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Trethomas Bluebirds moved five points clear at the top of the Ardal South East with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Goytre AFC on Saturday March 16.

Despite sitting in 7th place, Goytre came into the game having played fewer matches than any other side and proved to be a real handful, taking an early lead through Scotto Dabusco.

Mark Dunford’s side showed true battling qualities however, and thanks to goals from Thomas Gameson and Gareth Tedstone, came back to win 2-1 with just ten games left in the season.

Kick-off

There was a really good crowd at Ystrad Mynach’s Centre for Sporting Excellence, despite the heavy rain.

The players showed up on the pitch too. There were some good passing moves from both sides within the opening few minutes, and it wasn’t long before the first chance of the game came.

Top scorer for the visitors, Josh Graham, was lively from the start down the left, and his lovely reverse ball through found Scotto Dabusco in the box.

There were calls for offside, but the flag stayed down and Dabusco fired from a narrow angle through the legs of Harry Irving to take an early lead.

It was a rare sight to see the Bluebirds play from behind, but fortunately they still had 80 minutes to turn it around.

Their task however was almost made doubly difficult when Goytre winger Marcus Jones went down in the box.

Jones seemed to have got past defender William Bevan, who, off balance, fell into Jones clumsily and brought him down in the box. Referee Jack Stuckey waved away appeals though.

Up the other end, there were equally loud calls for a Trethomas penalty after goalkeeper Cameron Clarke clattered into Andrew Evans. Nothing given again however.

In between and after the appeals, the football was good from both sides still. The Bluebirds were edging possession, but still struggling to find that killer pass into the final third.

Ethan Edwards had the first real chance for Trethomas at around the half-hour mark, a ball slipped in by Liam Fawcett found Edwards in a bit of space down the right, inside the box. His shot across goal was saved well by Clarke however.

The hosts continued to grow into the game and put pressure on Goytre further up the field. Thomas Gameson was catching the eye for the Bluebirds in midfield. As well as being a real flare player with every flick and trick in his arsenal, he’s also strong in the tackle and positive with the ball.

His hard work soon paid off when the ball was quickly sent wide to Gareth Tedstone down the left on the break.

A few touches into the box and Tedstone fizzed a ball in towards Fawcett at the near post. Fawcett missed the cross but Gameson was waiting behind, anticipating the chance.

He took full advantage, opening his foot up and controlling the finish well into the far corner to bring things level with five minutes remaining in the half.

There was almost a quick brace for Gameson shortly after the restart. Goytre looked tired after the Bluebirds goal, and afforded the midfielder far too much time and space on the edge of the area.

Gameson’s curling effort was saved well by Clarke however. Out for a corner.

But the threat was far from over. The corner found Evans who hit the underside of the crossbar before the ball was cleared. Another big let-off before the break.

The referee did eventually blow his whistle to the relief of Goytre, who after a dream start, were scrambling towards the end.

Second-half

There’s always a risk that momentum can be lost at half-time, but the Bluebirds came out looking more determined than the first to take the lead.

A textbook bit of play was executed perfectly by Trethomas to the delight of the coaching staff. A ball quickly played down the right by keeper Irving found the head of Gameson and flicked through to Edwards who was already on his way in behind.

The move resulted in a foul on Edwards, but the space was there if they could find it.

There was still work to be done up the other end for Trethomas however. Risca United recruit Harvey Selway joined the Bluebirds recently, and he made a great block when former Bristol City and Fulham forward Aron Davies had a strike.

Tedstone was growing into the game for the hosts, he gambled on a poor header backwards and managed to get a shot off from the edge of the area. Comfortable save for Clarke though.

Despite the Trethomas pressure, the best chance of the half fell to the visitors after 55 minutes.

Jones was in space down the left and found the former Fulham star with his cross. Leaning back though, it was a poor strike that was blazed over the bar.

This began a decent spell for Goytre, who soon had another chance. Troy Hiscock-Greening in the box slashed his effort wide under pressure.

You can’t keep the Bluebirds down for long however, and soon after those chances, they finally took the lead.

Gameson again was hugely influential in the goal. On the right hand side of the box, he spun his man and without needing to pick his head up played the perfect ball across the face of the goal where he knew Tedstone would be angling his run towards.

Like clockwork, Tedstone was there right on cue to grab his 16th league goal of the season. A brilliant bit of work from both players involved. 2-1 after 65 minutes.

The second goal really opened the game up for the hosts. Goytre looked stretched, and another goal would have finished things.

Gameson had a chance to do just that. A blistering run from Edwards down the right – which resulted in the left back being subbed off immediately after – eventually led to a pass to the dangerous Gameson on the edge of the area.

He declined to take a touch and blasted it over however.

As the minutes ticked by, Trethomas frustrated the visitors by keeping the ball and holding it up in the corners when possible. This eventually resulted in a second yellow for Jones, who went skidding into a tackle.

The final whistle went to huge celebrations from the staff and players. It felt like a real statement win for the Bluebirds, who are ten games away from promotion into the Cymru South – with everything in their own hands.