2010/11Loosemores Cup
By Robert Nisbet

After three very disappointing results the Bluebirds badly needed a morale-booster in this Cup-tie and they really gave themselves one with this excellent win.
      They had clearly considered the danger which might be posed by Lee Trundle after his brace had scuppered their comeback the previous Saturday and ‘Magic Daps’ was kept tightly reined in by a defence in which Mark Dodds was outstanding. The midfield also grafted very well with recent signing Matty Collins looking a very good player indeed.
      We saw a good and keen first half in which Chad Bond’s opener for Neath in the 8th minute was neutralized by a neat goal from Lee Hudgell 7 minutes later. But some heavy Neath tackling meant that by half-time three Bluebirds, Steffan Williams, Jack Christopher and Richie Evans were all carrying knocks and had to be substituted at the start of the second half.
      The Eagles started the half brightly and their very good attack (far more than a one-man band, it must be said) threatened for 5 minutes or so. But increasingly the Blues built their own attacks, many of them featuring flowing runs by Hudgell down the left. Danny Thomas went desperately close before, in the 71st minute, Neil Thomas moved to the near post to meet a Hudgell cross and flicked dexterously with the outside of his right boot to leave the keeper stranded.
      ‘Thommo’ could well have added to his tally but in the end the Blues will probably settle for the one-goal margin to take to Neath for the second leg.

County: Lee Idzi, Terry Evans, Lee Hudgell, Kyle Graves, Mark Dodds, Matty Collins, Steffan Williams (Jamie Bradford, 46'), Neil Thomas, Danny Thomas, Jack Christopher (Tom Ramasut, 46), Richard Evans (Kristian Griffiths, 46)