Date Competition Opposition Venue Score Goalscorers 22.08 LoW Newtown H 0-2 29.08 LoW Connah's Quay A 1-4 R.Brown 56' 02.09 LoWCpr Holywell Town H 1-1 L.Owen 09.09 LoW Haverfordwest H 2-2 L Owen 75', J.Morris 90' 12.09 LoW Holywell Town H 1-3 R.Parker 55' 16.09 LoWCpr-rep Holywell Town A 1-2 (aet) M.Price 42' 19.09 LoW Rhyl A 1-3 G.Willis 83' LoW P.5 W.0 D.1 L.4 F.5 A.14 Gd.-9 Pts.1 Pos.17th
It would have to be a total optimist to say that Rhayader have had a fantastic start to the season, but it would also have to be a total pessismist to say that they can't see the sparks of encouragement. Rhayader's problem will be to turn those sparks into flames of improvement.
Due to face Ebbw Vale last Saturday, Rhayader didn't play last weekend, and so today will be one of the first occasions on which new manager, Tommi Morgan, will get to see his side play competitive football.
Tommi is, in fact, brand new to the manager's post, following the dismissal of Mark Pound over an 'imports v locals' argument, one player describing Pound's team-building as akin to 'fielding the Telford F.C reserve side'. Naturally, this means that Tommi hasn't had time to experiment with his side. Despite that, Tommi does have an exceptional record and knowledge of the League of Wales, having been manager at Aberystwyth Town during their most successful LoW period, prior to being a player at Llansantffraid and a commentator for Radio Cymru.
The new season started for Rhayader with a home match against fellow mid-Walians, Newtown. Unfortunately, despite it being goalless at half-time, the Robins won 2-0, with goals from Kevin Morrison coming in the 57th and 82nd minutes.
The following weekends away game at Bangor City was cancelled due to their opponents' European Cup Winners Cup match in Finland, and, instead, Rhayader traveled to the newly constructed Deeside Stadium to meet Connah's Quay Nomads. Unfortunately for the mid-Walians, the Nomads had a 'ground'-warming party at their expense, Jamie Hughes being the soul of the Nomads's party, scoring a hat-trick. Despite that, Romilly Brown got on the scoresheet with a 56th minute lob over Nomads' keeper, Phil Collister.
Having finished in 15th in last season's League of Wales, Rhayader were obliged to play in the preliminary round of the League of Wales Cup, where they met the newly promoted Holywell Town, who finished second in last year's Cymru Alliance. That match at the Weirglodd ended in a 1-1 draw, with Lyn Owen scoring for Rhayader and Peter Hughes for Holywell.
However, they got their first league points of the season as they entertained Haverfordwest County in mid-Wales. County finished below Rhayader last season, mainly thanks to Rhayader's 3-1 win over them at the Weirglodd. However, they couldn't repeat that feat, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw. Rhayader's goals came late on in the match, with Lyn Owen adding to his midweek goal and John Morris earning Rhayader their first point of the season with an injury time goal.
Holywell were to be the opponents twice within a few days, as Rhayader met the Wellmen in the League on the Saturday, followed by the return meeting of the League of Wales Cup a few days later.
The first match, on the Saturday, saw Holywell again travel to mid-Wales. However, on this occasion, Rhayader were unablt to hold the North Walians, who won 3-1. Rhayader's consolaation goal came from Richard Parker, who scored early in the second half.
A few days later, Rhayader made their first visit to Halkyn Road since their promotion to the LoW. This, too, though, didn't have a happy ending, as the game went to extra-time, where the Wellmen were again victorious, winning 2-1. Rhayader actually took the lead, through Matthew Price, but Crofts's equaliser took the game to extra time, where Vernon Keep scored the winner for Holywell.
Rhayader's most recent match was their bottom of the table clash between Rhyl and themselves. The match was at Belle Vue, and the then-managerless mid-Walians fell to a 3-1 defeat. Scott Millington opened the scoring for Rhyl in the 36th minute, and goals from Kevin Langley and Tim Steel settled Rhayader's fate, despite an 83rd minute consolation goal from Glen Willis to make it 3-1.
Rhayader don't, as yet, have a fully settled side, with only two players having started every LoW match this term. Nevertheless, they have scored in every game bar their opening match of the season. Today, though, more than ever they'll be interested in impressing Tommi Morgan and moving themselves off the bottom of the table, and it would be foolhardy for anyone to expect Barry to win comfortably today.
The Yellow Dragon
(League of Wales only - maximum 5) Name Full Apps. Sub Apps. Goals ARTHUR, Steve 0 1 0 BANNON, Ben 2 2 0 BENBOW, Mark 2 0 0 BROWN, Romilly 4 0 1 ECCLESTON, Steve 1 0 0 GAZZILLO, Duncan 0 1 0 GRIFFITHS, David 4 1 0 GUY, Nicky 2 0 0 HUGHES, Will 5 0 0 JENKINS, Anthony 2 0 0 JONES, Ian 3 0 0 JONES, Paul 2 1 0 JONES, Richard 4 1 0 McKENZIE, Callum 0 1 0 McPHEE, Dylan 0 1 0 MORRIS, John 2 1 1 OWEN, Lyn 5 0 1 PANNIERS, James 3 0 0 PARKER, Richard 3 0 1 POUND, Mark 0 1 0 PRICE, Matthew 0 2 0 RIX, Mark 1 0 0 ROBERTS, Chris 1 0 0 STANBOROUGH, Darren 1 0 0 TREHEARNE, Jason 1 0 0 WATKINS, Chris 1 0 0 WLLIAMS, Craig 2 2 0 WILLIS, Glen 3 0 1 WITHINGTON, Andy 1 0 0
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
All of the material on this page was first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine v Rhayader Town, League of Wales, 03.10.1998.
With thanks to Soccerfile Wales.
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