Well what a month!

Come May everyone needs a break in football. Players, staff, volunteers and the backroom team, but that wasn't the case at Newtown Football Club this summer.
Scrap the break because if didn't know, we went on a European tour, well two in fact.
When the European draw was made no one gave Newtown a hope in hell of getting through the first round.
If I remember rightly TNS were favourites to progress, then Bala, then Newtown and finally Airbus.
But Newtown defied the odds at home on a special night against Valletta to win with a last gasp Jason Oswell goal.
To see the amount of fans there supporting the Robins on that night at the start of July was immense and one that will stick long in the memory of the supporters.

 

Going over to Valletta was also a leap into the unknown and a place I wouldn't like to go again to report on a football match.
Malta is such a nice place, for a holiday. But not to report or I imagine to play football.
But they went there, again, against the odds and brought back the goods.
Everyone was expecting us to bow out miserably, but that was far from the case.
Oswell grabbed the early goal, and the 75 travelling fans were in ecstasy, what a journey it was for them.
 Credit to every single one of them. We took more fans to Malta than they did to Wales, and more than FC Copenhagen brought to Latham Park last night.
They were vocal and at times out sung the rowdy Valletta fans.
But again it was an amazing experience in a run down old ground to go there and win and create history. No one at this time could question if this was the best side that Newtown had ever had.
And in the morning when the dust had settled, it sunk in where we were going. FC Copenhagen!

Beat Manchester United six years prior, and drew with FC Barcelona in the Nou Camp.
The Denmark trip, for me, beat anything else I had ever done in my job.
From the moment we landed, to the moment we left the Telia Parken last Thursday, they were top draw, a proper football club.
It was a different level and something you might never experience again but I was glad to experience it once.
But not the amount of stairs I had to climb to get to my seat.
It was up in the heavens but it gave me a taster of what top level European football is like, and I would certainly like more of that in the future.
The result was, for a defeat, an amazing one, couldn't have asked for anything more against Europe's elite.
Last night, again, Newtown far from disgraced themselves and could have grabbed more goals but it wasn't to be.
The European dream was over but what a month it had been.
Couldn't have ever thought I would be in that position at the age of 21, and I have to put that down to the staff at Newtown.
I can't thank them enough for taking me away with them on their European trip and the experiences are something I will never forget.
The Euro buzz is still there, so we need to get into Europe again next season. No pressure lads!

Four potential WPL signings

With just one final Welsh Premier League game to play, the managerial and player merry-go-round is oiling up to get moving.
It is the time of year where players fancy another challenge, or a crack at Europe with a qualifying club.
Last year we saw a flock of players moving in bulk, like a pack of wolves from one South Wales club to another, and it remains to be seen if that happens again.
But as clubs announce departures and contract signings, I have been looking at four players from lower leagues who could make an impact in Wales' top division.

Darren Thomas - Caernarfon Town
Thomas has been a prolific goalscorer throughout his career, and even got himself among the nominations for goal of the season in Wales this year.
The forward bagged 14 goals for the Canaries this campaign after he was released by Porthmadog in 2013.
He has had previous experience of the top flight with Llangefni Town, and judging by performances this season, he could be an asset for a WPL side.

John Owen - Caersws
The Pwllheli based midfielder come striker Owen joined the Bluebirds from Porthmadog in 2014, and once caught the eye as a youngster on Bangor City's books but left to join Port.
Has been prolific in Caersws' front line bagging 16 goals which could make him a possible target for WPL clubs, and maybe a move back to Bangor could be on the horizon, with their strikers struggling to find the net last season.

John Owen battling with Newtown's Gareth Partridge in this year's Welsh Cup

Jamie McDaid - Caernarfon Town
McDaid returned to the Canaries in August 2014 after a spell with Bangor where he notched just twice in 31 appearances.
He had a previous spell at The Oval, as well as at Holyhead Hotspur but on returning to Lee Dixon's side last summer, he grabbed 22 goals in a season which saw his side finish runners up.
He has again proven himself at Alliance level, and that impressive goal tally is sure to put him on the radar of WPL clubs.

Ross Frame - Llanfair United
43 goals in one season speaks for itself I think.
Frame, a former Guilsfield striker, has lit up the Spar Mid Wales league this season, as he led the way for Llanfair United to gain promotion to the Huws Gray Alliance.
The forward, who had a highly successful spell in USA playing for Carson Newman, has been on the radar of Newtown before, and could potentially be a great signing for them this summer.
People raise questions when players jump two leagues, but look at Tom Goodwin, Llanidloes to Newtown and this years Robins player of the season.
The Mid Wales marksman could potentially be a top signing for the Robins or Aberystwyth this summer.

