Ammanford AFC vs Cwmamman United

Black and White take the Honours

Nothing like a local derby game to stir the emotions and a bumper crowd of 796 turned out to watch this latest encounter between Ammanford and Cwmamman. Only a short distance divides the two geographically but both teams were chasing the points to improve their respective JD Cymru South League positions. For Ammanford it was a case of looking to halt a losing streak whilst Cwmamman needed a boost to break away from the threat of relegation.

The first half was cut and thrust with Ammanford creating half chances and both defences coping well. James Kirkwood in goal for Cwmamman was having a fine game whilst Craig Morris Ammanford’s Number one had to be on his toes.

Cwmamman midfielder Ross Morgan was prompting his team forward whilst the elegant Mathew Fisher was doing the same for his team.

Ammanford’s central defender Euros Griffiths did have to come to the rescue of his team in the 38th minute as Cwm’s striker Christian Allen broke free and looked as if he was going to open the scoring for the visitors but Griffiths put in a timely stop near his goal line to clear the danger.

Referee Nicholas Pratt blew for half time and it was the visitors who felt that they were very much in this derby day encounter.

The game came to life in the second half after 52 minutes when Ammanford’s striker Craig Frater found open space and free of his markers he struck the ball from distance beating Kirkwood to open the scoring for the home team 1-0.

Some eight minutes later things got even better for the home team when pacy striker Gavin Jones burst through the Cwm defence into the penalty area and was adjudged to have been brought down.

The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Cwm’s Luc Blackmore was subsequently shown a red card and Cwm were down to ten men.

Up stepped Ammanford’s Craig Frater to take the spot kick. Frater struck the ball well but Cwm’s stopper Kirkwood in goal guessed the right way and made an excellent save to deny Ammanford doubling their lead.

This seemed to spur on Cwm’s ten men and they got themselves back in the game in the 75th minute when a solo effort from Cwm’s Christian Allen beat the Ammanford defence and his effort sailed into the back of the Ammanford net to level the scores at 1-1.

However the visitors jubilation didn’t last long as minutes later Ammanford’s Gavin Jones burst through the heart of the Cwm defence and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the Cwm net to restore the home side’s advantage 2-1.

Cwmamman tried to respond but a rash challenge from Cwm’s Christian Allen brought another red card from the referee and Cwm were down to nine men left on the pitch.

Cwm’s Keena Hinds did have a chance to level the scores once again but pulled his shot wide of the Ammanford goal.

With minutes left to play, the game was finally wrapped up when Ammanford’s midfield  maestro Mathew Fisher weaved his way passed the Cwm defence and angled his low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the Cwm net to make it 3-1.

With the game won and points in the bag Ammanford almost had a fourth goal when a one two move between Ammanford’s Andy Robinson and Bruno Forkouh resulted in Forkouh hitting the post from close range.

As the final whistle blew it was Ammanford’s Black and White army who celebrated derby day victory.

The return fixture will take place in a matter of days on 03/01/2020 at Grenig Park when Cwm will look to even things up.

But this was a great advert for the Amman Valley derby witnessed by a very healthy crowd.

Final Score

Ammanford AFC. 3

Cwmamman United. 1