The Wellmen pick up the Points!

Another good turn out from the Black and White Army at the Recreation Ground to watch the round 3 game in the JD Cymru South league between Ammanford AFC and Taffs Well (nicknamed ‘The Wellmen’).

The crowd were looking for a repeat of the previous home game which proved to be a highly entertaining game and more importantly a win for the “Town”. On the other hand Taffs Well were looking to gain their first points of the new season and were into their stride the minute Ammanford’s Lee Trundle kicked off and got the game underway.

The Wellmen were starting to dominate the early play and for Ammanford they struggled to retain possession. The Wellmen took the lead after 7 minutes play when forward Marcus Jones curled his shot into the roof of Ammanford’s goal net. 0-1 Ammanford tried to respond but it seemed a bit like “after the Lord Mayor’s show” from the last home game in that they just couldn’t find their rhythm and tempo to break the solid lines of the Wellmen’s defence.

Taffs Well doubled their lead when Jan Maertins pounced and beat home keeper Craig Morris to the ball and from close range steered the ball into the unguarded goal. 0-2 Ammanford’s only chance of the first half was a Lee Trundle free kick from just outside the edge of the penalty area.

His direct shot was curled over the defensive wall but just didn’t dip enough and the ball sailed over the cross bar. Taffs Well took a well deserved lead into half time and really didn’t look under any threat from the home side. Half Time 0-2 The second half got worse for the home team when Jan Maertins finished off a good passing move and found himself in space and despatched his low shot into the Ammanford goal. Appeals for offside were denied and it was 0-3 to the visitors.

The Wellmen to their credit kept coming forward and they were awarded a free kick about 22 yards from goal.  Jamie Owen took aim and his shot curled over the Ammanford defensive wall and hit the top corner of the Ammanford goal net. 0-4 The game was effectively over and with twenty minutes to play, Taffs Well only had to see the game out. Ammanford though started to find their passing game and in the 75th minute a weaving run by midfielder Mathew Fisher took him into the Taffs Well penalty area where upon he was pushed over leaving the referee to point to the penalty spot.

Lee Trundle picked up the ball and placed it on the penalty spot. His spot kick was saved but the ball rebounded back to Trunds who struck it firmly into the goal despite an attempt by the keeper to stop it. 1-4 A lifeline for the home team. A few half chances followed resulting in blocks from the Taffs Well defence.

With two minutes of normal time, finally Ammanford’s paceman Tristan Jenkins showed his agility and skill fully beat the Taffs Well defence by jinking his way into the penalty area and rifled his shot into the Taffs Well goal. 2-4 For Ammanford it was all a bit too late and as the final whistle blew it was Taffs Well who were celebrating a deserved victory. Ammanford’s Rhys Fisher was named Ammanford’s man of the match