Airbus UK Broughton Football Club
The Wingmakers - March 2010 Welsh Soccer News

As a result, the visitors now find themselves three points adrift of third-bottom Porthmadog, but they never looked likely to take anything from the game, particularly since it was not until the closing stages of the game that they threatened the Airbus goal when Lee Jenkins was denied by Kristian Rogers.

Mark Currie

A home win was on the cards until in the 90th minute Jack Lewis’ ball over the top of the defence released Rogers to finish clinically.

Dave Jones

DRUIDS continue to prop up the table after defender Wyn Thomas emerged Llanelli’s unlikely goal-scoring hero with a first half hat-trick, writes John Bridgwater.

Joint boss Waynne Phillips admitted the Ancients had failed to deal with the high-flying visitors’ set-play threat despite an improved display.

“I’ve got no complaints about the effort, all the lads put in a shift but we did not deal with set pieces, which was the difference between the sides,” he said.

“If you give players free headers five yards out you’ve got problems, which was disappointing as we had warned the players.”

Thomas took just two minutes to open his account, meeting Andy Legg’s corner with a lopping header, before adding two more in the four minutes leading up to half time.

Jon Rush pulled one back soon after the break when slipping the ball past keeper Ashley Morris, but Andrew Mumford’s header and Craig Moses’ close-range volley ensured there was no way back for the Ancients.

Joint boss Phillips bagged a consolation when curling his shot into the far corner from the left, but Llanelli, despite the absence of top scorer Rhys Griffiths, had chances to have added to their tally late on.

Daily Post

PORTHMADOG and Haverfordwest, who had not drawn previously in nine clashes at the Traeth, became inseparable for a change in a goalless slog, dominated by the defences, writes Keith Evans.

So effective were the respective back divisions that rival ‘keepers Richard Morgan and Lee Idzi were virtually on an afternoon off.

Porthmadog’s manager Tomi Morgan said: “This game had a goalless draw written all over it from an early stage, because the defences looked so strong.

“Neither ‘keeper was stretched at all and, while there were a couple of chances and half-chances at each end, you could not see anyone scoring.

“Overall, I was quite happy with the way our lads played and have to be satisfied with the result.”

Porthmadog’s Euron Roberts put in a strong header early on, following a corner but that was easy for County’s Idzi, who later looked on as other home threats by Cai Jones and Aden Shannon flew wide.

Haverfordwest’s Jack Christopher miscued at the other end and Chris O’Sullivan fired a free-kick just too high while late on Lee Hudgell found the side-netting.

Daily Post

CRAIG Harrison has warned his Airbus UK Broughton side they must be on their game when lowly Caersws visit the Airfield on Saturday (2.30pm).
The Wingmakers beat one of their major rivals for a Welsh Premier League ‘Super 12’ spot, bogey team Carmarthen Town, 1-0 on Saturday despite what boss Harrison called their worst performance for six weeks.
Despite creating a host of chances against their in-form hosts, Airbus had to wait until the 89th minute for their winner to arrive as former Wrexham winger Josh Johnson gambled on closing down the Carmarthen keeper and nicked the ball off him before slotting home his first goal for the club.
“I really wanted to win that game and the subs I brought on, Josh, Marc Lloyd Williams and Tom Rowlands – you won’t find three more positive substitutions,” said Harrison.
“Josh had done really well as well. Their keeper had the ball at his feet and Josh decided to chase a lost cause.
“He’s run 40 yards and the keeper has then tried to dribble past him on the penalty spot. Josh nicked the ball and got the goal.
“They were better in the first half, but we were better in the second and we deserved to win.”
As the games come thick and fast for the Wingmakers, Harrison admits his squad is looking sharp, and he is able to rest players through choice rather than injury.
After the clash with second-from-bottom Caersws, Harrison’s men make their way to basement boys Elements Cefn Druids on Wednesday (7.30pm).
“Caersws beat us 2-0 at the Airfield last year and it was the worst we’ve played,” said Harrison.
“We have not been beaten now for three games but we can’t take Caersws lightly.
“I’m hoping that their win over Connah’s Quay in midweek has made a few of my guys sit up and take note because we know how tough Nomads are.
“We have to be on our game to get anything out of the match.”
Airbus’ victory over Carmarthen was the first time they have beaten the Old Gold in the league in 12 attempts.
The result came hot on the heels of the Wingmakers’ 0-0 draw at home to title challenging The New Saints last Wednesday.
Alec Doyle

