Despite heavy rain on Saturday there were no postponements across the two senior divisions of the Taff Ely Rhymney Valley League. There was no fixture for Pontypridd so where do Saturday’s results leave us?
Having started the weekend top of Division One, Pontypridd drop to 4th after wins for Caerphilly Athletic reserves, Cilfynydd and Trecenydd. Caerphilly beat Hopkinstown 6-2 at Morgan Jones Park, Trecenydd were 7-1 winners ‘away’ to Caerphilly Argyle on the Aneurin Park pitch they share, Cilfynydd came away from Aber Valley reserves with a 5-2 win.
The results put Caerphilly Athletic top on goal difference ahead of Cilfynydd (both on 22 points). Trecenydd and Pontypridd are a further two points back, but Trecenydd have a much superior goal difference. Hopkinstown are 5th on 17 points but have games in hand on the three teams above them.
Caerphilly Athletic are odds-on favourites to win the title, having played less games than everybody else and the only side in the whole TERV League yet to taste defeat this season. They have an impressive 7 wins and 1 draw from their eight matches.
However, in the past league rules have not permitted promotion for reserve teams. Unless this has changed, and going off last season’s outcome, the two promotion places will be available to teams finishing 2nd and 3rd (should Caerphilly Athletic win the league). Based on the current table that would mean Pontypridd, Cilfynydd, Trecenydd and Hopkinstown are the sides in contention.
By the end of February, weather permitting, all four sides will have played 13 matches and depending on how results go we could very well be looking at a four-horse promotion race over the final five matches.
In the Premier Division, champions Nelson Cavaliers thrashed Rhydyfelin 4-0 at The Wern, moving them level on points (22) with leaders Ynysybwl. However, the Bwl do have two games in hand. For Rhyd, form must be a concern; they are at risk of relegation having secured just 11 points so far and have played more games than those below them.
AFC Tir-Y-Berth hit double figures in a 10-4 win over bottom of the table Glyncoch Spartans. Tir-Y-Berth move up two places to third with this win. Church Village gave their bid to avoid relegation a boost with a 3-2 derby win over Talbot Green. Church Village are now level on points with Rhydyfelin and Cwrt Rawlin – who lost 4-3 away to Cascade YC.
There were no fixtures last weekend for Ynysybwl or Llanbradach.
