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Trethomas Bluebirds kicked-off their Ardal South East campaign with a 3-0 statement win over local rivals Aberbargoed Buds under the floodlights of the Centre for Sporting Excellence.

Around 200 or so fans gathered in Ystrad Mynach to watch the highly anticipated season opener on Friday August 4, with the Bluebirds looking to go one better than last year’s efforts and gain promotion to the JD Cymru South.

Meanwhile, the Buds were feeling confident ahead of their return to the third division of Welsh football, after a controversial demotion two seasons ago.

Kick off

Within minutes Trethomas had slipped seamlessly into the form that had them knocking on the door of promotion last season.

Ethan Edwards, coming off a great year where he had eight goals and six assists at age 20, burst brilliantly down the left wing before rounding the fullback and laying it to the feet of Charlie Loss.

Loss couldn’t miss with Buds keeper Jonathan Green sucked into the near post, 1-0 to the Bluebirds and a dream start for the home side.

Overall the game felt fiery from the get-go. Referee Ashley Thomas was letting things go as best he could as the fans made themselves heard.

The goal appeared to knock some confidence out of Aberbargoed. The Buds had four new signings starting for them and needed a leader to help them refocus.

Unfortunately for them, their leader and captain Gavin Meacham was forced off through injury after only 13 minutes. A huge blow for the visitors.

Trethomas latched onto this nervous energy; pressing the Buds high up the field as the Bluebirds’ new captain Gwion Pugh-Jones kept the back line well away from his area out of possession.

Despite the difficult start, the visitors had a glorious chance to equal things up on the 15 minute mark with an effort from new signings Kyle Bassett and Luke Mcauliffe.

Bassett with a superb cross from the right split two Trethomas defenders, before finding the feet of sub Mcauliffe who opened his foot up and volleyed, narrowly wide left.

After that scare for Trethomas, the hosts began mounting pressure on the Aberbargoed back line. Edwards again asking questions down the left.

A few minutes later and the pressure told. A blunder from defender Dafydd Brewer left a headed ball short of his keeper.

The Bluebirds’ main man Gareth Tedstone found the ball at his feet with the keeper in no mans land. He passed it home from the middle of the box to give his side a 2-0 lead.

A few minutes later and it was the hosts debutant in James Saddler who almost had the dream start. He of course comes in to replace former Bluebirds captain Tom Rutherford who has moved to Cwmbran Town.

The midfielder played a brilliant through ball to the feet of Tedstone who would have scored minus a great save.

Aberbargoed were beginning to find their feet with about 15 minutes to go in the half. Joel Powell had a nice turn and shot as the visitors looked to get something on the board before half time.

And perhaps they should have. A hugely controversial moment erupted after the referee blew the whistle for a ‘winded’ Buds player as their own Macsen Evans leathered one into the bottom corner from 30 metres out.

Aberbargoed flew over to the referee who pointed to the injured player, insisting there was no advantage.

After the game, the Buds’ manager Sean Wharton would go on to describe the decision as a “potential turning point”.

The visitors closed the half out strongly and would have been disappointed to head into the changing room. Louis Feeley with a shot just over the bar before Evans clipped the woodwork as the whistle blew.

Second half

Any momentum Aberbargoed were hoping to hold onto quickly died after Tedstone grabbed his brace just two minutes into the second half.

This time the goalkeeper came out to try and pluck the ball from the air but completely mistimed his jump and Tedstone beat him to it. Alfie Jones with the assist.

It felt like game over, but the Buds battled on. Daniel Macdonald looked superb on the ball with a great touch and passing range, but the visitors were struggling to find a target man who could drive at goal and finish.

The game went a little scrappy with an hour gone. Tedstone made way for Liam Fawcett, a decision Bluebirds manager Mark Dunford told Caerphilly Observer was partly tactical, however the striker also had a tight hamstring.

Soon after and Powell, who was one of the Buds’ better players, had former Trethomas loanee Harry Irving stretching, but it was nothing too threatening.

Things became a little heated as the game drew to a close. Trethomas were slowing the game down as best they could as Aberbargoed kept at it.

There was nearly a fourth for Trethomas who had one poked off the line with a few minutes to go, but the damage was done nonetheless.

Full time and it was 3-0 to Trethomas in a brilliant performance where they controlled the majority of the game in every area of the pitch. They have no doubt sent out a strong message to the rest of the league that they will be there when the season comes to an end in eight months or so. The Bluebirds travel to Undy on Tuesday August 8.

For the Buds, it was a very difficult opening game to be given. They can draw a line under this one and look to start afresh when they visit another borough side in Treowen Stars on Friday August 11.

Reactions

On the game, Bluebirds manager Mark Dunford said: “You always want to get off to a good start and we didn’t last season when we felt equally prepared, so it feels great.

“It was a typically frantic first game with lots of ball in the air which we need to improve on but overall really delighted.

“We went into our shells a bit those last 20 minutes of the first half which was disappointing. We probably showed them a little bit too much respect but we put that right at half time and came out firing. That led to the goal which ultimately killed the game, from there we controlled the ball well.”

On new signing James Saddler and his performance, Dunford said: “He’s the type of player we felt like we needed in the side in an area we were lacking in last season. He’s done really well tonight and has a lot more to give off a season plagued with injuries.”

Aberbargoed manager Sean Wharton also gave his thoughts. He said: “We’re all gutted. We don’t want to be a team who performs well and loses.

“We didn’t match their aggression honestly. They were very direct and we didn’t cope well enough. Of course we also gave away silly goals at silly times which made the task even harder.

“There’s no pretending or making excuses, we weren’t good enough tonight.”