Welcome to you all, once again, to Richmond Park, where today as a departure from our normal league programme we have the added spice of a Welsh Cup Tie. Following four successive and extremely disappointing defeats let’s hope that a change in emphasis from vying for precious league points to achieving eventual Welsh Cup and European ‘Glory’ will lead to a change in fortune. Our visitors from Merthyr who operate in the CC Sports Welsh League, will no doubt ‘be up’ for today’s game and this tricky match which confronts us will make our boys very mindful of the task that awaits us.

I hope that you do not think I am being patronising but four successive defeats is indeed extremely disappointing and to me it appears that there is a small crisis of confidence, something which seems to have been draining away in recent weeks. It is felt, however, in many circles, that we are fielding the best side we have had in the LoW since we entered in August 1996, with some talented players in our squad, although the transfer of Mark Delaney to Cardiff City was as big a loss to the Club as we have ever suffered. I think therefore that a resurgence in confidence could work wonders, and what better time to start than today!

You will note that our management team have thought it appropriate at present to have a change in our goalkeeping department where perhaps David Morgan more than others has suffered in terms of confidence. Dai has been a great servant since he signed, regularly attending training sessions and not missing one game last season. In fact he played 38 league matches and seven cup games - quite a record. Dai unfortunately sustained a nasty head injury at Ebbw Vale last March which resulted in his landing up at Church Village Hospital, but by the next match he had bounced back and was again between the sticks. I think he might have returned a little hastily (only my opinion mind you), for perhaps a three or four week break to get over his injury may have been more beneficial to him. Dai, however, is a fighter and you won’t keep him down. The acquisition of Robert Fitzgerald, who has been quite a star with Garden Village in the Carmarthenshire League, will provide healthy competition for places in the team which I’m sure Dai will relish.

Now to the much vaunted man in the middle. It is a known fact that more than half the referees who take up the whistle will pack it in after just 12 months, due mainly to abuse both on and off the field. A lot of the perpetrations occur in the local leagues but it was sad to see the incident in that very recent Carling Premiership match when the referee was pushed to the ground. It was of course an unforgiveable course of action but the subsequent antics by both sides were as unworthy as the original offence. Thankfully, I have not seen anything resembling those incidents in my travels around the LoW scene during the last two years or so. Whilst recognising the pressures presented by vast crowds and not inconsiderable money splashing about in the Premier League, decisions have to be made by referees - true, of course, in any league. And I do believe that officials in our League compare favourably with our counterparts in England.

Finally, despite our relatively short journey home last Saturday from Rhayader, there was still a feeling of despondency on the bus. Craig Bellamy’s precision finish in Copenhagen on TV when we arrived home, however, dispelled the gloom, don’t you agree? ............ See you next Saturday!

A good afternoon to all our supporters and a special welcome to our friends from Central Wales. Well, I can tell you, it was a long and miserable trek back home from Caernarfon last Saturday, despite the driving skills of our ‘Brodyr Davies’ driver, having lost to the Canaries by the narrowest of margins. The fact that we lost was not the problem (for we can all accept defeat graciously), but the inescapable truth that this was a game we should have, and indeed deserved to have, won. Caernarfon were a good side, but I felt sorry for the lads who had played very well, displaying a fine brand of football at times and scoring two superb goals only to concede three after a catalogue of errors, something you can’t afford to do in this highly competitive League. It’s alright scoring goals, but the first principle in any manager’s book, ours included, is to keep a clean sheet. Still the signs are good and John Mahoney’s known preference is, if at all possible, to cultivate the younger resources within the Club. This was illustrated last Saturday when young Wayne Jones was included in the squad. In the modern game athletic forwards and midfielders are becoming a priority and the inclusion of the likes of Richard Adams, Rhodri Thomas and Wayne must be a good long term investment. Of course, experience in the side also has an important place and I think that such players, say in their late 30s, operating in a defensive role, can be an invaluable asset to the team. Getting the right mix is so important.

A recent interesting innovation by BBC Wales was the introduction on S4C’s Gôl of a Goal of the Month competition (à la Match of the Day) which is confined to LoW and FAW Premier Cup matches. The first monthly award went to Bangor City’s Darren Hilditch for his goal against Cardiff City in the Premier Cup - who could argue with that? I’m sure you all enjoyed Nigel Nicholas’ blockbuster against Connah’s Quay Nomads but I can tell you that it was most unfortunate that the cameras were not at the Oval last Saturday to savour Paul Burrows’ superbly headed goal after some delightful work from Tony Rees.

You may have noticed Glyn Jones at our last match against Haverfordwest equipped with a file and pen, sampling a free cup of tea (!) and being admitted to the ground free of charge with a brand new FAW pass. Well, you see, Glyn was the official match delegate, a position initiated by the FAW this season, and a role which carries with it a list of onerous duties - checking the dressing rooms and showers for cleanliness and suitability, medical arrangements for spectators and players, security in and outside the ground, dug outs, condition of the playing surface and markings, etc. This is not all, for despite assessing the referees’ and referees’ assistants’ performances he must report on anything untoward by officials, spectators and players alike before, during and after the game. So not only referees are put under the spotlight but club officials and organisers as well. These measures should be welcomed - all in the name of raising standards in the LoW.

So it’s goodbye to this season’s Gilbert Cup following our defeat against Haverfordwest. Mid-week games provide an excellent source of income and the decision to reduce the League also reduces the number of home mid-week evening matches. Our exit from the Gilbert Cup leaves us with one home evening match for the rest of the season - Rhayader ( and that was of our own volition). So our floodlights do seem to be surplus to requirements this season. Enjoy today’s game!