Garth Vader FC (9) vs (0) Llangeinor
October 6th, 2014 // Match Reports // Richard Boydell
Yesterday saw the Vaders record their biggest ever win in a performance which is long overdue but has been coming in recent weeks.
After a poor return of 6 goals in the first 4 games, a decision to change tactics to 2 strikers has produced 18 goals in the last 3 and given the Vaders a new lease of life, and this was the day where it fell in to place nicely.
Despite dominating most of the first half, the score was just 2-0 after nice finishes from Kurt Vincent and Tom McCluskie. Jordan Tompkinson took a knock early on and had to be replaced by Alex Blacker, who within 2 minutes of his arrival, managed to get knocked the feck out in a clash of heads. Being a little too stupid to feel pain, he cracked on.
The second half started much the same and the threat from Llangeinor became even less as they offered very little trouble to the Vaders defence, who managed a clean sheet for the first time in a few seasons.
At around 55-60 mins, 3 changes were made, with Gareth Blackwell, Tom McCluskie and Allan Thomas making way for Rhodri Thomas, Ieuan Evans and Richard Boydell. A change in shape to 4-3-1-2 and the fresh legs seemed to take the Vaders up a notch. Within 2 minutes, Richard Boydell played Kurt Vincent in for his second of the match.
Soon after Kurt completed his hat trick with a lovely solo run and finish. Alex Blacker then crossed for Vaders stalwart Christian Powys to get his first ever goal with a tidy header. The party was starting and Llangeinor were lost. Richard Boydell then fed Rhodri Thomas and he made sure to finish his one on one lifting the ball over the keeper.
Kurt Vincent took advantage of poor defending and and empty net to slide in his fourth from wide and then Rhodri Thomas scored the goal of the day, wrong footing a defender before unleashing a lovely strike into the bottom corner.
Rob Boydell rounded off the day with the Vaders’ 9th in the last minute, easily his sixth or seventh chance at goal but he got there in the end.
Aaron Loveluck-Frank, who hadn’t touched the ball for about 30 minutes, had the final kick of the game as a Llangeinor attack broke down at the death.
A great performance all round but much tougher games lie ahead. Next week we will try to reverse our disappointing 5-4 loss to Tyn-y-coed. We certainly go in confident mood.
Match stats:
Kurt Vincent
Tom McCluskie
Kurt Vincent
Kurt Vincent
Christian Powys
Rhodri Thomas
Kurt Vincent
Rhodri Thomas
Robert Boydell
Man of the Match: Kurt Vincent
Cock of the Week: Ieuan Evans
Garth Vader FC (4) vs (5) Tyn-y-Coed (First Div Cup)
September 29th, 2014 // Match Reports // Richard Boydell
Report to follow…
Match stats:
Richard Boydell
Kurt Vincent
Richard Boydell
Kurt Vincent (pen)
Allan Thomas
Man of the Match: Richard Boydell / Morgan Evans
Cock of the Week: Allan Thomas
Llangeinor (4) vs (5) Garth Vader FC
September 21st, 2014 // Match Reports // Richard Boydell
In what was probably one of the worst games in Sunday League history, the Vaders just scraped a deserved 3 points as everything went against them in a second half which seemed about 2 hours long.
A decent start with some great quick passing by Gareth Blackwell and Tom McCluskie saw Richard Boydell through on goal down the left and his tame effort somehow krept inside the near post. Plenty of attacks followed but the final ball or quality of the shooting was no good, not helped by the flat balls we were having to play with.
A sloppy goal conceded from a free kick put Llangeinor level but it wasn’t long until the Vaders were back in control. Gareth Hanbury finishing well after the keeper could only parry a 25 yard strike from Richard Boydell. Tom McCluskie was provider again soon after as Tom Thornton calmly slotted the ball in the far corner.
The second half started much the same and the Vaders spawned chance after chance as they failed to make the most of their superiority. But it wasn’t too long before Jordan Tompkinson made it 4-1 with an easy finish after good work again by Tom McCluskie.
Then it all went down hill. Debutant Garnon Thornton had to leave the field due to injury and with no subs left, the Vaders had 20 mins with 10 men. Just to make things even harder, the referee decided to give a goal which was 2 yards from crossing the line, despite being about 40 yards away from the action.
The Vaders were annoyed and started to lose their heads, soon Llangeinor got a third and were piling the pressure on. Then with 2 minutes to go, disaster. Tom Evans accidentally handling a cross in the box to give Llangeinor a penalty. 4-4, 2 minutes to go.