Today Rhyl host full-timers Neath, a team who looked like potential title challengers at one stage, but a dismal run of just two wins in their last 10 league outings has dropped them out of the race.
Andrew Dyer’s side are now an outside bet to even qualify for Europe, but they will be a threat at Belle Vue if they can reproduce the form which earned them a 2-0 win over Rhyl last October.
At the time the Lilies were top of the table and unbeaten, but they have struggled for consistency ever since although the departure of several key players due to the club’s financial problems has not helped.
Nonetheless, Strong is building a young and exciting squad and today’s game will be viewed as a real six-pointer.
The fitness of the player-manager himself, plus top goalscorer Mark Connolly, who came off injured in the Prestatyn game, will be assessed while keeper Jack Cudworth is eligible to return after missing last weekend’s match through being cup-tied.
Daily Post

ONE of the most famous figures to be associated with Caernarfon Town is backing a move by fans to take over the troubled football club.
Liverpool FC legend Tommy Smith, who was manager of the Canaries in the 1987/88 season when they were flying high in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, believes a change of ownership could be the key to getting the club back on its feet.
Town are suspended from football due to unpaid fines and with chairman and main benefactor George Denham refusing to clear the bill, the Cymru Alliance League outfit face the danger of folding.
However, the Friends of Caernarfon Town (FC), a group made up of supporters, ex-officials and players, have formed a bid to take over the club. Meetings with Denham and vice-chairman Eilian Angel were planned this week to discuss their aims.
Former Canaries boss Smith supports the group’s plans but also offered a piece of advice to the would-be new regime.
“Good luck to them, but if they do take over the club my first advice would be let the manager manage the team and let the directors or officials make the money. If it works, keep doing the jobs you’re supposed to do,” he said.
Smith speaks from personal experience with Caernarfon. He took over at The Oval in July 1987 but four months later walked out of the door due to differences with former chairman Arfon Roberts.
“I’d signed a centre-half from Liverpool and one day the chairman told me to get rid of the player as he was no good,” he revealed.
“He’d (the chairman) been away on holiday and hadn’t even seen the lad so I asked him why he thought he was no good and he told me “my mate said so”.
“So I said to him ‘you tell your mate and I’m telling you, I’m the manager and I decide which players play for this club’. He said if that was my attitude I could go, so I did.
“The problem is, you get these people running football clubs who just want to be seen to be doing something, so they get involved in everything and that’s where things go wrong.
“I remember thinking when I left Caernarfon that if these problems find their way up to the First Division we’ll be right in the mire and you only have to look at what’s happened since to see that that’s come true.
“The people of Caernarfon were no problem and made me very welcome, but I wasn’t prepared to work with a chairman who wouldn’t leave me to do my job.”
Daily Post

TOMORROW'S Principality Welsh Premier League match at the GenQuip Stadium between Port Talbot Town and Carmarthen Town has massive implications for both teams.
The visitors are in danger of missing out on next season's super league unless they find some consistency soon and the Steelmen could still finish in the top three.
Port Talbot boss Mark Jones is still on a high after last week's cup triumph at The New Saints, but acknowledges that his players will have to play with the same intensity against the Old Gold tomorrow.
"It was a great win but it's back to league points," he said.
"Carmarthen pose a great threat as they are unbeaten on the road in eight matches.
"That's a terrific record and I feel they are in a false position in the league. But our home record is impressive too so it should be a cracking encounter.
"My players are showing great spirit, the work rate is phenomenal and it's important we play at that tempo week in week out if we are to achieve anything next season.
"I always said we were targeting a top-10 finish as this is a crucial season, but now I have revised my thinking to a possible top-six place."
Liam McCreesh sits out the second of a five-game ban, but otherwise Jones has a full squad available.
An 89th-minute blunder by goalkeeper Neil Thomas cost Carmarthen a point against Airbus last week so they will be looking to make amends.
"I would have settled for a point but that goal changes the outlook on everything," said manager Deryn Brace.
"We are now in a dogfight, but I feel we have the calibre of player to get us into the top 10. But matches are beginning to run out.
"Consistency has been missing but a few wins would send us on our way. Port Talbot will be difficult as they are playing really well.
"They have a very effective game based on directness, tempo and winning the second ball and we will have to match them to get something from the game."
Carmarthen, who have everyone fit, will be looking to triumph at Port Talbot for the first time since 2002.
Evening Post

