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Caerphilly Athletic FC have cruised past Machen FC 3-0 in an unlikely derby match so early on in the FAW Welsh Cup.

The game kicked-off on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, and Caerphilly quickly made their quality apparent. A goal from Christopher Crane opened the scoring before Alex Edwards made it two shortly after. Substitute Sam Watkins made sure of the win with Caerphilly’s third late on.

Kick-off

It was clear from the outset that Caerphilly were going to control both the ball and tempo of the game.

The hosts should have opened the scoring after ten minutes, but Christopher Crane didn’t get enough on his glancing header in the centre of the box however and the ball drifted harmlessly wide.

There were some niceties exchanged before the match between the players but that all went out the window after a few crunching tackles, specifically from Machen. It was clear referee Alan Gitsham was going to have his work cut out.

After 15 minutes it was Machen’s turn to have a big chance. A long throw-in by fullback Tyler Kidley was glanced onto the feet of Curtis Rees. He couldn’t get a clean connection however and his effort came to nothing.

It became a bit sloppy from both sides for the next few minutes. There were some hopeful balls lobbed in behind as the players became frustrated with each other; Machen more so.

That frustration only grew for Machen when Jason Gardiner broke free down the right and reached the byline before crossing to the feet of Crane. He had the goal at his mercy but nearly fired over with his effort from close range. Fortunately for Crane it hit the underside of the bar and crept in. 1-0 to the hosts.

Moments later and it was two. Machen caught sleeping from the restart and captain Jonathan Davies gave it to Alex Edwards who rounded Colin Adams before firing into an empty net. Worrying times for the visitors.

Davies nearly made it three when his effort from distance wobbled in the air and caught Adams out. It clipped the bar however with Machen now all over the place.

Midfielder Rhys Mccarthy was being afforded far too much time in the middle of the park. No Machen player was getting near him as he picked his passes at will.

At the half-hour mark a player went down for Caerphilly and gave Kidley the chance to get the Machen players in a huddle. Something needed to change if they were to get back into the game.

A few minutes later and things nearly did change for Machen. Rees with a decent cross from the left found the feet of Matthew Greenhaf at the back post. It wasn’t a simple chance from a narrow angle and he clipped the post with his effort. A chance nonetheless.

Crane had an opportunity to double his tally just before half-time but leant back and put the ball over. Half-time and it was 2-0 to Caerphilly.

Second-half

After a decent first-half, Gardiner came out like a man possessed for the hosts. He ran the show down the left hand side and had an effort cleared off the line within the opening minutes.

Machen were offering little in midfield and Caerphilly were keeping the ball with almost no resistance. The gulf in quality was beginning to become clear.

Despite the dominance, Caerphilly would have been annoyed they hadn’t put the game game to bed after 70 minutes played. They had several chances, but none found the back of the Machen net.

Machen were still trying valiantly. Rees danced his way through a few defenders before being tackled for a corner, but the Caerphilly keeper had little to do in all honesty.

The game then went a bit crazy when Rees was shown a red card for elbowing defender Glenn Richards in the face. Rees appeared to lose the flight of the ball, spun around and caught Richards who dropped to the floor.

It looked an accident from the sideline with no real appeal from the Caerphilly bench. Gitsham was firm in his decision however, reaching for his top pocket almost immediately.

From then, Caerphilly were attacking at will. Aaron Hill had a golden chance to make it three after 80 minutes when he was set up by substitute Sam Watkins, who looked good after coming on.

Hill shanked his effort wide right from in front of the goal to the jeers of the sideline.

Caerphilly finally got the inevitable third through Watkins in the 87th minute. Gardiner grabbed his second assist with a nice cross to the sub who opened his body up and guided the ball into the top corner.

A comfortable win in round two of the Welsh Cup for Caerphilly Athletic, who were too much on a big pitch for Machen. They’ll want to be more clinical in their next outing but will be very happy with the result.