Llanbradach AFC secure league-cup double with victory over Gilfach FC

Llanbradach AFC have secured an historic league-cup double with a 2-1 win over Gilfach FC to lift the Greyhound Cup.

The Caerphilly-based pair met at the aptly named Dog Track in Rhydyfelin on Wednesday May 15 with very different mindsets.

For Gilfach, this was their first-ever cup final since forming only three years ago. Meanwhile Llanbradach had eyes on a league-cup double having already been crowned Taff Ely and Rhymney Valley Alliance League (TERV) Division Two champions.

It took until the hour mark for Llanbradach to open the scoring, Nathan Williams with the goal. Joshua Gale doubled their lead before a late Ashley Williams strike made things interesting.

Llanbradach held-on to lift the Greyhound Cup in front of hundreds of fans to cap-off a brilliant season.

Kick-off

The first point of note was how Llanbradach were playing uphill in the first-half. The pitch wasn’t too bobbly but definitely sloped towards the Brad goal.

Gilfach winger Dominic Hunt tried to take full advantage of this early on, bursting past several defenders down the right before crossing. He couldn’t pick out a teammate on this occasion.

It took a while for either side to really settle, Llanbradach were just about edging possession but not creating much when getting forward.

Jamie Jones looked the most creative outlet for Gilfach when attacking; he always looked to get his head up before receiving the ball and showed some nice footwork when pressured.

The first half-chance of the game fell to Gilfach after 20 minutes played. After a couple of minutes controlling the game, a ball inside to Ashley Williams allowed the nine to turn and shoot. His effort was parried over the bar easily enough by Robbie Jones.

At the other end, Christopher Hickling had a golden chance to put his side in the lead when a corner was headed onto the crossbar and landed at his feet. He slashed his shot wide though from close range.

There were some big tackles going in from both sides, especially Llanbradach, who looked physically bigger than most of the Gilfach squad.

This led to a lot of stoppages due to fouls and injuries, breaking the game up and turning the match into more of a battle off the ball.

Captain Daniel Hanson threatened to score on a few occasions during the match. He thundered an effort onto the post when away down the right shortly before half-time.

Both sidelines were very vocal, with well over 200 people in attendance to watch the final.

Neither had much to cheer about though as the referee blew for half-time.

Second-half

It was now Llanbradach’s turn to take advantage of the slope, and they were piling on the pressure from the outset.

Hanson had a good chance when a cross found his head in the box, but he failed to beat Nicholas Elston who got a glove to the effort.

The chances kept falling to Llanbradach with Gilfach sat deep in their own half after an hour played. Nathan Williams should have got a goal when his free header in the middle was placed over the bar.

It didn’t take Williams long to make up for his miss however. A free-kick down the left was curled to the back post where the Brad attackers were queueing up unmarked. Williams had the simplest of finishes in front of goal to make it 1-0.

Gilfach needed a response but still struggled to match the physicality of their opponents who were thriving off the lead they’d earned.

Jones had a free-kick down the left which almost caught out the keeper, who was expecting a cross. He dealt with it well enough though and collected.

Llanbradach were still posing a threat when attacking, with a high press making it difficult for Gilfach to clear their lines.

Soon that pressure paid off when Hickling refused to give-up on a ball, battling off two or three defenders before crossing into the middle.

A clearance was struck against him only for the ball to bounce back into the middle where Joshua Gale was waiting. Gale took the ball down calmly and smashed it home from close range to make it 2-0.

The game looked to be over with Gilfach accepting defeat. As the timer hit 90 minutes however, they were thrown a lifeline when a poor clearance fell to Ashley Williams on the edge of the box.

He didn’t strike the ball especially well, but it bobbled past Jones at the near post who was left rooted to the spot.

Referee Alexander Jacklin added a fair chunk of injury time, in which Gilfach had a chance to draw level – but it was actually Llanbradach who looked the bigger threat.

Elston made a few nice saves to keep his side in it, but the opportunities up the other end never came, and Llanbradach were left celebrating their league-cup double.