Thursday, 9 May 2013

West End secretary warns champions won’t “take foot off the pedal”

West End secretary Brian Cullen declared his club’s 2-0 Welsh League Division One-winning victory over Taffs Well as a “massive achievement for the club”.

A Darren Griffiths brace was enough to seal the win and put an unassailable gap between the league leaders and the chasing pack. They now sit four points clear of Cambrian & Clydach in second with both clubs having just one fixture to play.

Cambrian moved above Taffs Well in to second courtesy of a 1-0 victory at Tata Steel on the same evening.

Mr Cullen said: “There were around 300 there which is obviously way above our usual, it was a good atmosphere. The celebrations in the changing rooms after were brilliant with everybody singing.

“We entered the Welsh League eight years ago, and within four years we were in Division One. We’ve held our own since then and we won it this year through hard work.

“We’ve got a young team and many rose through our youth system. Doing so helps them play the West End way, and when they get in the seniors they know what is expected of them.

“With success at many age levels this has been a hell of a season for a club our size. Next year is our 50th year so it has come at a good time. It has been through a lot of work from a lot of people who don’t always get the recognition, so this is for everybody at the club!”

Mr Cullen was also keen to point out that much hard work was ahead for the club, adding: “We don’t want to take our foot off the pedal. We want to win on Friday against Cambrian & Clydach and we want to play as champions so we will be going for it.

“We would love to play in the Welsh Premier but at the moment our facilities and our infrastructure are not ready.

“We are developing plans for Pri Deri Park and hopefully within three to four years work may be ready to start. Sometimes these plans don’t come to fruition but we are speaking to the council and that is the plan!”

All clubs, of course, will be awaiting the outcome of the current Barry Town crisis highlighted yesterday to decide their final standing, with many teams set to lose vital points should the Welsh league uphold secretary Stuart Lovering’s decision to withdraw them from the league, expunging their record for this season.

On Tuesday, Haverfordwest County did their best to seal promotion back to the Welsh Premier League via a top two finish as they triumphed 2-1 away at Pontardawe Town.

Cerith Williams gave the Swansea Valley side a seventh-minute lead, but the Bluebirds produced a second half fightback. Steffan Williams levelled on the hour, before Rob Morgans struck the winner 10 minutes later.

The midweek results leave Haverfordwest three points behind Cambrian & Clydach, but with a better goal difference. So if West End beat Cambrian in their final game on Friday, a win for Haverfordwest at Cwmbran Celtic on Saturday would see them promoted.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Bryntirion Athletic and Cwmbran Celtic shared an entertaining 3-3 draw in Division One after Cwmbran came back from 3-1 down late on. Lee Challenger, Josh Bull and Chris Ham got their goals, with Ham’s equaliser coming two minutes in to stoppage time.

In Division Two on Tuesday, Caerau and Ammanford shared a 2-2 draw, while Caerau Ely put Ely Rangers to the sword – 5-2. It was their first win over their old rivals in more than 20 years, and saw them promoted to Division One as a result.

Tyrell Webb scored a hat-trick for the Caerau Ely, with Andrew Smith and Tom Ruthers adding the others.

Aberbargoed Buds triumphed 3-1 over Penrhiwceiber Rangers in that division on Wednesday night, Wayne Antoniazzi, Dafydd Brewer and Andrew Hughes bagging their goals.

There were also two Division Three fixtures on Tuesday night that ended in draws. Abertillery Bluebirds drew 0-0 with Treharris Athletic Western, while Treowen Stars and Risca United etched out a 1-1 stalemate.

Finally, basement club Ruthin Town held Guilsfield to a 2-2 draw in the only Huws Gray Alliance fixture to be played mid-week, also on Tuesday night.

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