CWMAMMAN United last played a football match on March 17 with a 1-0 home win at Grenig Park against Taffs Well.

On Saturday, November 21, they returned to action for the first time in eight months.

Nervous but excited players travelled to Richmond Park where two select Cwmamman XI’s would play two friendlies against Carmarthen Town.

With the host club ensuring strict Covid protocols were in place it would be a somewhat different experience to what both sets of players would have been used to pre-covid.

However, as well as being an opportunity to finally play it was a chance for both managers to assess their new signings, welcome back some old faces and start to build on the structure and organisations needed for the development of their teams.

In both matches while there was clearly some understandable rustiness both sides played with commitment, pace and high energy with Cymru South side Carmarthen highlighting their strength in depth as they came out on top in both matches.

Ryan Stephens, Cwm manager, however, will not have worried too much about that and would have been happy to introduce his new signings while seeing his players getting a strong work out.

Particularly with his two new goalkeepers, Kyle Stuart and Kyle Marsh both showing up so well.

Another individual highlight on the day would have been Ryan Thomas, Cwm captain, scoring a wonder ‘Beckham’ goal from his own half when spotting the Carmarthen keeper off his line.

So, after 8 months of inactivity, it was a great work out for both clubs in a safety conscious environment and both clubs will hope that the opportunity to play safely will continue.