Saturday 24 February

"Most of my predictions disappeared up the spout labelled 'fixture changes' this week, apart from one game that managed to survive the reorganization.

That game was the crucial tie at Cae Piod between Bow Street and Penparcau, and it was the home side who consolidated their hold on the top of the division with a 2-1 victory. Gerwyn Loosely and Phil Evans were the Magpies' scorers, with Steven Wellsby getting Penparcau's goal. The result is a blow for Penparcau, who have missed a real chance to close the gap at the top. Bow Street are now seven points clear at the top of the division.

Their nearest challengers are Tregaron, who returned to league action with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Padarn, Gareth Davies getting the only goal of the game. The Turfs have three games in hand on Bow Street and need to keep getting wins like this in order to keep the pressure on.

Elsewhere in Division One, Bont arrested their recent run of defeats with a 2-2 draw at home to Llanrhystud. Robin Duffey and Sion Meredith were on the mark for Bont, who remain in fourth, while Chris Tedaldi and Arwel Jones got Llanrhystud's goals. They remain comfortably mid-table in sixth.

UWA Reserves' poor post-Xmas form continued with a 2-0 loss at Blaendolau to Penrhyncoch Reserves, Dylan James grabbing both Penrhyn's goals. Penrhyn stay in fifth, just three points off Bont now, while the students remain fourth from bottom.

In other games, Machynlleth sprang a surprise in the second round of the Cambrian Tyres League Cup with a 4-2 victory over Dolgellau. Two goals from Aled Jones, coupled with strikes from Sion Jones and Paul Humphreys saw Mach through to round 3, with Dolgellau's consolations coming through Darren Jones and Tom Evans.

There were also two games in Division Two, Bow Street Reserves consolidated fourth place with a 2-1 win at Corris, while goals from James Leach for Llanon and Tom McKay for UWA Thirds saw them share the points.

In the section marked 'any other business' I thought I'd mention the continued rumblings over the Penrhyn Res points deduction story. The entry from 'Penrhyn fab fan' on the unofficial message board (see the fixtures page) is an interesting one, and I'm wondering if they speak on behalf of the club or merely as a 'fab fan'. Apparently Penrhyn (or their fans) see the 15-point fine they sustained as an unacceptably heavy penalty and consider they may have a case in taking the matter further.

Of course, as Steve from Llanfarian has pointed out on the board, the question over Penrhyn's deduction then gets tied up with the issue over them playing a number of first teamers in games, thereby gaining heavy victories over a number of teams and lifting themselves away from relegation trouble.

The argument then runs that (as has been mentioned elsewhere on the website) 'when you play Penrhyn you play the club not the team'.

Looking at it from a neutral point of view (as I try to do) I can see how Penrhyn would be disappointed over such a heavy deduction, but the idea of taking the case further merely in order to stop other teams gaining promotion to the Spar Mid-Wales League smacks a little of sour grapes.

If Penrhyn feel the need to play first-teamers then there's nothing anyone else can do, they're not breaking any rules and the other clubs would probably do the same. (How many first-teamers are drafted into the Division Two reserves sides when the first team has no game?). Perhaps the clubs need to put the pressure on for a rule change?

Still, I tipped Penrhyn for the league and if they hadn't had the deduction maybe I'd have been right...(only joking). In any case, if you have a view, leave a comment on the 'fixtures' page, which seems to have evolved into our messageboard.

Anyway, onto this weeks predictions:

Bont v. UWA Reserves

Bont will not have a better chance of getting back on the rails than this game, against a struggling students side. The draw with Llanrhystud suggests they've finally put the brakes on their slide and I think they'll get a win here.

Prediction: Bont 2-1 UWA Res.

Llanilar v. Penrhyncoch Reserves

I think this one will be closer than the league table suggests. Llanilar have been playing better recently and surely Penrhyn's great run has to end sometime. However I'm not quite brave enough to predict a Llanilar win, so I'll go for a draw here.

Prediction: Llanilar 2-2 Penrhyn Res.

Penparcau v. Aberdyfi

Penparcau will be hurting from their defeat to Bow Street while Aberdyfi have shown an improvement in form in recent weeks. Both sides need the win for different reasons, but I think Penparcau will come out on top.

Prediction: Penparcau 3-1 Aberdyfi

Tregaron v. Llanrhystud

Llanrhystud are now comfortably in mid-table, and Tregaron's need for a win to catch up with Bow Street means they should have the upper hand. As was said to me earlier in the season: "these are two good footballing sides" so expect plenty of goals.

Prediction: Tregaron 4-2 Llanrhystud.

Also of interest is the first semi-final in the Emrys Morgan Cup between Llanilar and Rhosgoch on Tuesday 6th March. Bow Street and Tregaron will face each other in the other semi on the 13th March, allegedly at Park Avenue. "

Written by Lee Taylor from Aberystwyth.