Biggest Mid Wales derby for years

This time of the season is usual a time for pointless fixtures and dead rubber clashes, but Saturday's highly anticipated Mid Wales Derby between Aberystwyth Town and Newtown is far from that.
Both sides will play out the Welsh Premier League Europa League Play-off Final for a spot in Europe and money spinning payday worth just shy of £150,000.

For Aber it will be a chance of almost redemption after their disastrous 9-0 defeat to Derry City in last year's opening round.
The seasiders, under the guidance of Ian Hughes seem to have flourished in the last few seasons, finishing in the top six last season, before throwing away a 2-0 lead to The New Saints in the Welsh Cup Final.
This season they repeated the top six feat, and until a few weeks before the season were one of the hot favourites to snatch second placed and an automatic plane ticket to Europe.

ABER'S MAIN THREAT CHRIS VENABLES

Hughes has built a solid attacking line with flair, pace, and more importantly goals. Chris Venables was propping up the European scoring charts alongside a certain Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in the campaign and you can bet your bottom dollar he will be amongst the scorers if there are any at Park Avenue this weekend.
Mark Jones offers a different attacking option, and always has a goal in him, and with Craig Williams on one win, and Geoff Kellaway, described as 'The Aberystwyth Express' on the other flank, the four can trouble any defence.
Earlier in the season Chris Hughes said the seasiders have arguably the best front four in the division and if they are firing on Saturday, it would be hard to look past them taking the crown.

However, on the other hand you have the Robins, who have almost risen from the ashes in recent times, and who will be hungry for success themselves.
Having lost the Welsh Cup to TNS in front of a bumper Latham Park crowd two weeks ago, the players will be hurting, and certainly have the players to hurt Aber.
In Jason Oswell they have one of the leagues top marksman, who will be brimming with even more confidence after his inclusion in the WPL team of the year.
But all across the board, I could say the same for Newtown as I did for Aber, if they are firing, they will take it.
Luke Boundford, the Robins Mr Reliable fired them to the final on Saturday with a last second winner at Port Talbot, and for me, is the most underrated player in the league.
Stef Edwards laid on the cross for the goal, and along with Craig Williams they offer attacking intent from full back.

 IF MITCHELL AND OSWELL ARE FIT, YOU WOULD BACK THE ROBINS

Matt Hearsey on the other wing always poses a threat, and with the skill of Matty Owen down the middle, and with the asset offered to the Robins in the form of Neil Mitchell, they have as good a chance as there Mid Wales opponents.
Aber will be favourites for most people, but looking at Newtown's performances this season, when Mitchell plays in a central role, and plays well, the whole side plays well.
He seems to be the linchpin in that lineup, and I feel he could be a key for the Robins.
Oswell seems to be the only doubt for Newtown, which would be a huge miss for them, but centre half Shane Sutton returns from suspension which is a big boost.

Whoever plays, it will be some game I feel looking at the previous meetings. 6-3, 1-0, 3-2, and 3-3 this season. 21 goals in four games, so you can forget about a 0-0 with extra time and penalties.

It will be passports at the ready with for players, officials and supporters alike. Will Aber finish off an impressive season an impressive fashion or will the Robins be stretching their wings into the Europa League draw?

Three years is a long time in football, especially for Newtown

THREE YEARS is a long time in football and so it has proved for one club.
The season of 2011/2012 was a dark, dark campaign in the proud history of Newtown Football Club.
It began with a manager moving on after 17 days, and another experienced coach coming in.
When he joined the club he had less than five players to work with, but steadily built a side, however worse was to come.
Docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, a rock bottom finish, and them three points still wouldn't have saved them from propping up the table.
However the gods shone down on the Robins, and they were given a reprieve, and anyone looking from the outside would have seen that as a turning point.
Since then they flirted with relegation, secured two top six finishes against the odds, and now they are left with a chance to put their names in Mid Wales footballing history.
The side came from behind to beat Bangor on Saturday and book their place in the Welsh Cup Semi-Final for the first time since 1998, when ironically they lost to Bangor in extra time.
However the win is a monumental achievement for a side that has been gelled together, put in consistently good performances, and improved immensely, and that all on a shoe string budget.
Credit should go to everyone in that side for the work they have done, and determination that has been shown to create a great team their own way, not throwing huge amounts of money at it like other clubs.
It started with McNally, who gave youngsters a chance and set a good platform up for Chris Hughes, who has taken the mantle, and moved Newtown on to a place that they could not have envisaged being in three years ago.
They face Rhyl in the semi-final, which on paper, they should be favourites for, and if they could upset the apple cart and snatch a famous Welsh Cup victory, it could go down as the highlight in the famous history of one of the Welsh Premier League's biggest clubs.

In other results this week, it was poor, a dour game in fact at Deeside between GAP and TNS, and that was summed up in Craig Harrison's post match comments.

