MID WALES GROUNDHOP 2012 (Aberdyfi & Machynlleth)

The Groundhop continued into another day as the sun shone brightly on the west coast of Wales...

3pm Sunday 26th August 2012
Mid Wales League Division Two
Aberdyfi 6-5 Bont
Attendance: 324

The day began, for me, in the seaside town of Aberdyfi and the football team's basic Penrhos Field on the the fringes of the town. It was a 10 minute walk into the town where a drop of Brains' Reverand James was most welcome on a scorching hot day.

The game was another absolute classic. Hot on the heels of yesterday's 5-5 draw at Presteigne it looked liked we were on for a repeat dose until Aberdyfi scored a stoppage winner.

There was no hint of the drama that was to unfold a visitors Bont raced into a 4-0 lead after 30 minutes. Goals from Andre Marsh (18) Daniel Thomas (21) Llewelyn Hughes (28 penalty, pictured right) and Ian Lee (30) seemed to have secured the victory for Bont. All four goals were on the counter and the home defending and performance of the goalkeeper were shocking.


However the homesters were awarded a penalty of their own after 43 minutes, which my mate said it this goes in it will be a draw. Tim Holt duly despatched the penalty (pictured left) to give Aberdyfi a lifeline.

The second half was just two minutes old when Luke Rickard made it 2-4, then after 77 minutes another Tim Holt penalty made it 3-4, my mate was starting to now look smug with his prediction!

Bont however appeared to have finally put the game to bed when just a minute later a Llewellyn Hughes free kick made it 3-5. Zac Smith made it 4-5 with just stoppage time remaining but amazingly, in the 91st minute, Tim Holt completed his hat-trick with a stunning free kick to salvage a point. Or so we thought. In the 5th miunte of stoppage though Ben Richards bundled in a winner to snatch an incredible three points.

Aberdyfi celebrated as if they had won the Champions League, Bont collapsed to their knees in despair. The hopping hordes left grinning from ear to ear after witnessing another stunning game.

6.30pm Sunday 26th August 2012
Mid Wales League Division Two
Machynlleth 0-4 Kerry
Attendance: 347

The biggest crowd of the Groundhop weekend was at Cae Glas for this Sunday evening clash between Machynlleth and Kerry.

Machynlleth was the seat of Owain Glyndwr's Welsh Parliament in 1404 and as such claims to be "the ancient Capital of Wales"

The football ground is in easy walk of the town centre where the GBG entry, The White Horse, served up two real ales, Three Tuns XXX and Salopian Oracle.

The match turned out to be, for the want of a better expression, a 4-0 smash and grab. The homesters played the more controlled football but got caught on the break by Kerry twice in each half.

Matt Mumford gave the visitors the lead from the penalty spot (pictured right) after 28 minutes then doubled his, and his team's, tally after 36 minutes.

Luke Vickers (71) and Luke Mumford (89) repeated the dose in the second half to give Kerry the points.

It was at this point that I bailed out of the Groundhop for this year but it had been a superb two days. Lots of goals, the standard of football seemed to have improved since last year and all the clubs were wonderful hosts. Congratulations and thanks to all who made it possible.