"So, we've reached the end of the season again, and it's time to sum up the year as I have seen it in the Cambrian Tyres Aberystwyth League.
Bow Street
Champions of the league for the first time since 2003-4, Bow Street just about deserved their title. Their consistency in the league was the key to their success; a shaky start was smoothed out towards mid-season and a strong finish ensured the title returned to Cae Piod. Looking at the other competitions it would seem the Magpies have sacrificed cup success for league glory; the loss of their Emrys Morgan crown will have been particularly painful. It looks like promotion to the Spar Mid-Wales will result next season - I have heard that the Cae Piod facilities have gained approval, though the Magpies will have to wait for the League AGM for official confirmation. My concern is that Bow Street will try and recruit many Aber League players with the lure of football in a higher division - thereby reducing the talent in our league. Several high-profile names from the district league have already been mentioned, and the Magpies management has publicly stated they are looking to strengthen. Nevertheless, I wish them all the best in the Mid-Wales league next season, though I think many fans will not be disappointed if they return to the Aber League sooner rather than later.
Tregaron Turfs
A superb season for the Turfs, who triumphed in the Emrys Morgan Cup, though their league challenge faltered right at the end of the campaign. Despite this they can be proud of their showing as well as the way they have achieved it - many people have commented on the attractiveness of the football played at Tregaron. If they can keep their side together and perhaps strengthen a little bit - their lack of a reserve side is a concern - they should mount an even stronger challenge next term. Like Bow Street last season, they may want to concentrate on the league in 2007-8; I got the impression their campaign on so many fronts harmed their Division One challenge towards the end of the year. Nevertheless a season to look back on with pride for Tregaron.
Penparcau
Third place in the league, League Cup winners, Newman Memorial Trophy winners and yet you get the sense that it's just not enough for the Min-y-Ddol side. Penparcau are a team that pride themselves on being contenders for the major titles, and the way their challenge in the league was upstaged by Tregaron and Bow Street will not have pleased them. In the Emrys Morgan they were unlucky to draw eventual finalists Rhosgoch in an early round and they were our last representatives in the Central Wales Cup until Four Crosses knocked them out. Despite that, another solid season with trophies for Penparcau, and the departure of Bow Street for higher pastures means their already brewing rivalry with Tregaron should be among the highlights of next season as the two sides will undoubtedly be among the contenders for the title.
Bont
A really promising start for Bont, for the early part of the season they were battling it out with Tregaron for top place, then a horrible sequence of results over Xmas and the New Year saw them slide down the league. So, on the face of it not much has changed. They have risen a place in the table from last year but this will be cold comfort for a team that seemed set to be a surprise package. One is tempted, as with Tregaron, to look at strength in depth; the lack of a reserve side probably means limited options for Bont if first team players get injured. Overall not a bad effort, but they will want to look at the reasons their challenge faltered. Still, they won the Tipit championship on S4C, so the trophy cabinet is not entirely bare.
Dolgellau
A strange season for Dolgellau, they never looked like challenging the top teams and yet they were still mathematically in with a chance with about three weeks left. Much of this is due to their odd fixtures schedule, which saw them pack in the games in the later part of the season. Still, finishing fifth is no disgrace, but they will be disappointed at the lack of a serious challenge in any of the cup competitions, though their exit in the Emrys Morgan was at the hands of the eventual winners Tregaron. If Dolgellau find that little bit extra next season they can challenge the teams above them.
Penrhyncoch Reserves
A controversial season for Penrhyn, the fifteen point deduction proved a killer blow to their hopes of regaining their league title. However if one looks closely at their season that single issue does not tell the whole story. The fact is that, especially in the early part of the season, Penrhyn did not play well enough to merit a higher-placed finish. The controversial use of some first-teamers dragged them from the bottom of the league and into mid-table safety, but they were unable to go further than that; the lack of challenge in the cups also adds weight to the theory that this is merely a poor season for Penrhyn Res, rather than the 'we was robbed' scenario that has been mentioned in certain quarters. Nevertheless, I'm sure they'll return to the upper echelons next season - the good performance of Penrhyncoch Thirds in Division Two should be noted, as there is clearly a certain amount of strength in depth.
Talybont
At the start of the season I tipped Talybont as a possible relegation candidate. I have to admit I was wrong about their chances. Talybont have impressed, they have not been spectacular; nor have they made a great challenge in the cups, but they have finished comfortably mid-table away from several sides who perhaps saw themselves finishing above Talybont this season. A solid, creditable effort, which can hopefully be built upon next season.
Llanrhystud
A team with plenty of potential, and plenty of good players, has failed to produce the goods this season. Llanrhystud are a good footballing team, but they have been terminally inconsistent and this has seen them finish in a poor position in the league. The run to the final of the Consolation Cup seemed to offer some end of season hope, but their loss in the final to Aberdyfi just summed up their season. Llanrhystud seem to be a team at the crossroads; the departure of manager Darren Davies confirms that this is a crucial time for them. Either they pick themselves up and push on for next season or the club will be in a potentially terminal decline.
Llanilar
As with Llanrhystud, plenty of good players and plenty of reasons to wonder why they haven't performed this season. The run to the semi-finals of the Emrys Morgan Cup showed what they can do, but too often Llanilar conceded late goals when leading games and ended up losing or drawing matches. Whether this is down to a problem with fitness, or a tendency to rest on their laurels in a winning position is a matter for debate. The fact is Llanilar face an uphill task next season, as there are two good teams being promoted. More of an effort is needed by all if they are to make progress.
UWA Reserves
The best that can be said about the students is that they were slightly better than last season. The standard of UWA Res teams seems to have declined in recent years, and that is a shame for the league. There is not much else to say, other than I hope for an improvement next year.
Aberdyfi
Where to start? First of all, many congratulations to Aberdyfi for their victory in the Consolation Cup. Secondly, I predicted Aberdyfi to be relegated, and they have not been, therefore I will admit I was wrong. However I would also like to point out that, despite the silverware now resting in the Aberdyfi trophy cabinet, the fact that they have finished second from bottom, with the worst goal-difference in the league hardly makes me look like a complete fool in tipping them for relegation. Consistency and better performances in the early part of the season are required if Aberdyfi are going to avoid being in the same position next year. On the question of whether I'm going to tip them for relegation again, well, I'll play my cards close to my chest until the pre-season review comes around; but I hope for better things from a team which clearly has a loyal following.
Padarn United
Well, someone had to be relegated, and it ended up being Padarn. In the early part of the season I thought I noted an improvement in their play, but they struggled badly towards the end of the year and sadly they find themselves in Division Two for the first time since 2002-3. They need to regroup now and focus on gaining promotion next season, which I believe is easily within their ability.
Division Two
The season in the lower league was dominated by two teams: Aberystwyth Town Thirds and Tywyn/Bryncrug Reserves, both of whom will be playing their football in Division One next year. I would back both teams to do well, as they were a class apart throughout the season. The 18-point gap between second placed Tywyn and third-placed Penrhyncoch Thirds is indicative of the way the rest of the division was cut adrift. Bow Street Reserves may challenge next season given the rise of the first-team, while relegated Padarn will be looking to make an impact. At the bottom, Llanilar Reserves' season very much mirrored the first-teams efforts, while Llanon suffered perhaps their saddest season, so much hope at the start being exploded with demotion from Division One and a points deduction. Here's hoping for better news for them next term.
On a general note, thanks to everyone for contributing to the site via the comments in the fixtures page; it's been a lot better writing knowing people are reading! There is projected to be a 'proper' message board next year, which will hopefully encourage more people to write in. Until next season then: cheers! "
Written by Lee Taylor from Aberystwyth.
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