A second half brace from debutant Lewis Reed ensure safe passage through to the Nathanial MG Cars Cup Second Round on a beautiful summer’s evening in Carmarthenshire.
After the elements had put paid to the first attempt to play the fixture on Saturday, the former Ipswich, Llanelli, Port Talbot and Pontardawe marksman’s goals set up an away fixture against fellow JD Cymru South side Trefelin next weekend.
Gruff Harrison handed six competitive debuts in the starting line-up as well as a further two on the bench to begin Town’s competitive campaign for the season but despite the new blood in the Ammanford side, the opening half hour offered very limited action on the goal scoring front. Jay Thomas’ drive from distance and Liam Samuel’s freekick which away stopper Shaun Gardiner gathered at the second attempt were the only chances of note to raise pulses in front of a sizeable home crowd boosted by the contrasting weather that ended hopes of a game taking place on Saturday in Abertillery as well as an offer to players within the youth set up to win their fees paid by the club for the year.
As the half meandered towards a conclusion, the game finally opened up and saw both sides create chances of their own. Thomas and Leon Luby both went close from outside the area whilst at the other end, Iwan John was the danger man, firstly producing an excellent block on the edge of the area from Harry Huddart before firing straight at Jack Lansdown from eight yards out.
Harrison’s men should have been ahead at the interval. Deep into first half stoppage time, Adam John, who was a constant attacking presence for Ammanford throughout the evening, exchanged passes with Tom Pratt but last season’s player of the year could only drag his shot narrowly wide of the far post when one on one with the keeper.
Town did find themselves ahead just five minutes into the second half. Luke Harris, marking his first appearance as skipper, played in Reed who made no mistake sliding the ball into the bottom corner to give Ammanford a deserved advantage.
In credit to the Bluebirds, they rallied well and a smart stop from Lansdown and a last ditch tackle from Samuel ensured that the one goal lead was kept going into the final quarter of the game.
Both sides traded chances in the final third of the match with Ryan Meredith and Michael Vagg going close for Abertillery whilst for Town, John forced a superb stop from Gardiner to his right and Morgan Clarke made an instant impact off the bench, seeing his shot spilled before Pratt’s rebound was well blocked.
Town ensured the victory was safe with eight minutes to play. With the Bluebirds pushing for an equaliser, they left Reed with a clear run from inside his own half and the former Pontardawe man rolled the ball home cooly to double Town’s advantage.
________________________________________________________________________________
Dwy gôl yn yr ail hanner gan ymosodwr Lewis Reed wnaeth gipio’r fuddugoliaeth yn rownd gyntaf Cwpan Nathanial MG Cars ar noson hyfryd o haf ar Rec Rhydaman.
Ar ôl hanner cyntaf ddi-sgor, wnaeth cyn-chwaraewyr Ipswich, Llanelli, Port Talbot, a Pontardawe sgorio dwy gôl clyfar i sicrhau taith i Drefelin yn y rownd nesaf wythnos nesaf.
Roedd chwech chwaraewr cyntaf yn y tîm cychwyn i’r du a gwynion, ond er y gwaed newydd, cymerodd y gêm ychydig o amser i danio. Saethiad o bell gan Jay Thomas a cic rhydd gan Liam Samuel oedd yr unig bethau i godi calonnau’r torf fawr a fwynhaodd fwrlwm yr haul ac a gynigiodd i’r timoedd ieuenctid ennill ei bris aelodaeth am y flwyddyn.
Roedd Adar Gleision Abertillery yn aros yn y gêm yn dda, ac roedd Iwan John yn beryglus i nhw. Wnaeth Harry Huddart blocio ymdrech frwdfrydig cyn iddo saethu’n syth at Jack Lansdown o wyth llath allan. I’r tîm cartref, roedd dau ymdrech o tu allan i’r cwrt aeth yn agos drwy Thomas eto a Leon Luby a wnaeth carlamu allan o’r amddiffyn.
Dylai Rhydaman fynd ar y blaen gyda chic olaf yr ail hanner. Wnaeth Adam John rannu’r bêl gyda Tom Pratt cyn i chwaraewr y flwyddyn ddiwethaf fynd trwyddo un ar un o flaen y gôl. Ond wnaeth Pratt droi ei ymdrech tu allan i’r post.
Dim ond pum munud i mewn i’r ail hanner, wnaeth y Dref gymryd y manteision. Yn dathlu ei gêm gyntaf fel capten, wnaeth Luke Harris chwarae pêl melys i Reed, ac ni wnaeth unrhyw gamgymeriad i roi’r bêl i gornel isaf y rhwyd.
I glod y gwrthwynebwyr, wnaethom nhw gadw y pwysau i gael gôl gyfartal, ac dim ond drwy dacl wych gan Liam Samuel ac arbediad gampus gan Lansdown y llwyddodd nhw i beidio â unioni’r sgôr.
Yn y chwarter olaf, cafodd y ddau dîm gyfleoedd. I’r tîm cartref, wnaeth John ddod ac arbediad dda gan Shaun Gardiner cyn i’r eilydd Morgan Clarke wneud y gôl-geidwad arllwng y bêl i draed Pratt, a welodd ei ymdrech ei guro o’r gol gan yr amddifynwr. I’r gwrthwynebwyr, aeth Ryan Meredith a Michael Vagg yn agos.
Ond wnaeth Rhydaman sicrhau’r fuddugoliaeth gyda wyth munud ar ôl. Gyda’r Adar Gleision yn ymosod ar gôl eu hunain, wnaeth Craig Davies pasio’r bêl i Lewis Reed a wnaeth amseru ei rhediad yn berffaith a’i swatio i waelod y gôl i ennill y gêm i dîm Gruff Harrison.
