out of the way.

“The pitch resembled a ploughed field after ten minutes and there was water lying everywhere between the penalty areas. The conditions were the worst I’ve ever seen for a match,” he said.

The visitors adapted far better and were in command for virtually the full 9i0 minutes. Town went ahead early on when John Lumb made a break and squared the ball for Neil Evans to tap home.

When the Magpies failed to clear their lines Wanderers took advantage to get back on level terms but the visitors regained the lead before half time when John Curran set up Sam Hall.

Doherty drafted on teenage brothers Rhys and Dylan Davies for the second period and both acquitted themselves well. The former was provider for Hall to get his second goal of the game and Curran wrapped up the points.

The visitors were without injured defenders Steve Harper and Justin Evans and it is hoped they will be fit to face Bargod Rangers in a quarter-final tie at Parc Puw this Saturday.