Penybont 2 – 0 Haverfordwest
JD Cymru Premier
August 18th 2023
Harling 36′, Owen 79′
Regular writer James @GalloisinFrance has taken an exploratory step into the Cymru Premier League.
This was my first outing to a Cymru Premier game since going along to watch Aberystwyth Town play in the driving wind and rain on the Costa del Cardigan, over 15 years ago. A lot has been made about investment and required changes to the national game recently and hopefully that will come with clear and obvious interest by the FA Wales CEO, in most domestic games.
Indeed, though I saw a sticker with his name on it on a seat at the SDM Glass Stadium, and murmurings amongst the Bont faithful (mainly the pub landlord telling us off for taking our pints in to a no-go area, sorry again about that!), I didn’t get to see Noel Mooney at the game, but he was there apparently.
A few weeks ago, the Penybont boss, Rhys Griffiths, spoke forthrightly on the Alternative Wales podcast about the need for consistent home support for the club, even after their heroic journey into European competition for the first time. Though the attendance present in the driving wind and rain on the Costa del Glamorgan was less than the 1,400 that watched the Europa Conference League tie against FC Santa Coloma at the Brewery Field, the weather did little to dappen the spirits and the atmosphere. Bont ran out 2-0 winners in a feisty contested match, with two great goals to send the Bluebirds home empty handed.
The fact that so many fans turned out on a Friday night when the whole country was completely drenched from storm Dafydd, is a real testament to the growth of the popularity of the Cymru Premier. A walk around the pitch in the second half helped to shed light on the amount of Haverfordwest fans who had made the trip east for the game. Both sheltered stands either side of the dug outs were full of Bluebird fans. Though perhaps it wasn’t the result they wanted and had to put up with jibes from younger Bont supporters behind the Haverfordwest goal. The dedication to follow their team in large numbers and add to the atmosphere with chants and drumming, is to be really commended.
Adult entry was £7 with a subsidised rate of £5 for Cardiff or Swansea season ticket holders (sorry Newport or Wrexham fans but I’d be having words if I were you), and it was worth every penny. Tactically, it won’t be the same game as the English Premier League, but every ball was contested and the way the sides set up, it was a game that was going to be decided on very fine margins. When you’re that close to the pitch, you can hear every interaction between the players, the referee and the coaching staff, so the experience of a Cymru Premier game is much more intense and intriguing than that in a larger stadium.
A great advert for the game in Wales, though probably not for tourists looking for a sunny get away.
Diolch Bont – I’ll be back for a game soon.