21/05/2023
Under 16’s result sponsored by Vince Lewis Chainsaw and Fencing Services
Final day of the season, Cwm needing a win to secure the title and BFL Grass Roots just needing to avoid defeat to secure their spot as champions.
This game was played on a fantastic pitch at the Llandarcy Academy of Sport, a fitting venue for two sides who've been hard to split all season.
Some great quality football played by both teams in the first half, both sides coming close and Grass Roots definitely posing the threat on the through ball, keeping Cwm in a defensive stance and restricted to on the break attacking for much of the first half - albeit coming close with Osian hitting the post close to half time. Nothing to split the sides at the break.
The second half started similarly, both sides playing good football. A seemingly innocuous incident on lead to a scuffle resulting in two yellow cards but crucially a red for Grass Roots for violent conduct on 48 mins.
Down to 10 men, momentum shifted in favour of Cwm, twice hitting the post and then Tiaan smashing against the cross bar.
Grass Roots also went close to be fair, hitting the woodwork themselves and pulling an amazing save out of Logan , using his feet to great effect when stopping a goal seemed impossible.
Then, with the game seemingly heading for a draw, Grass Roots excellent centre foward broke the line, gained a couple of yards and finished well.
The game and the season looked dead and buried. But these lads are made of stronger stuff and picked themselves up.
Return pressure and a deep ball into the box foxed the defence, Alfie Smith getting a crucial header which just about crossed the line for 1-1 on 82 mins.
From the kick off these boys rallied once again, scrapped for the loose ball, and put it back into the mixer. The loose ball was forced over by Jac Smith in the final moments of the game.
Tense injury time moments followed, with Grass Roots being awarded a late free kick. A well struck effort was clearly goal bound, Logan pulling off a breathtaking world class save.
Unbelievable drama deep into injury time followed - a ricochet ball in the box fell to a Grass roots player who finished from what was deemed to be an offside position by the linesman.
A few disappointing scenes followed, the home side perhaps understandably disappointed that this all came down to the final 5 minutes of the season.
However, Cwm are crowned champions with an incredible win. These boys have deserved every accolade, you run out of things to say about the group. They just seem to have an incredible mental strength and find a way of winning , today in the most dramatic and tense of circumstances.
MOTM awarded to Christopher Powell who was solid as always in his position 👏👏
Da Iawn Cwm U16s, champions 2022-23 🏆
