Category: Football

Wales boss Grainger “excited” with World Cup Draw.

WALES manger Gemma Grainger is “excited and looking forward to some tough competitive games” in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Wales Women have been drawn alongside France, Slovenia, Greece, Kazakhstan and Estonia in Group I of the European draw for the 2023 World Cup.

On being drawn with 2019 Quarter finalists France Grainger said, “I’m really looking forward to playing one of the best teams in the World, if we’re going to play these teams, we want to test ourselves. We want to find a way to be competitive and get a result against that sort of opposition.”

Wales open their campaign at home to Kazakhstan on the 17th of September and finish at home to Slovenia in September of 2022. On finishing with a home fixture, “We wanted to play our last game at home, and we’ve managed to get that, hopefully the fans will be there with us.

Three of our home games are on a Friday night. That’s such a huge advantage for us, then the final game on the Tuesday, it gives the fans a chance to get behind us so we can finish the campaign strongly.”

On the prospect of fans being back in the stadium come the Qualifiers, “There’s a big excitement amongst the fans for the team, the support we have makes us want to be the best we can be. I hope they join us in September to start the campaign.

We’re looking to having a camp in June with two games, to help us prepare for the September window. Hopefully there’ll be some fans there, we want to make them proud and inspire the next generation.”

Wales have been drawn in a pot of six and Grainger sees that as an advantage. “It’s a preference for me because it’s consistent, you play two games every window.

When you’re in a group of five you have to make a decision in one window, if you just play the one game that could be too much pressure. So, for us it’s nice we can get used to the recovery between games. “

Grainger will lead Wales into a Qualifying campaign for the first time, having replaced Jayne Ludlow in January.

By Tobias Hunt

PENYBONT FC back SONY UK’s take initiative climate change campaign.

JD Welsh Premier League side Penybont FC have backed partners SONY’s take initiative campaign by banning plastic bottles from their stadium.

After gaining promotion to the Welsh Premier League last season Penybont are now part of Welsh elite football. The club are backing a climate change campaign by SONY UK. The club’s financial director Anthony Davies is the man behind the effort to fight against climate change. “The plastic rubbish in our bins infuriated me. We recycle at home and yet everyone ignores the discipline in the stadium,” said Davies when asked about what urged him to back this campaign.

Davies went on to say “It was enough, so I decided to take the lead. The ban is permanent, enforcement is a challenge.” Davies also hopes “other stadia support our initiative”. Penybont are the first club in the league to back this initiative and hope many others follow.

Last week was the club’s first game since the ban was put in place. Penybont welcomed Cardiff Met to the SDM Glass Stadium in the Welsh Cup. On whether the fans have jumped onboard Davies said, “I’m not sure yet, we will have to keep up the awareness. Hopefully more fans will back it in the coming weeks.”

On how the campaign could spread through the community, “It can only help the awareness of the community.” It’ll only be a positive thing if the campaign can spread through the community and even further adrift. Davies hopes that the governing bodies such as the FAW and WRU can “support our initiative so that it becomes the norm and not a campaign.”

Post Match Reaction: USW 3rds v Cardiff University 4ths

ROB Bailey hailed his ‘Superb’ USW 3rds side after they defeated Cardiff University 4ths 4-0 at the USW Sports Park.

Bailey praised his side after goals from Danny Maguire, JJ Ogugua, Alex Bevan and Omar Omar.                  

Bailey was in awe of his side’s performance, “we haven’t had a complete performance yet this season, but what a great way to do it today against the team who were joint top of the league.”

He stated that his side were “superb from the first minute to the last.” USW 3rds were without a number of players today, “we’ve got our main goal scorer Mikey Wicherek out injured. Also, Chris Donovan and Joe Smith are out who are key starters for us.”

On his side’s defensive performance today, “We didn’t look like we were going to concede, Dom Ward was excellent at the back and a big shout out to Archie Thomas and Jake Mahoney who did the holding role in front of our back three superbly.”

He also praised the outstanding performance of debutant Danny Maguire who scored a free kick. “I told him anything centrally he can take, I knew as soon as I seen that angle where he was going to put it. I even called it to the guys on the bench. I thought the goal was the icing on the cake in his performance.”

USW 3rds will play USW 4ths in the league next Wednesday at the Sports Park.

by Tobias Hunt

USW 3rds v USW 5ths

USW Men’s 3rds overcame USW Men’s 5ths 3-0 at the USW Sports Park in Trefforest.

The 3rds started the game at a rapid pace. This paid off in just the eighth minute when midfielder Archie Thomas played through dynamic striker Mikey Wicherek who dribbled past two defenders and stroked in to the bottom left corner.

Three minutes later USW 3rds doubled their lead when influential midfielder Jake Mahoney crossed to the back post where striker JJ Ogugoa headed in to the top corner.

The 3rds continued to dominate and almost grabbed their third in the 20th minute, Wicherek played David Ings through on goal, who’s shot was well saved by the feet of Tom Ogg in goals. A minute later Ogg pulled off another impressive save when Alex Bevan’s shot looked destined for the top corner.

The 5ths improved towards the end of the first half with chances for midfielders Joe Dallow and Alex Doughty. Dallow smashed a half volley over the bar from a promising position inside the area. While Doughty struck a powerful free kick which just shaved the top of the crossbar.

On the stroke of half time the 3rds were awarded a penalty when the referee adjudged that Wicherek had been fouled in the area. After a moment of confusion Wicherek said that he wasn’t fouled, as a result JJ Ogugoa struck the penalty wide on purpose.

Four minutes in to the second half, 3rds midfielder Chris O’Donovan croseed for Danny Maguire who hit the post.

In the 56th minute USW 3rds grabbed their third goal of the game, Ogugoa passed towards Wicherek who beat the keeper to the ball and tapped in to the empty net.

The 3rds continued to impress throughout the second half, creating chances. Most significantly when Ogugoa’s delightful flick looked to have set up Chris O’Donovan, but the midfielder smashed over the bar from close range.

The game fizzled out in the last 15 minutes, with the 3rds looked comfortable keeping the ball and playing around the back. Deep in to the 80th minute the 3rds striker Ogugoa was sent to the side line by the referee after he committed numerous fouls and questioned several of the referee’s decisions. He also got in to a confrontation with one of the coaches from the 5ths team. This was a disappointing end to a wonderful performance from the striker.

USW 3rds are back in league action when they face Cardiff University 4ths. USW 5ths also visit Cardiff University when they play their 5th side.

By Tobias Hunt

USW Women’s 1st v Coleg y Cymoedd

ON a cold and dampened Wednesday afternoon at the USW Sports Park, USW Women’s 1st battled out a 0-0 draw with Coleg y Cymoedd.

In a very slow start to the game, Cymoedd kept possession comfortably and played around the back a lot. The first half was played at a slow pace, with no clear chances for any side. Cymoedd looked good out on the wings in the first half. Numerous dangerous crosses came in to the USW box that no one could get on the end of.

The second half was played at a similar pace, with wind and rain obviously affecting how both teams wanted to play. USW centre half Mel Wilkinson came close with a powerful free kick which was well dealt with by the Cymoedd goalkeeper.

The game opened up towards the end, both sides pushed forward trying to find a winner. USW Right back Lauryn Lions was the standout performer of the second half. With 10 minutes to go Lions beat numerous Cymoedd defenders to go through on goal, only to put her effort agonisingly wide. Just a few moments later Lions had another attempt from outside the penalty area which flew wide of the goal.

USW return to league action on the 29th of January when they face Southampton Solent University away from home.

By Tobias Hunt

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