Cambrian & Clydach Vale  1 - 2  Garden Village

Welsh Football League Division 2
Saturday August 12, 2006

A late David Evans strike sealed an opening day victory for Garden Village for the first time in 6 years against newly-promoted Cambrian & Clydach Vale at their King George V New Field ground.

Evans made ammends for his mistake which allowed the home side to cancel out David Rimmer's early opener, and for the first time since the 2000/01 season the league table will show three points next to Garden Village's name.

The visitors were without a number of players including Neil Simon, Jamie Mansell, Chris Thomas, Rob Shannon and Ashley Richards, but Bob Lloyd was able to welcome Marc Lloyd back to the side while Jamie Evans returned after a season away from the club.

It took just 5 minutes for Garden Village to get themselves off the mark and it all started with Paul Bromage forcing the home 'keeper into making a save low to his left, forcing the ball out for a corner. The first corner was cleared but when the second was knocked in David Rimmer was at hand to strike it low into the net from 6-yards.

The home side, making their debut at this level, did cause Garden Village a few problems with their style of play and came close to equalising on 13 minutes but Stuart Lloyd was at hand to stop a well-struck volley.

But they were on level terms just 5 minutes after that when a long ball up field was mis-judged by David Evans and it bounced over his head allowing a Cambrian player through on goal, he shot low to Lloyd's right and, although he got a hand to it, the ball rolled into the bottom corner of the net.

Phil Myles will be looking to establish himself within the first-team as there are a few strikers to return, but he came very close to restoring the lead on 26 minutes with a snap-shot which was well saved by the 'keeper after some good work by the impressive Jamie Evans.

Midfielder Phil John, who was making his return to competitive action after suffering injury on the opening day last term, didn't even complete the first-half of this game after going off after just 37 minutes, although the injury sustained is nowhere near as bad as last year's.

: Half-Time :
Cambrian & Clydach Vale  1 - 1  Garden Village

The second-half started a lot quieter but Jamie Evans capitalised on a defensive error on 58 minutes, he broke through on goal and unleashed a low shot which was well-saved one-handed by the goalkeeper. Evans was also involved in the next attack 3 minutes later, his excellent through ball to Marc Lloyd was met by a ferocious shot which was pushed away again by the shot-stopper.

Freddy Treloar and Mark Napieralla were both brought on during the course of the second-half for their debuts and both looked solid in preventing the home side as they went looking for a goal that would clinch them victory.

But it was the side from Stafford Common who were to claim all three points with a second goal 7 minutes from time; Marc Lloyd's corner from the left was swung in and met by David Evans on the 6-yard box to the joy of the players, the bench and band of travelling supporters.

Marc Lloyd and Phil Myles both had chances to put the game beyond their hosts, while Cambrian & Clydach pushed for an equalising goal as time went on but for the first time since Saturday August 19 in the year 2000, when Tredegar Town were beaten 2-1, Garden Village secured an opening day victory.

Village: Stuart Lloyd; Michael Harvey, David Evans, David Rimmer (Freddy Treloar, 71'); Jamie Evans, Steven Evans (Mark Napieralla, 77'), Paul Bromage, Phil John (Dayle Selvage, 37'), Jack Jenkins; Marc Lloyd, Phil Myles.

Goals: David Rimmer (5') & David Evans (83')

Attendance: 60 (Est.)

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