The new season is nearly there.

It’s only July 8th but I’m lucky to be seeing my first game of the new season albeit a pre season friendly between Llangefni of the Ardnal NW League and Chadderton of the North West Counties League.

Llangefni can be considered the capital of Ynys Mons with the administrative buildings all being located here and roughly 5200 inhabitants.The ground is on the northern edge of town boasting a large car park at the front. It was only £1 entrance and walking through the gate revealed a large ground with seated stands on both sides, one much larger than the other and covered standing at each end.

To the left as you walk in is a large clubhouse and bar and behind this a food kiosk. I took a plate of chips and a coffee and sat at the back of the main stand to admire a flat grass pitch that had been cut short very recently giving off a yellow glow that will turn a vivid green by the time the season starts with the rain that comes to this part of these Isles. Beyond the football ground were fields edged with hedges and a farmhouse where a tractor was being used to create a neat store of silage. Others sat in the stand with their teas, coffees and food, reacquainting their taste buds with football food.

The sky was grey but the warm day felt Muggy and the 19 or so who had travelled from Chadderton on a luxury coach were sweating already under the warm up games and runs inflicted by the coaches. Llangefni seemed more relaxed and only 13 were on the pitch.

Llangefni Town 0 Chadderton FC 4/5/6

Saturday 8th July 2023 14.30 pm kick off

Llangefni of the Ardnal NW League (The third tier of the Welsh football system) v Chadderton of the North West Counties League Premier Division.

Llangefni in Royal Blue shirts and shirts v Chadderton in Red shirts and shorts with faint white diagonal lines across the shirts.

The game soon settled into a pattern of Chaderton having most of the ball but in the first 15 minutes they only found the target once when the home keeper did well to tip the shot over. Some of their sighting problem may have been because the training goal and net had been left next to the real goal which was removed after complaints by Chadderton forwards and the goalkeeper.

There were some lazy passes and sweaty brows  as 30 minutes had gone by leading to
sloppy play. On 33 minutes in the goal area the Llangefni defence gifted the ball to Chadderton. They took full advantage, the ball being rolled across the goal to be tapped in for the first goal.

A few minutes later a ball rebounded off a Llangefni player to give no. 11 a run on goal for quarter of pitch.  He took the ball to the keeper and squeezed it in by the post.

The score stayed at 0.2 at half-time and I reflected on my own lethagy in the first half having just sat relaxing in my back row seat for the whole of the time.

Chadderton made a few changes at half time and immediately some flowing passing resulted in a goal.
Then after 20 mins the referee booked no. 3 for what seemed to me to be enthusiasm. This didn’t put him off when after Chadderton had numerous chances he attacked on the left placing a ball just ahead of an advancing forward who hit it just beyond the Llangefni’s keeper for a 4 nil lead.

Just 3 minutes later it was five as the llangefni defence couldn’t keep back the tide as they tired and after another 5 mins a through ball was siezed on to be tapped past the keeper. I thought it was 6 but Chadderton’s twitter said 5 and Llangefni’s said 0.4.

Luckily it didn’t matter and but for numerous flagging for offside it could have been many more.

A great run out for both sides as the season looms. I also shook off my lethargy with two laps of the ground in the second half. I also reflected on my good fortune having seen 3 games on the outer Islands of the British Isles in the last 90 days.

As for the chips that were cooked to order, they were hot, crispy but soggy in middle and a taste of grease. Where do you start scoring for a new season, unfortunately a low 60.

N.B.

My friend in Guernsey contacted me to let me know that Ynis Mon have made it to the semi-final of the Island Games football competition being held there. They will play Bermuda for a place in the final.

Their squad has 5 players from Llangefni FC which explains the lack of competitiveness in the game I saw on Saturday.

Thank you Robert.

Ynis Mon beat Bermuda in the semis but lost to Jersey 5.2 in the final.