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In their debut Cymru South appearance, Trethomas Bluebirds picked-up an impressive three points on the road to Llantwit Major with a 1-0 win.

It was the dream start to life in the second tier of Welsh football for Mark Dunford’s Bluebirds, who made the trip to the ‘Megadome’ on Saturday July 27.

After a nervy opening thirty minutes or so for Trethomas, which saw new signing Leon Thomas miss a penalty, last season’s Ardal South East champions soon found their groove, and were threatening before the half-time whistle blew.

The second-half was a case of when not if for the Bluebirds, who despite missing yet another penalty, finally got their deserved goal and win thanks to the dependable Gareth Tedstone.

Kick-off

Llantwit Major’s best chance of the game actually came in the first minute. A corner down the right sailed over everyone and fell to the feet of Sean Williams who had time to cross.

A good delivery found the unmarked head of striker Joel Woodington who nodded just over Harry Irving but onto the crossbar. An early let off.

This chance seemed to completely unsettle the visitors, starting from goalkeeper Irving who was struggling with his clearances into the strong wind.

However bad the wind though, there was no excuse when attempting to dribble past the striker in his box. Irving was tackled, but fortunately, Woodington couldn’t get a shot off.

One player who did look calm and collected for the Bluebirds was Leon Thomas, who received the ball with time and space out left inside ten minutes.

A good ball flashed across the box found Jack Jones at the far post who probably should have scored. He didn’t quite get his body behind the strike though and put it into the side netting.

After a few minutes of back and forth with neither side really controlling the game, a ball was chipped through from midfielder Thomas Gameson into the Major box.

Striker Gareth Tedstone was determined to meet it, as was goalkeeper Jack Lansdown who was just a tick slower.

He clattered Tedstone who went down hard as referee Jordan Harman pointed straight to the spot.

With the usual penalty taker Levi Rees out, and Tedstone a bit dazed after that challenge, Thomas rather bravely stepped-up and claimed the spot kick.

It wasn’t one of his best efforts though. Down comfortably enough to the keeper’s left, Lansdown parried but only as far as Jones who should have scored the rebound. He too put it at the keeper before the ball was hoofed away.

The game returned to being a nervy one, with neither side stringing more than a few forward passes together. Llantwit captain Rob Jones looked perhaps the most creative, but once striker Woodington went off injured, he had little to target.

As the minutes ticked on, it was Trethomas who were growing in confidence. A great bit of play between Gameson and Jones down the right allowed the young winger to fire a cross in.

It was glanced by Tedstone to the feet of Thomas who back to goal managed to turn and find a shot. He caught it too well if anything, and put it straight at the keeper.

Moments later and the visitors were threatening again, Tedstone this time chasing another ball down before managing to wrap his body and lob Lansdown. The ball just went wide of the far post however.

A minute or so before the half-time whistle went there were serious shouts for Tedstone to be shown a second yellow card.

A needless late tackle on a defender had just about every Major player in referee Harman’s face, who waved away appeals and instead gave the striker what looked like a final warning.

Second-half

With the wind now in their favour, the Bluebirds quickly settled into the same rhythm in which they closed the half.

There still wasn’t any consistent patterns of play, largely down to the conditions, but the visitors were a lot higher-up the field, feeding the ball to the wide areas at every opportunity.

With around an hour played, the first big chance of the half could have fallen to the hosts’ if not for the great starting position of Irving, who was quick off his line to stop a strike at source when a ball through skidded under a defender’s foot.

Back down the other end, Tedstone was working hard in the channels and forged a chance for midfielder James Young on the edge of the area. Leaning back though, he fired over.

Thomas had yet another chance cutting in on his right, this time a good shot down to the keeper’s left which was tipped wide brilliantly by Lansdown.

It was becoming agonising for the Bluebirds at this point, who might have felt like it wasn’t going to be their day.

A moment of brilliance from Young down the left however gave the visitors another golden opportunity.

Skipping past one and nutmegging another, Young was into the box and fired straight at the keeper. The ball bounced back to his feet and as he somehow danced past another defender, his leg was caught and another penalty was awarded.

Tedstone this time took responsibility, but also somehow missed. A pretty poor strike almost down the middle was gathered easily by the keeper who probably couldn’t believe he hadn’t conceded yet.

The Bluebrids sideline was furious, but not for long as within minutes Tedstone had a chance at redemption.

A shot from the left side of the box from Gameson was parried to the feet of the number nine who did well to control the finish after all that had gone on.

The dugout and travelling support went crazy. Their first goal in the Cymru South. A moment in history for Trethomas Bluebirds.

There was a real spring in the step of the visiting players now, who looked determined not to let this one go. It would have been a very painful one to even draw.

Thomas was especially standout in the closing 15 minutes. It’s always a sign of a good player when they seem to have more time than anyone else, his touch was always immaculate and allowed him to dictate the pace of the game.

It got a little edgy towards the end; assistant manager Matthew Jones demanding his players get further-up the pitch and stop inviting pressure.

What felt like an age of injury time eventually elapsed, and the Bluebirds could celebrate their first win at this level.

Reaction

After the game, manager Mark Dunford was asked about what must have been a frustrating watch at times: “In general I thought we dominated the football match in both quality and territory.

“It was frustrating to miss two penalties and a sitter at the back post, but the keeper had a worldie and I thought we managed well.”

On the early nerves, Dunford said: “There were some first game nerves but we were in the ascendancy towards half-time and in the changing room it was good spirited with everyone focussed on what we had to do.”

Asked about the mentality needed to keep at it despite missing chances, Dunford added: “Ultimately that comes from us as coaches and I go back to my playing days as a striker where you’d miss a chance and just have to go again.

“We’ve got players who keep believing and that shows with a dominant second-half. I thought Gareth [Tedstone] was a huge thorn in their side the whole game and I’m really pleased he grabbed the winner.

“Some say 1-0 away is the best result in football and it felt like that today. To come to a difficult ground and get our first win is huge.”

The Bluebirds are back in action on Friday August 2 in a Nathaniel Cup match against Baglan Dragons, which will be played at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach.