14.08.97 ECWCpr-1 National Bucharest (Romania) (h) LOST 2-5
17.08.97 LoW Connah's Quay Nomads (h) DREW 2-2
20.08.97 LoW Rhayader Town (h) WON 3-1
23.08.97 LoW Rhyl (a) WON 1-0
28.08.97 ECWCpr-2 National Bucharest (a) LOST 0-7
07.09.97 LoW Total Network Solutions (a) DREW 3-3
10.09.97 LoW Newtown (a) WON 2-1
13.09.97 LoW Welshpool Town (h) WON 3-2
20.09.97 LoW Bangor City (h) LOST 0-1
24.09.97 LoW Ebbw Vale (a) LOST 1-2
27.09.97 LoW Cemaes Ynys Mon (h) WON 2-0
04.10.97 LoW Porthmadog (a) WON 1-0
11.10.97 LoW Flint Town United (h) WON 4-3
18.10.97 LoW Conwy United (h) WON 2-1
25.10.97 LoW Caernarfon Town (a) WON 4-1
29.10.97 LoW Rhayader Town (a) WON 2-1
01.11.97 LoW Connah's Quay Nomads (a) WON 5-1
08.11.97 LoW Rhyl (h) WON 2-0
12.11.97 GLC2-1 Newtown (h) WON 2-1
15.11.97 LoW Conwy United (a) WON 2-1
22.11.97 WC3 Holyhead Hotspurs (a) WON 5-2
29.11.97 LoW Total Network Solutions (h) WON 2-1
03.12.97 GLC2-2 Newtown (a) WON 3-0
06.12.97 LoW Welshpool Town (a) WON 1-0
13.12.97 LoW Bangor City (a) DREW 2-2
27.12.97 LoW Carmarthen Town (a) WON 2-1
10.01.98 LoW Haverfordwest County (a) LOST 1-2
14.01.98 GLC3-1 Ebbw Vale (h) ? ?-?
17.01.98 LoW Caersws (h) WON 3-1
Following their Welsh Cup Final appearance against us last May, the Crows were able to again enjoy the delights of European football, entertaining National Bucharest of Romania in the Cup Winners Cup preliminary round back in May. While it was an experience to be savoured, the results weighed heavily against the Gwent side, who lost 5-2 at home and 7-0 away to the Romanians.
However, that experience has held them in good stead for their domestic League of Wales season, and, after last week's results, the Crows lie alone in second place in the LoW table.
Starting the league season just days after their first European encounter, Cwmbran were clearly tired by their efforts, and were only able to draw in their opening match, at home to Connah's Quay. However, the Crows were back on song a few days later, defeating Rhayader at the Cwmbran Stadium in a 3-1 victory. Cwmbran's August LoW programme ended on a high note, with a 1-0 victory away at strongly-fancied Rhyl.
September saw them visit Llansantffraid for their drawn match against Total Network Solutions. This was followed by a narrow victory away at Newtown, before beating Welshpool at home in a closely fought 3-2. Cwmbran's results went a bit strange for the next week, in which they lost two of the three which they have lost so far. This included a home match against Bangor City, which they lost 1-0 to the North Walians, while their local derby against Ebbw Vale saw the Cowboys come off best, the Crows losing 2-1. However, the month ended on a better note, and the club returned to winning ways at home to Cemaes Ynys Mon, defeating the Anglesey side 2-0.
The month of October was a successful month for Cwmbran. It started brightly, winning 1-0 at the Traeth in Porthmadog, before winning an exciting 4-3 battle with Flint in Cwmbran. They continued to pick up three points at a time, beating Conwy 2-1 in a rearranged game. The struggling Caernarfon were taught a 4-1 lesson at the Oval, while the return against Rhayader saw them do the double over the newcomers, Cwmbran winning 2-1 at the Weirglodd. As a result of their exploits in the month, manager, Tony Wilcox, was awarded 'Manager of the Month' in the League of Wales.
November, started even brighter than October had finished. Connah's Quay paid for taking points off Cwmbran earlier in the season, being thrashed 5-1 at the Halfway. Top Cwmbran marksman, Simon Dyer, scored four of the goals. The double was also achieved over Rhyl, whom Cwmbran beat 2-0 at the Stadium. Away at the Morfa, Conwy were also beaten, again 2-1, while even Total Network Solutions were beaten 2-1 at the end of the month. Tony Wilcox was again awarded the Manager of the Month award.
As the advent calendars were opened, Cwmbran were lucky to escape from Welshpool with all three points, winning just 1-0. Meanwhile, an away match at Farrar Road saw Cwmbran take just one point in the 2-2 draw. This ended their eleven match league winning streak. The weekend after Christmas, Cwmbran visited Carmarthen, and won 2-1.
However, the New Year brought Cwmbran down with a bump, losing 2-1 to Haverfordwest County, the West Walians getting their goals in the last quarter of an hour of the game. The Crows bounced back to form with a 3-1 victory at home to Caersws last weekend.
In the Welsh Cup, Cwmbran received a bye in the second round, in recognition of their performance in last season's competition. In the third round, they played in front of more than a thousand people at Gwynedd League, Holyhead Hotspurs, where the Crows won 5-2. In next month's fourth round, Cwmbran will be at home to CC Sports Divison Two side, Hoover Sports, who are from Merthyr.
In the Gilbert League Cup, Cwmbran were able to overcome Newtown in the second round, and recently met Ebbw Vale in the quarter-final of the competition.
The Yellow Dragon
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This page maintained by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
This material first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine V Cwmbran Town,
League of Wales, 24.01.98
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