THE North West Counties League have left the door ajar for a newly-formed Chester club to kick-off a new campaign in August.
Chester City were expelled from the Football Conference at a specially convened meeting at Rushden and Diamonds’ Nene Park ground on Friday after breaching five league rules.
The Vaughan family, who still own the football club, have expressed their wish to continue trading as a company despite facing a winding up order from the HM Revenue and Customs on March 10 due to an unpaid tax bill.
The Vaughan's are believed to be investigating the possibility of ground-sharing with Welsh Premier League club TNS, or re-starting life in the Unibond League.
But newly-formed Chester supporters group, City Fans United, are in the process of trying to create a new club after meeting representatives from AFC Telford, AFC Wimbledon, FC United of Manchester, and Supporters Direct.
Revealing that no application had yet been made to join any league, CFU spokesman Jeff Banks aid: “City Fans United have not applied to join any league, and we will not be applying to join any league while the current football club still exist.
“The CFU are continuing to work closely with Supporters Direct in relation with our future plans, and they have agreed to help guide us along with the FA to look at which league we can join.
“The CFU believe that they can start in a higher league than the North West Counties League, possibly in the Unibond Premier, or in Unibond Division One North or South.
“We are also staging ongoing meetings with the local council in conjunction with the possibility of leasing the Deva Stadium.”
North West Counties League secretary John Deal has urged the club to get in touch for guidance and assistance if Chester are wanting to be part of the non-league pyramid.
He said: “We were contacted by an individual representing a club called FC Chester on January 11, asking if we as a League would accept a new club and asking for the League’s point of view.
“We confirmed that this would not be a problem, as FC United of Manchester, AFC Liverpool and Runcorn Linnets have followed this route in recent years, but we informed him of the initial steps they would need to take if a newly formed club was aiming to play in our Division One next season.
“A new club would need to be affiliated to a County FA, produce a business plan, seek approval from the FA Leagues Committee to bypass the normal entry level at Step Seven and obtain a ground up to the minimum standard of Grade G.
“Once this criteria has been met, the new club could be presented to the league’s member clubs at the AGM in June to seek election to our league, subject to there being vacancies, and after promotion issues with the Step Seven Leagues have been satisfied.
“As there are five vacancies at present and only three applications from Step Seven clubs this should not present a problem.
“We also passed details of the enquiry to Mike Appleby, the FA National Leagues manager, to make him aware of the interest.
“Since then, we have had no contact from them at all, but we have been contacted by both newspapers and radio stations, asking if a newly formed club from Chester will be playing in our league next season.
“As it stands at the moment, the answer is no, as we have had no contact from anyone in Chester since the initial enquiry.
“However, if there is an intention that a new club is formed and the founders are interested in joining our League, we would urge them to get in contact as soon as possible, and we will be happy to provide any guidance and assistance they may require.”
Leaderlive.co.uk