The Vaders approached the kick off with the aim of piling men forward in one last attack. But Tom McCluskie had other ideas and decided to shoot from the kick off. All looked lost, but a loose goal kick landed at Jordan Tompkinson’s feet, who fed Richard Boydell down the right, who got clattered right in the corner. A quickly taken free kick was crosed in and Alex Blacker rose to score a header in the dying seconds. Do you know he has now scored 2 goals in 2 games and that he is a #beast? Well, you do now. Blacker you #beast.
This game can be erased from the memory, it was that bad.
Match stats:
Richard Boydell
Gareth Hanbury
Tom Thornton
Jordan Tompkinson
Alex Blacker
Man of the Match: Richard Boydell
Cock of the Week: Tom Evans
Wicked FC (3) vs (1) Garth Vader FC
September 15th, 2014 // Match Reports // Richard Boydell
Another limp display from the Vaders saw them crash to a third defeat in a row and confidence is at an all time low.
After a bright start, the Vaders were awarded a penalty after Tom McCluskie was kicked just inside the box – Joe Gallafant stepped up and slotted home to put the Vaders ahead. The Vaders should’ve settled but Wicked FC remained dangerous on the counter attack. And it was from there they got their equaliser. Another poor corner from the Vaders led to the ball coming out to Jason Cook in the middle of Wicked’s half and instead of playing back to the defenders offering support, he got tangled up with the ball and lost it, with Wicked springing a fast counter they scored an easy one on one, which was a shame for Aaron Loveluck-Frank in goal who had a point to prove and was having a good game.
Half time remained positive as the Vaders recognised the need to speed up the attacks and test the brittle looking defense and goalkeeper. But we did neither. The keeper didn’t have a save to make and our overall play lacked any determination or team work. Midfield got completely over run and it wasn’t long before Wicked took the lead with another through ball on the counter tearing us apart.
The Vaders plugged away trying to get an equaliser but another loose pass in Wicked’s half, this time from Gareth Blackwell, led to yet another pacey counter and a goal. Game over.
The mood worsened still when Ieuan Evans refused to come on for the final 10 minutes, and while it is understandable that he was disappointed with being sub for so long, it was still unwelcome and not good for team morale.
I have some serious thinking to do regarding formation as we need to work a system that allows us to use all the players at our disposal. It’s been very difficult to accommodate 5 strikers and some will either have to be content with fewer minutes or will have to adapt and be willing to fill other positions.
Morgan Evans filled 3 different positions yesterday without a groan as have a few others already this season, and that is the type of attitude we need from all players. No one knows the frustration of playing out of their favoured position more than me, but it’s all about what’s best for the team and you take a hit for the team if asked to do so.
Despite the poor result against a team we are more than capable of beating, there were some good displays again, Tom Thornton and Morgan Evans played well, Aaron answered his critics and cock of the week awards in goal, Kurt put in his usual shift and Christian Powys was excellent in defense.
Next, we travel to Llangeinor who are struggling as much as us, and nothing other than a win will be acceptable. Hopefully it will put us on a run of good performances and results. C’mon Vaders!
Match stats:
Joe Gallafant (pen)
Man of the Match: Kurt Vincent
Cock of the Week: Jason Cook
Seahorse FC (8) vs (0) Garth Vader FC
September 8th, 2014 // Match Reports // Richard Boydell
Yesterday was a day to forget for The Vaders after receiving an 8-0 tuning at the hands of new team Seahorse FC. Playing their first ever home game, they had a great crowd show up to watch and several subs. They started aggressive and cocky, egged on by their giggling fans, but soon found that the Vaders are not easily intimidated and the game was even for the opening 2o minutes or so.
But 2 very soft goals in quick succession put the Seahorse on the front foot and another 2 soft goals towards the end of the half saw Vaders’ heads go down. A half to forget for goalkeeper Aaron Loveluck-Frank, who picked up a second Cock of the Week vote in as many weeks. He had a much improved second half, stopping a few one on ones but was let down by a defence which had almost given up any hope and were run ragged for most of the second half.
8-0 was a big scoreline but truth be told it could have been more. The Vaders will need to bounce back quickly and show much more fighting spirit in the coming weeks. Tom ‘Chocky’ Thornton was one of the few plus points of the performance, teaming up well with Rich Boydell in midfield who also did ok (apart from falling over and kicking the ball into his own hands, doh!).
Rob Boydell had a solid game at left back, facing a very pacey winger and Kurt Vincent tried his best as always to get things going in attack. Rhodri Thomas held the ball up well in the first half but with most of our threatening play coming from balls through or over their defence, he made way in order to get Joe Gallafant up top. Nothing we tried yielded any goals or decent chances for that matter and the Seahorse had it easy for the last half an hour as they enjoyed themselves and their dominance.
It’s up the the Vaders now to make sure they don’t leave Caerau Park feeling so cocky the next time we meet.
Match stats:
Man of the Match: Tom Thornton
Cock of the Week: Aaron Loveluck-Frank