He said that to say it wasn't a classic cup tie was an understatement, and he was right.

The Saints should have had it all but wrapped up by the break, but the second half was awful.

It went off with the feeling of a pre-season friendly. There was no urgency and no go in either of the sides in the swirling Deeside wind.

However as people know, it is a results business, and the Saints got the result and put themselves in the hat for the last four, and will now take on Airbus in another cup semi-final.

The sides were separated by two goals a week last Sunday, but this time it could be different, because in terms of performance, the sides are evenly matched.

And it is a one off game and anything can happen.

In the other semi-final, Rhyl will take on Newtown, so their could be an interesting possibility of a Mid Wales derby.

Attentions this week will turn back to Saturday and Bala as the Saints look to wrap up the title by mid March.

A win will secure the title against Bala, their main rivals, and it will secure the Oswestry sides second trophy out of three in one of the best seasons the club have ever had.

Bala have matched TNS this season, drawing at The Venue so it could make for an interesting affair.

I spoke about it last week and I will again this week. Guilsfield are totally flying, and a win at the weekend could have seen them on the brink of history.
But what a season it has been for the small village club from Mid Wales.
Again they have done things in a similar vein to Newtown, but on a smaller scale.
Kept a good core of players over the years, built themselves up, step by step, and now the current crop and manager Mike Parry are reaping the rewards.
Ten points behind with two games in hand on Llandudno, who they drew with on Saturday is no mean feat for again, a side on a shoestring budget.
It has shown that you don't have to throw stacks of cash to get places in football.
A solid club foundation, with a host of players of want to play for the shirt has seen them fly this season, while other clubs, who will remain nameless, have suffered from big players on big wages not performing.
Even if they don't overturn a 10 point lead that Llandudno have it will go down as one of the best seasons the club have had.
They are still in two cups, one being a final, and the credit must go to everyone at the club for the terrific season they have had.

And a small mention for another Mid Wales side Llanidloes, who seem to have all but been dragged out of the mire by Mike Barton.
When he joined the club were adrift in the bottom three, and staring relegation in the face, but he has solidified the side, and despite losing to Conwy this weekend, they are six points clear.
They should stay up now, and it will be a superb achievement if they do.

Williams flying, McNally mystery and Guilsfield purring

The main talking point for myself and the team on the radio last week was how well Airbus played, and the fact that the Wingmakers should have taken something from the game.

They were the better side in my opinion in the second period, and deserved a point, and some people may have argued three.

Andy Preece's men have been off the boil compared to other seasons, but Sunday's performance from them showcased that TNS can be matched and can be rattled.

However no team can do this over a season, and the class finally shone through, as Adrian Cieslewicz made his goal in the dying moments look all so easy, and it added to Matty Williams' early strike.

Williams has been in fine form of late, and I for one was questioning the decision from Craig Harrison to leave him out for sustained periods this season.

The former Manchester United midfielder has been at the club since I first covered a TNS game at the age of 15, and he has always been a standout player for me.

He has spent most of the season on the sidelines, but two key games I watched him play this season saw him produce two of the best passes you are likely to see in a Welsh Premier League game.

The one to set up Greg Draper's opener against Port Talbot at The Venue was sublime and it showed why he should be in the starting line up.

But I am no football manager.

He and Chris Seargeant seemed to have switched roles of late, with the latter having to settle for minutes off the bench, but yet again it shows the talent that is on show.

Williams' tenacity to grab the opener on Sunday showed why TNS will be crowned champions when Bala come to Oswestry a week on Saturday.

In other news in the league, journalists, fans, players and officials alike were shocked to hear that Bernie McNally has left his post as manager of Port Talbot Town.

After a superb rise into the top six, McNally lost key men in January (the Thomas brothers) and with that shipped 15 goals and scored none in three games.

Following that he 'resigned' and the club said it was due to travelling commitments and other reasons.

Looking into the issues I spoke to fellow members of the press and to players, and it seems that player power spoke at the Genquip Stadium last week, and it rose above the power of the manager.

A board member spoke on Sgorio following the game, and said he had resigned, but said there were other reasons, so it remains to be seen if that comes into the public.

I would like to wish Bernie all the best in the future, having worked with the man at Newtown, and I have no doubt he will land another top job in the near future.

And in my final mention I would like to say well done to the men from Guilsfield, who are flying in the Alliance, and reached the League Cup Final last week by beating Holyhead.

I have a lot of friends who play for the club, and on a tight budget, against some high rollers they are having a magnificent season. Keep it going.

I will be back live on TNS Radio with Stewart Bloor bringing you commentary of Saturday's Welsh Cup Quarter Final tie at the Deeside Stadium against GAP Connah's Quay from 2.15pm.

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.