You can't beat a last minute winner!

Last week I ranted about the Welsh Premier League and the structure, and basically wined about anything there was to moan about.
However on Saturday I was kind of made to eat my words, as GAP Connah's Quay and Newtown played out the most exciting game I have seen this season, and midway through the season, it did have significance.
I went up there like a Newtown fan again, full of optimism knowing that the Robins had enough in the tank to get the job done.
However what followed in the next 45 minutes was without doubt the worst half of football I have seen since covering the league, no offence to Chris Hughes, Allan Bickerstaff and their players.
It was awful with one chance being created by both sides, but fair play to on loan midfielder Ryan Fraughan, he took it well.
At half time I was seriously contemplating leaving. I wouldn't have done but it is the first time covering a game I have ever considered it.
But then it all changed. The second period was unbelieveable. It wasn't the best of specticals but my got it was a game of football all right.
Jason Oswell has been out of form recently, and his turn of form interestingly conicided with my departure from Newtown.
Me returning to cover the game could be seen as a sign of his superb turn and volley brought the scores level and gave the Robins hope.
However it was short lived as Rowlands equalised as he and his side capitalised on some suspect defending at best.
But one thing I have learnt in my time covering Newtown and the WPL, is that the Robins never, ever lie down.
Luke 'Mr Reliable' Boundford levelled it up, but from then GAP should have won it.
Throughout the second period the hosts had numerous chances to win it, and Hughes and his side would have been counting their lucky stars they were still in the game with five minutes to go.
Mitchell volleyed wide and Newtown pressed but it wouldn't go in, and as the GAP sub was baring down on goal in the last minute, it looked all over.
But Dave Jones, who has grown and grown in confidence this season, putting in some absoloutly superb displays this season pulled off one of his most important saves of the campaign.
And from that the Robins went down the other end, and a flick on found Tom Goodwin who poked the ball home sending the 60+ Robins fans and the players into raptures.
I was pleased for Goodwin who had been dropped from the side recently, but came back in, played a blinder and got his just reward.
For their seasons efforts it was nothing more than Newtown deserved after their superb start to the season, despite not really deserving to win on the day.
Thinking about it, if Newtown would have failed to win on Saturday, and not qualified for the top six it could have been labelled as a failure or a step back.
My view on that could be because of added pressure due to last years superb campaign, but I think it would have been a step back.
On paper it would have been, and I think Hughes and his players would have been kicking themselves if they had failed to win.
Hughes and Calum McKensie have built a solid team at Latham Park now with a dependable goalkeeper, reliable back four, a classy midfield, and a front line that can score goals.
And that is all on a shoe string budget compared to the rest of the league.
His January additions of Cadwallader and Partridge have been shrewd, however he has indicated all January he wants a striker, but time is ticking in the window.
Jason Oswell has been immense, and started the season with a bang, but it showed he couldn't do it all on his own, as his goals have slowed up.
Saturday's screaming finish could spark him back into life in front of goal, but I think Hughes is right in trying to bring in a new forward.
John Owen of Caersws was a target but that seems to be off the table. It could have been a great signing, after I was left very impressed by the former Porthmadog strikers display against Guilsfield for the Bluebirds a few weeks ago.
I have heard a few names banded about, including some top class players but it remains to be seen if another marksman can be added.
But with attacking prowess in the form of Hearsey, Boundford, Mitchell, Price, Oswell and Sean Evans, Hughes isn't light on fire power.
And looking at the squad as a whole, and what should be the make up of the top six, depending on a Carmarthen miracle tonight, the Robins have every chance of Europe through the play-offs.
If I was a Newtown player now I would be looking at passport renewal prices.

WPL questions to be answered

Sunday was meant to be the most exciting day so far this season in the Welsh Premier League, however it was anything but.
Snow and frost hampered the fixture list with only one game played.
So the big day that it was made out to be didn't happen, but you can't pin the blame on anyone for that, the elements weren't on the league's side.
However as I have said in a previous blog this week, things could have stopped this.
Later kick offs instead of the usual 1pm business, or just keep them on Saturday, as a host of games were on on Saturday. That would have stopped the problem.
Anyway that is my rant for this problem, and nothing can be done now, but lets hope the re-arranged fixtures for tomorrow beat the weather.
Something I doubt though.

But my main gripe and positive really about Sunday's suspense showdown, is the fact that yes there was an exciting three way battle between the Steelmen, the Old Gold, and the Robins for the last two spots.
But should should a league, that takes a split midway through the season just have one tense showdown?
Maybe it should, and maybe this is another stereotypical punt at the FAW, but I think there should be more to a national league than this.
I understand the job that the FAW does and I respect that, and have reiterated this in the past, but isn't it about time that the 12 team format went now, for the sake of fans maybe?
I can see the pro's and I can see the con's, but I think the time has come where the negatives are greater.
I respect the reasons for such as better quality, more money for each club, etc etc.
But the excitement it adds doesn't cut it for me.
I have covered this league for nearly three years now, but the excitement doesn't grip me as much as it did when I was an 18-year-old reporter.
At best this league will have a battle for second, a small battle for the 6th, and not until the end of the season will the bottom two spice up.
To be fair, there is a mix up in the top three battle with Aber and Bala challenging Airbus, and at the bottom Bangor have been dragged into unfamiliar territory. 
But for me this is as good as it gets, and maybe the league should go back to the convential, old school, 18 team league where everything is dog eat dog from the word go.
I know there are current rules in place that prevents this, but rules can be changed.
For me, it brings in more fans, it would offer a better North/South balance, and maybe it would add to the TWO Mid Wales sides in the league.
Of course unless a terrific manager, with a great bunch of players comes in and take TNS by surprise, there won't be another winner for a while, and that is credit to the Saints for setting the benchmark.
But the race for European spots would hot up, there would be more battling against relegation, and it would be a league that would attract fans.
I have bitten my tongue with the format, but I want to speak out after seeing teams play each other too many times in a season, eg. Bangor vs Rhyl last season.
Speaking to Darren Ryan in the summer, he spoke about how two games a season against a side was great, one home, one away.
He gave examples of going away to sides who you have had a fiesty and close game, and looking forward to going to there place to get one over on them.
Whereas in this format, you can do that every three or four weeks.
The whole thing about licences baffles me, and FAW people may read this and think what is he going on about, and I may agree, because there could be other reasons behind these things.
Yes I understand having 12 top grounds is great, superb.
But no league has a full set of amazing, polished, top notch grounds.
Portsmouth were in the Premier League for seasons, with an old fashioned crumbling Fratton Park ground and how great was that.
Players and fans enjoy going to small, old grounds that offer a great atmosphere, rather than playing in a top notch stadium every week.
Surely balancing this out could be a plus point.

This is not a dig at the work done by these people at the FAW headquarters, it is just to be transparent and to listen to people, and consider these ideas that people put forward in blogs and forums.
Go and research and see what the people want. The survey carried out last season did nothing for anyone because it was presented in such a way that no one understood it.
There are major positives in this league, but there can be many more, and I think that is what the people want.