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Undefeated league leaders Trethomas Bluebirds made it nine wins in a row to strengthen their grip at the top following a 2-1 victory over Blaenavon Blues.

The pair met at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach, on Saturday March 2, with Blaenavon looking to cause an upset against the runaway table-toppers.

Despite a late strike from the Ardal South East’s leading goal scorer, Chris Ham, early goals from Gareth Tedstone and Ethan Edwards were enough to claim all three points for the Bluebirds.

Kick-off:

There was a very clear game plan from Blaenavon to start the game. The Blues were very compact and deep in their own half, happy enough to let the hosts keep the ball.

It was an interesting tactic against a side full of quality on the ball, and it wasn’t long before Trethomas took full advantage of the extra time and space.

Just five minutes in, after a series of passes in and around the Blaenavon box, the ball was fizzed wide to James Young, who had all sorts of time down the right.

He curled a lovely ball into the near post, where striker Gareth Tedstone was darting towards. He glanced the ball towards the back post where goalkeeper Luca Bullock had no chance. 1-0 early on.

Even after the goal, the visitors still looked content in stepping-off Trehomas, but this time it was a breakaway chance that doubled the Bluebirds’ lead.

From a throw-in in their own half, Trethomas flicked the ball up to Liam Fawcett whose clever backheel gave Tom Gameson space to find a pass.

What a pass he found; Gameson threaded the perfect ball through to the speedy Ethan Edwards down the right. The winger took two touches before firing across Bullock into the far corner.

It was the perfect start for manager Mark Dunford’s side. After ten minutes played they were 2-0 to the good, and Blaenavon were yet to string even a few passes together.

There was a new found sense of both urgency and energy from Blaenavon after the second however. They were pressing a lot higher up the pitch, starting with the striker partnership of Jude Bull and Chris Ham.

The visitors still hadn’t created much inside the opening half hour however, partly thanks to William Bevan, who let little past him at the back all game.

Tedstone too had a very good game, and had a chance to grab his second of the half. After holding the ball up well, he turned and managed to get a shot, but it was tipped wide.

After a fairly grey and blustery start, the sun was shining when referee Brooklyn Meek-Lloyd blew the half-time whistle, and the Bluebirds would have been very happy after a comfortable first 45 minutes.

Second-half

It was a fairly unsettled start from both sides but Trethomas found their groove first.

Similar to the opening section of the first-half, Blaenavon looked happy enough to sit back and let the Bluebirds have the ball.

It got to the point where after an hour played, the Trethomas defenders could have stood on the ball they had so much time and space.

It did mean chances were few and far between however, but a great one fell to Liam Fawcett for the Bluebirds.

Brilliant work by Tedstone down the left, he held the ball up before a smart turn in behind the defender allowed a low cross just in front of the keeper to the back post where Fawcett was running into.

Fawcett managed to get a good contact, but somehow Bullock smothered the effort. Still 2-0.

Some 80 minutes in and Bullock’s opposite number, Harry Irving, was yet to make a save.

He still hadn’t made one when Ham blasted his side back into the game.

Starting with a poor clearance away from Tedstone in the Bluebirds area, a ball was chipped back into the box where Bull had time to control it before laying it off to Ham in space.

He grabbed his 20th of the season, smashing the ball into the top corner to make it 2-1 with around ten minutes left in the match.

Suddenly there was an edge to the game. Irving went down injured a few minutes after the goal, giving both sets of coaches a chance to change their game plans.

The Bluebirds managed the game out like a side full of confidence however.

Blaenavon did have a very late free-kick on the edge of the area, but it was smashed into the wall and the referee blew the full-time whistle.

That win takes the undefeated Bluebirds to 50 points, four points clear of Risca United with four games in hand.

They face Blaenavon again on the road in their next match.