Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Trethomas Bluebirds have had the dream start to their 2024/25 season, winning their first four matches in all competitions, the latest being a dominant 3-0 victory over Penrhiwceiber Rangers in the Cymru South.

The pair met on a lovely sunny evening at the Centre for Sporting Excellence for a midweek game on Tuesday August 6.

The newly promoted visitors looked very well organised to start the match, but it wasn’t too long before the Bluebirds took the lead; a wonder strike from Ethan Edwards.

A penalty dispatched by Gareth Tedstone made it two just after the restart before the number nine grabbed his brace to secure the points and put the Bluebirds atop the Cymru South, albeit on goal difference.

Report

From the off, it was clear Ceiber were very well drilled under manager Dean Brown. The visitors were compact out of possession and moved in banks of five, making the pitch short and narrow.

This provided the Bluebirds the chance to build play in a way we’re less used to seeing, slow and methodical, side to side, probing for space in the wide area.

After 15 minutes or so of sussing each other out it was Trethomas who had the first chance. A ball into the box down the right had striker Gareth Tedstone on his weaker right foot.

Instead of shooting, he cut the ball back inside to winger Ethan Edwards who was going full tilt and unable to get his feet sorted. His touch almost turned into a shot though, and forced the keeper to push it wide for a corner.

Another half-chance fell to Tedstone shortly after, who is always running-off the last man. Beating the offside trap on this occasion, he just about latched onto a pass from Thomas Gameson and shot past the onrushing keeper.

It trickled agonisingly wide though, and after 20 minutes it was still 0-0.

With no clear cut chances up until now, it felt like something special was needed to spark the game into life.

Step-up Ethan Edwards. From a corner, the ball was cleared away only as far as Edwards on the edge of the box, who had what felt like all day to make a decision.

At first he shaped to take the ball down, but instead opted for a strike. And what a strike. Not overhitting it, Edwards caught the volley sweet and found the far corner.

With the deadlock broken, the Bluebirds moved-up a gear and started causing trouble in the final third more regularly.

It could and perhaps should have been two almost instantly after the first goal. Tedstone, again causing trouble down the left, this time did well to play the ball inside to James Young.

The midfielder was stumbling as he struck though, and the ball curled just wide of the far post.

Edwards looked full of confidence and continued to get past his man whether it be down the right or the left. Ceiber surely had to double-up on the speedster at some point.

Although the Bluebirds had found their groove, it was still only 1-0. Fortunately, it didn’t look like the visitors offered much threat going forward.

This theme has been the case in every game the Bluebirds have played so far, perhaps then a nod to the work the Bluebirds do out of possession to limit opposition chances.

The ball was in the back of the net again shortly before half-time, but a very late whistle from referee Dale Randall scuppered celebrations.

A ball over the top was left by Young, who did look offside, and instead Tedstone picked it up and cut into the box. He squared it to Young who scored only for the flag to be raised against Tedstone earlier in the move.

Second-half

Wanting to push for the killer second goal, the Bluebirds had the best possible start to the half when winger Leon Thomas was clipped in the box.

After some recent penalty drama, Tedstone elected to step-up and send Jacob Ireland the wrong way. His shot was confidently struck into the bottom left corner.

Ceiber had decided to drag another man across to mark Edwards in the second-half, but it didn’t make much difference. Down the left, he was past Owen Orford in a flash and won a corner.

There were some clear signs of frustration out there that all got too much for Ceiber’s Joseph Jenkins, who after a string of mistimed tackles picked-up his second yellow and received his marching orders.

Summer signing David Vincent was looking in full control at the back any time the ball progressed. The 34-year-old veteran will no doubt be a much needed level head as the season progresses.

Back up the other end and Young had another decent chance to score. A ball from the right by Thomas found Young in the box who let the ball run across him before firing.

The sideline’s were half celebrating as the ball looked to be heading in, but somehow it fizzed wide of the far post.

The 30-year-old midfielder soon made-up for his miss though with a great gambling run down the left.

When the ball skipped under the defender, Young was away and picked his head-up to find the ever-present Tedstone in the middle.

The striker didn’t catch it clean by any means on his right foot, but it bobbled-in at the far post and the game was won at 3-0.

With a chance to express themselves now, former Risca United man Leon Thomas was pick of the bunch.

He must be one of the fittest players on the team, and when not dictating the tempo in possession, he worked tirelessly out of it, even at 3-0.

It was very nearly four with around ten minutes left in the tie, a cross from Thomas found substitute Jack Jones whose strike across goal seemed to be heading in.

Tedstone made sure and smashed it in from a yard out only to be nabbed for offside.

With the visitors down to ten and struggling to get much of the ball, captain Warren Jones was fortunate not to also see red when arguing with Randall on several occasions.

As the clock ticked-on, there was a chance for Bluebirds manager Mark Dunford to bring on some youth in the shape of Cameron Jenkins, who is part of the club’s U19s set-up.

Another summer transfer, Finley Hayman, had a golden chance to make it four before the whistle. Alone in the box, he fired straight at the keeper then put the rebound onto the post.

That was the final play of a very solid showing from the Bluebirds, who yet again found a different way to win on the night. Their versatility will surely become a huge asset as the season progresses.

They face a real tester on the road to Ammanford in the Cymru South on Saturday August 10.

Reaction

After the win, Caerphilly Observer spoke to Bluebirds manager Mark Dunford. He said: “Ceiber are a very well drilled, resolute side who banked-in and allowed us to keep a lot of the ball.

“We generally built really well but were a little bit sloppy in that first-half and probably should have come into the changing room with more than one goal.”

Asked about how his side has prepared defensively heading into the season, Dunford added: “We work hard away from the ball and always remain switched-on, ready to snuff out attacks.”

On the dream start, Dunford said: “We’ll take it. Every game is tough. We’ve just got to keep our foot on the throttle and keep going.”