Date Comp. Opponents Venue Result Scorers 22.08 LoW Bangor City H 2-0 C.Edwards, Clarke 29.08 LoW Holywell Town A 0-0 09.09 LoW Total Network Sol. A 1-2 Clarke 12.09 LoW Rhyl H 3-1 Howells, Russell, Jehu 22.09 GLC1 Barry Town H 2-2 Russell, Lewis 26.09 LoW Barry Town H 2-4 G.Lloyd (og), Jehu 03.10 LoW Carmarthen Town A 1-0 Jehu 06.10 GLC1r Barry Town A 0-5 09.10 LoW Aberystwyth Town H 2-3 Russell, Hughes 17.10 WC2 Guilsfield A 5-0 01.11 LoW Inter Cabletel A 0-6 07.11 LoW Cwmbran Town H 1-3 Howells 14.11 LoW Conwy United A 1-2 Hamer 21.11 WC3 Cwmbran Town H 3-4 27.11 LoW Connah's Quay N. H 2-0 Russell 2 05.12 LoW Caernarfon Town A 2-2 Jehu, Clarke 12.12 LoW Haverfordwest Co. H 4-4 K.Lloyd, S.Edwards, Lewis, Clarke 19.12 LoW Rhayader Town H 0-0 26.12 LoW Newtown A 0-4 02.01 LoW Bangor City A 1-0 K.Lloyd 09.01 LoW Holywell Town H 3-2 Jehu 2, Clarke 16.01 LoW Rhyl A 1-1 Whitticase
With three months of the season still to play, Caersws find themselves nestled comfortably in mid-table, with a near equal division of matches between win, draw and lose.
The season began with a well deserved victory over Bangor City. The North Walian Blues had been flying the flag in Europe, but were well-beaten at the Recreation Ground. Craig Edwards set the Bluebirds on their way with a 37th minute goal, while Hugh Clarke crowned his return from Rhayader with a 55th minute strike to secure a 2-0 win.
It was more difficult a week later at the newly-promoted Holywell, and neither side could find the net at Halkyn Road, while, depressingly for Caersws, they went down 2-1 in a midweek match away at local rivals Total Network Solutions. Hugh Clarke scored the Bluebirds goal four minutes into the second half.
Caersws returned to the Recreation Ground and to winning ways a few days later, though, with a comfortable 3-1 win over Rhyl. Mark Howells opened the scoring after 4 minutes, with Damon Russell adding another after 16 minutes. Sean Jehu scored the third on the stroke of half-time, killing the game.
That good spell at home continued in the Gilbert League Cup first round, where they took a 2-0 lead against Barry Town, with goals being scored by Damon Russell and Geraint Lewis. However, two late goals saw Barry force a replay.
The two sides clashed again on the following weekend. On that occasion, Barry quickly stamped their mark on the game, with a 2nd minute goal. A Gary Lloyd own goal gave Caersws a chance at 2-1, but two quick second half goals ended their hopes, and Sean Jehu's 85th minute goal was merely consolation for the village club.
Jehu was on the mark again a week later, when Caersws beat Carmarthen Town 1-0, his 63rd minute strike being enough to take all three points to mid-Wales.
However, the Bluebirds were dumped out of the League Cup by Barry, with the Vale of Glamorgan side thrashing them 5-0 in the replay at Jenner Park.
More disappointment followed with a home defeat to fellow mid-Walians, Aberystwyth Town. The visitors had been 3-0 up, but Caersws battled back with goals from Damon Russell and Marc Hughes in the final five minutes. Unfortunately, they were unable to find enough reserves of energy to score the equalising goal and lost 3-2.
Caersws were drawn with local league side, Guilsfield, in the second round of the Welsh Cup and eased through 5-0.
The boot was on the other foot a fortnight later, though, as the Bluebirds traveled to Cardiff to meet a resurgent Inter Cabletel, who thrashed them 6-0. Luck got no better as November continued, with Mark Howells goal being a consolation in a 3-1 loss at home to Cwmbran, and despite Rob Hamer equalising in the fifth minute away at Conwy, their hosts scored again to win 2-1.
After their 4-3 Welsh Cup defeat against Cwmbran Town, November did get better with a 2-0 home victory over Connah's Quay Nomads with Damon Russell scoring two goals in five minutes. However, they were Russell's last goals for the club, as he made the short move to pursue his football with rivals, Newtown.
Caersws drew their first three matches of December, the first being an away journey to the Oval in Caernarfon. Sean Jehu scored the Bluebirds first, with just three minutes until the break, while Hugh Clarke got the equalising goal after 77 minutes. That 2-2 draw came after being two goals down to the Canaries.
That was followed by an incredible 4-4 draw at the Recreation Ground in which the reverse happened, and Caersws threw away the points. They took the lead through former Hereford and Cardiff player, Kevin Lloyd, and Steve Edwards made it 2-0 before half-time. Further goals from Geraint Lewis and Hugh Clarke, to make it 4-2, appeared to seal the game for the Bluebirds, but two late goals clinched a point for Haverfordwest.
The Caersws strikeforce drew a blank in the next two matches, both of which were mid-Wales derbies. The first saw them entertain a managerless Rhayader, but drew 0-0 with the bottom club. That was followed by a disastrous trip to Latham Park, where in atrocious conditions, and down to ten men, they took a 4-0 hammering from Newtown.
The New Year saw events take a turn for the better, though, and Caersws are unbeaten so far this year. The run began at Farrar Road, where the Bluebirds completed a double over Bangor City. Kevin Lloyd scored from close range after 36 minutes to confirm a 1-0 win. Back at the Recreation Ground, Caersws then took all three points at home to Holywell. They were helped by their opponents being reduced to nine men, and all five goals in the 3-2 win were scored in the second half. Caersws took the lead through a Sean Jehu penalty in the 64th minute, and Hugh Clarke scored their second goal ten minutes later. Holywell fought back and made it 2-2, but their hearts were broken as Jehu weaved his way around the defence for an 88th minute winner.
The last match was away at Rhyl's Belle Vue, where despite being favourites, Caersws could only draw. The home side had taken the lead, but Andrew Whitticase levelled just after the break.
player full apps sub apps goals
Hugh CLARKE 18 0 5
Craig EDWARDS 4 0 1
Leighton EDWARDS 5 11 0
Steve EDWARDS 11 7 1
Antony GRIFFITHS 18 0 0
Matthew GRIFFITHS 18 0 0
Rob HAMER 15 3 1
Lee HARDING 0 4 0
Mark HOWELLS 8 8 2
Marc HUGHES 10 1 1
Sean JEHU 14 1 6
Gary JONES 0 9 0
Rob JONES 0 1 0
Geraint LEWIS 14 3 1
Kevin LLOYD 9 0 2
Garri POWELL 0 1 0
Craig RICHARDS 0 1 0
Damon RUSSELL 11 0 4
Andy THOMAS 18 0 0
Jason WEETMAN 18 0 0
Andrew WHITTICASE 9 2 1
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999
This article first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine v Caersws, 30.01.99, League of Wales,
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