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The Bluebirds extended their impressive win streak with a 3-1 victory
Trethomas Bluebirds made it seven wins from eight in the Cymru South with a 3-1 victory over Goytre United.
Under new manager Stephen Kelleher, the visiting side were looking to start fast, but it was the Bluebirds who opened the scoring after five minutes through Gareth Tedstone.
Defender Lee Baldock doubled the hosts’ lead shortly before half-time on a freezing cold Friday night at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach.
A Kyran Steadman header for Goytre made it interesting, but a sublime Thomas Gameson strike put the game to bed as the Bluebirds claimed all three points and maintain their two point cushion at the top.
Kick-off
Looking for a fresh start, any hopes of a ‘new manager bounce’ were quickly snuffed out inside the opening moments by the clinical Bluebirds.
A free-kick for Goytre was cleared to the feet of winger Ethan Edwards, who drove at the backline with striker Gareth Tedstone alongside him.
Timing his pass perfectly, there was no doubt what would happen next. The club’s top goal scorer made it five in four games with a neat finish into the far corner.
Edwards continued to cause carnage down the left with his sheer speed and skill, moments after the restart and he was past new signing Harry Bailey like he wasn’t there. His cross blocked on this occasion though.
Looking to clear their lines, the perhaps unsung pairing of Andrew Evans and David Vincent at the back were waiting to get the ball forward once more.
It was good to see Leon Thomas back out on the pitch following a hamstring issue, he might’ve had the dream return if his shot from an Edwards cut-back found the net. Not to be though with several bodies in the way.
Leon Thomas (heading), returned to action following an injury
The league leaders continued to push for the all-important second, Tedstone battled with Adam Robbins as the last man but his shot was just wide of the post.
There’s always a nagging feeling when you don’t take your chances that you may live to regret it, but fortunately team of the week keeper Harry Irving made sure that wasn’t the case when saving a fierce Brad Flay strike at full stretch to deny the visitors.
A bit of a wake-up call, Edwards was again providing the greatest threat; an early floated cross this time found the head of Tedstone after 25 minutes, but the Bluebirds number nine put it straight at Tye Williams.
Things became a little more pedestrian as the half went on to the frustration of the Bluebirds bench. Goytre were happy enough to let Trethomas have the ball, but the hosts couldn’t find the killer blow.
That was until once again Edwards got involved, his cross finding fullback Lee Baldock in the middle.
Baldock’s strike wasn’t the cleanest off the outside of his boot, but it spun away into the bottom corner and counted all the same shortly before the half.
Second-half
The Bluebirds started the second-half minus David Vincent who picked-up a knock, but were hoping that wouldn’t make a difference as they pressed for the third.
It was the visitors who were growing into the game though, a header flicked on to Cameron Harris allowed the forward to get a shot off. His effort was well over the bar from just inside the area.
A cheap free-kick to the right of the box was given away by the Bluebirds after an hour played, and provided Goytre the chance they needed to get back in the contest.
A lovely floated ball in by Kyran Gardner found the unmarked captain Kyran Steadman who picked-out the far corner expertly with his header to make it 2-1. Game on.
A very similar situation to the Newport City game last week, Trethomas needed to soak up some pressure and get back on top.
Substitutes helped, Jack Jones replacing Thomas offered a more direct threat with the 21-year-old always looking to get past people.
His efforts led to the crucial third goal for the Bluebirds when his shot was cleared as far as Thomas Gameson well outside the Goytre penalty area.
It had been a quiet night for Gameson up until then, but his powerful first-time strike missed everyone on its way into the far corner, leaving Williams rooted to his line.
As the pressure lifted, the Cymru South leaders looked good value to see out the match.
Ethan Edwards (above), was outstanding on the night
It wasn’t a simple last 15 minutes though, Irving called into action on more than one occasion. The Bluebirds number one produced a superb save after Connor Smith flicked a cross goal bound.
The final kick of the match saw a ball loop over Irving and onto the post, but thanks to that two goal cushion, the three points felt inevitable.
The whistle went on a match which was always going to be close against a Goytre side with a new manager and a point to prove.
All that matters for the Bluebirds is another win. They remain two points clear of Llanelli Town at the top who also won that evening.
Reaction
After the match, Caerphilly Observer spoke to Bluebirds manager Mark Dunford, he said: “I thought we were a bit scruffy first-half for parts.
“We had a great first few minutes where we scored and had a few chances, but for 20 minutes we stepped-off the gas a little bit and were waiting for things to happen.
“You’re coming up against a side with a new manager and players trying to impress in front of a decent crowd and it caused us a lot of problems at times.”
On the third goal, Dunford said: “It was massive. At 2-1 it was going to be difficult for us, especially after losing David Vincent who has been tremendous. It was a great strike from Tom (Gameson).”
Asked about the win overall, Dunford added: “I had a funny feeling tonight’s game would tough but yeah it’s a tremendous run that we’re on, we were here last year and we just need to take it one game at a time.”
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Rob Hill
Rob Hill
Rob Hill