TT No.18: Mike Latham - Fri 17 Aug 2007; Welsh National Lge (Wrexham Area); Llay Welfare v Coedpoeth Utd Result: 0-4; Attendance: 50; Admission: no charge; Programme: No; FGIF Match Rating: 3*
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The Wrexham area is fertile ground for association football and the Welsh National League, effectively level three of the Welsh pyramid, feeding into the Cymru Alliance is a competition rich in diversity.
You simply never know what to expect- a modest venue little more than a park pitch as at Borras Park Albion or a well maintained ground with spectator facilities and a magnificent programme as at Chirk AAA.
Llay Welfare had the honour of staging the opening game in the Premier League of the competition on a bright and breezy Friday evening with a 6-30pm kick-off. Llay is easily reached off the A483 road between
Their welfare ground falls something between the two and forms part of an impressive complex, fronted by a magnificently ornate welfare building, that football shares with bowls and cricket. The football pitch, at the far end of the complex, is railed off on three sides with the fourth side shared with the cricket ground. There are no stands or terraces here, just a dug-out on the far side, which borders a housing estate, for use of the home team, and no refreshment facilities or even a programme.
Fine views over distant rolling green hills and across the cricket field to the imposing welfare building help to sweeten the pill for those used to more facilities. Play is skilful, fast and evenly contested, and played in a sporting spirit despite the poor referee, minus linesmen, having to adjudicate on a series of marginal offside decisions.
Just before the half-hour an innocuous right-wing cross produces an own goal and the visitors, whose spectators seem to form the majority of the crowd, seize their chance. Their tall, well-built number ten adds two quick goals and a 3-0 half-time lead appears as if by magic. The second half is again evenly contested until the visitors substitute adds a late fourth courtesy of a goal-keeping error.
The absence of programmes will deter many, so, too, the fact that many of the grounds are little more than railed-off park pitches. But this standard of football has a certain appeal- the play is invariably skilful, well contested but sporting, and the people associated with the clubs are clearly football enthusiasts. And there are some simply stunning locations around the Wrexham area where the games take place- Corwen and Llangollen being two such examples. The league also has a good web-site with good ground directions, fixtures listings and a review of games played. Travel with low expectations and prepare to be surprised- that’s the best advice.
contributed on 18/08/07