CLUB officials have dismissed speculation regarding the future of Technogroup Welshpool Football Club.
The decision to postpone last weekend’s clash with Gap Connahs Quay prompted rumours that the troubled club are now on the verge of extinction.
Rumours were abounding that the club’s coffers had been emptied and that officials were considering winding up the 132-year-old club.
However general manager Liam Pritchard was joined by manager Huw Griffiths and assistant Terry Ingram in dismissing the speculation.
The club have been beset by problems throughout the season, with the poor state of Maesydre ensuring demotion at the end of the season.
On the pitch the club have encountered budget cuts, which have seen several top players depart.
However the club’s problems appeared to deepen when rumours began to circulate after last weekend’s match was postponed.
Manager Huw Griffiths insisted: “The rumours are doing the rounds which you’d expect after the season we have had off the pitch.
“However all I can say is that from my point of view the club was ready to play when the match was postponed by the council.
Assistant manager Terry Ingram added: “The truth is that the groundsman’s tractor actually sank in the middle of the pitch, causing deep holes in the centre circle and then the Town Council made the final shout.
“We were gutted because we fancied that one and the lads were really up to get the three points.”
The club have long accepted their future will be spent outside the top flight, with their failure to upgrade the council owned Maesydre pitch forcing the club not to apply for a domestic licence.
However general manager Liam Pritchard also insisted talk of the club’s demise had been greatly exaggerated.
“We have had our problems, which have been well-publicised but there is no truth in the latest rumours.
“The fact is that the town council had the final say on the go-ahead of last weekend’s league fixture.
“As for the future we are confident that we can end the season well with the continued support of our main club sponsor Technogroup.”
Gavin Grosvenor

GAP Connah's Quay Nomads have invited Chester City season ticket holders to this Friday's Principality Welsh Premier League clash against Prestatyn Town (7.30pm), where upon presentation of their season ticket book at the gate, they will receive a HALF PRICE offer. The club are aware of the significant amount of Chester City supporters on Deeside, and all adult Chester City season ticket holders will be admitted for just £3.
This offer is set to be extended for the remainder of the season as The Nomads strive for their 'Super 12' place.
Season tickets must be presented at the gate in order to receive the 50% discount on offer.
Nathan Auty

Caernarfon Town are working on a rescue plan which they hope will keep football alive at The Oval.
The club was suspended by the FA of Wales last week for the non-payment of fines but, after withdrawing from Saturday's fixture at Llanfairpwll, the Canaries have been given further breathing space by the Cymru Alliance, who have agreed to postpone next weekend's fixture with Penrhyncoch.
Chairman George Denham has indicated that there are no funds available to pay either the fines or the players and, in the absence of any formal announcement from the board, a statement has been issued by chair of the Friends of Caernarfon and the club's licensing officer Arfon Jones, club president John Watkins and secretary Geraint Jones.
"Albeit that it now looks inevitable that we will be relegated to the Welsh Alliance next season, we can retain our presence in the Cymru Alliance this season and start the work to rebuild and begin afresh in the Welsh Alliance next season," they say.
"We have been encouraged by a number of positive developments over the weekend: The League have confirmed their willingness to postpone our fixture with Penrhyncoch next Saturday to allow us time to get matters sorted. We consider this a very supportive and positive move on behalf of the league.
A number of existing players have expressed their willingness to play for nothing if needed.
A number of ex-players and officials have contacted us to offer any support they can (including ex-FA Cup star Russ Hughes).
Clubs across the breadth of Wales have made contact to offer similar support, from Welsh Premier clubs in the North to ex-League of Wales clubs in South Wales.
Ex-directors and officials have also offered help and support and there are now around fifteen people ready to meet and work together, and we expect that number to rise over the next few days.
"We have begun to work to draft a short term rescue plan and a business plan for the longer term, based on a new way of operating and going back to fundamentals as a football club for the whole of Caernarfon.
"We hope to present those plans at a public meeting within the next couple of weeks."
The statement adds that everything is dependent on receiving clarity from the board on their intentions.
"We are seeking an urgent meeting to discuss all of these issues. Once more clarity has been provided, a further statement will be released," the statement adds.
"In the interim, rest assured that we are working day and night to resolve matters in the most positive way and to get Caernarfon Town back on track and on to winning ways, on and off the field."
Non league daily

HAVING failed to win since August, Caersws have now won twice in four days following a deserved home victory over Connah’s Quay. But a dismal away record looks likely to scupper the super league hopes of Mark McGregor’s side, who trail 10th place Airbus UK by a massive 14 points. The Caersws winner arrived three minutes from the break, Graham Jones’ cross met by Mark Griffiths, who swivelled and fired past Terry McCormick.
Western Mail

There are fourteen Principality Welsh Premier League players in the squad, so Wednesday's match will be a real challenge but a tremendous experience for the players selected by Boyle.
Welshpremier.com