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 were forced to settle for another agonising goalless draw, this time at home to Cambrian United.

The Bluebirds met Cambrian at the Centre for Sporting Excellence under the floodlights on Friday March 28, knowing anything less than a win wouldn’t do.

Missing a few key players, the hosts arguably played better than in their 0-0 draw last weekend, but ultimately had to accept the same result.

Trethomas remain four points off Llanelli Town at the top of the Cymru South, and will need a lot of help with two games left if they’re to lift the title.

Kick-off

Missing a few key players, including top scorer Gareth Tedstone, it took a few minutes for the hosts to find their feet, as Cambrian began to ping a few passes around.

No matter who is in the Trethomas side however, a relentless press is an essential requirement from the coaching staff.

It almost proved fruitful in the early moments as a miskick from keeper Morgan Davies fell to a blue shirt. No chance came of it, but the intent was there.

Still though, it was the visitors who were on top in terms of possession. The size of joint top scorer for Cambrian, Tim Parker, was a real danger up top, winning headers for his wingers to try and run onto.

For the Bluebirds, all of their promising passages came exclusively down the right, usually between Harvey Selway, James Young, and Thomas Gameson.

Gameson took the position of spearheading the Trethomas attack, holding the ball up and looking to build from high up the pitch.

The first shot on target for the hosts fell to Ethan Edwards on the edge of the area, but it was a comfortable save for the keeper.

A better chance came a few moments later when once again down the right, Gameson crossed a lovely low zipping ball which skidded between the keeper and defenders; no Trethomas attacker managed to get a touch either though.

The game settled a bit and Trethomas looked to get their foot on the ball. Young was dictating things in the middle as best he could, but even he struggled to create any clear cut opportunities.

Things got a little scrappy as the half came to a close, and the whistle probably sounded at a welcomed time for both.

Second-half

There were a few goals to see during the half-time break at least; Ystrad Mynach Primary School were invited to play a mini game in front of the crowd of 200 or so.

Back out of the changing room and the Bluebirds were the ones who started quickest, the lively Joe Shephard with a decent effort saved in the early moments.

Fullback Alfie Jones was growing into the tie down the left too, he whipped in a low teasing cross which just evaded Gameson at the near post.

Totally dominating the game now, the hosts should have capitalised when Edwards burst past his man down the right, cut to the byline, before spotting Gameson in the middle.

The pass looked perfect to the makeshift number nine, but somehow he didn’t connect and the ball was cleared away.

The match was becoming eerily similar to last weekend’s 0-0 draw away to Penrhewceiber for Trethomas – lots of chances, but nobody able to put the ball in the net.

Pushing and pushing, attacking substitutions were made, which can always leave you vulnerable at the back.

To their credit though, the somewhat makeshift backline with stalwart defenders Andrew Evans and David Vincent out coped well. William Bevan especially was aggressive and alert to danger.

The visitors did have one moment of promise though when David Thomas was left in space inside the Bluebirds box. His shot was just over Harry Irving’s bar.

Callum Huggins entered the game for the hosts following a lengthy shoulder injury, and looked sharp from his first touch.

He set-up the chance of the match, when with a few minutes to go, the forward was away down the right and picked out the head of Gameson with a superb floated delivery.

Connecting with it perfectly, some were already celebrating before the fingertips of Davies saw the ball flapped over the woodwork.

Gameson collapsed to the floor, baffled at how he hadn’t scored.

The final few minutes were as frantic as the previous 40, but with the same end result.

Made worse by the fact Llanelli Town dropped points, the Bluebirds remain four points off top with two games to go. Not mathematically out of it, but it felt as though that was their moment.

Reaction

After the game, Caerphilly Observer spoke to Bluebirds manager Mark Dunford, he said: “It’s the story of the last seven or eight games for us, we’ve struggled to score goals.

“I actually think our performance tonight was excellent. We had to change it up due to a few reasons such as players missing, but all those who came in performed brilliantly.

“It is disappointing because we’ve created a couple of chances at the end there. Gameo’s header is a good one but the keeper has just got a glove to it.”

Dunford added how in the second-half a manager has to weigh-up the attacking balance, but felt he and his coaching staff got it right, adding: “I think the platform was there to win it, but when you’re not scoring goals, that’s the way it goes unfortunately.”

On the title race with two games to go, Dunford said: “It was a chance to gain two points, we have to win our last two and see what happens I think.”