Welsh Football League Division Two

SECOND-PLACED Ammanford, desperate to catch up with their growing backlog of fixtures, had the ground staff to thank for a perfect playing surface at the Rec as they welcomed Aberbargoed Buds.

Their efforts proved all the more impressive when it emerged that the game was one of only four played throughout the entire Welsh League on Saturday.

However, the decision to go ahead proved Ammanford’s downfall as it left the side without the services of Rhys Morgan and the influential Luke Fayres.

Victory for the thirdplaced visitors would see the Buds move level with their hosts on points but remain behind on goal difference, so both sides took to the field knowing there was everything to play for.

The first half proved a balanced affair with both sides guilty of squandering decent chances.

But with the half time whistle imminent Aberbargoed, against the run of play, went ahead.

Ammanford’s reply was pure quality.

A one-two between Anthony Douglas and Ross Jones created the opening for Shaun Fender, who fired home on 50 minutes.

Just minutes later Matthew Fisher latched on to a ball into the box from Alex Thomas, but the ’keeper pulled off a superb save.

With the match entering the last quarter a draw looked on the cards, but some terrible Ammanford defending allowed the visitors a free header to claim the lead fromclose range on 75 minutes.

Ammanford again battled their way back to level terms when Rhys Fisher came up from defence and headed home.

But the visitors caught Ammanford napping again with just two minutes to go when slack marking allowed the Buds to score a scrambled goal from close range.

Although it was a disappointing result there was some good news when Nathan Jones and James Murray returned after long injury lay-offs.

The defeat was Ammanford’s first since September and will have proved a valuable experience for probably the youngster side Ammanford have put out in the Welsh League.

They travel to fourthplaced Britton Ferry Llansawell next Saturday.