In the early 1990’s Cwmbran Town won the inaugural League of Wales season, the competition which would later be renamed as the Cymru Premier League. The Crows have played in the Champion’s League and have been Welsh Cup runners-up three times. Unfortunately, the years haven’t been kind to Cwmbran, and they now find themselves in the Gwent County League, the fourth division of the Welsh football pyramid. I went to Cwmbran stadium to watch them face off against Caerleon AFC.
Cwmbran Stadium is a gorgeous old ground. Its imposing grandstand looms over the artificial turf playing field and the running track that surrounds it. Sadly, the stand was condemned a decade ago and one can only imagine what it would be like to watch Cwmbran be crowned the best in the country sat in it. The rest of the stadium is surrounded by tall pine trees which gives the ground an enclosed feel, something that isn’t common when the pitch has a running track around it.
Cwmbran came into the game second in the table, Caerleon were ninth and in the first half the gulf in quality was evident. The Crows started very brightly and carved out many chances by whipping in stinging crosses from the right-hand side. The opener of the game was scored on 16 minutes when a Josh Bolton corner was headed in by Jack Pewtner.
Cwmbran went into half-time two goals to the good as in the 36th minute Pewtner flicked on a header for Lewis Clare to clinically finish. Caerleon seemed to have their heads down and had made very little of note. Although the Crows were two up, they could have easily had a couple more as wasted chances seemed to be the only thing stopping them from truly putting the game to bed.
In the second half Cwmbran seemed to do exactly that as Clare masterfully robbed a Caerleon defender and produced an immaculate cross for Mick McGrath to poke home. At 3-0 Cwmbran seemed to be coasting towards another well earned win.
Despite being three goals down Caerleon didn’t give up. In the 73rd minute the Romans got what seemed to be a consolation goal after Liam Head finished well after a well worked counter attacking move.
Another twist in the match came when Jordan Collett scored a brilliant goal from outside the box to make it 3-2. The home fans in the stadium seemed nervous as did the Cwmbran players. The Crows’ manager began screaming instructions at his players desperate not to throw their hard work away.
In the 91st minute Caerleon won a corner. It was one of those moments when you just know what was going to happen. Football is an unpredictable game but in certain situations you can feel a goal coming in your bones. The corner was whipped in and a great save on Cwmbran’s goal line seemed to have averted disaster but Jordan Collett was there yet again for the Romans to stab the ball home from close range.
Cue rapturous celebration from the Caerleon players and bench. They had fought back and ripped a point out of the jaws of defeat. Cwmbran’s bench was fuming, a bin was kicked over, hair was pulled out and voices made hoarse.
It was a fantastic point from the Caerleon point of view but must have felt like a loss from Cwmbran’s. Such a great game deserved more in attendance; such entertainment has never been more affordable. Although they dropped two points, Cwmbran’s silky style and entertaining, goal-scoring brand of football may just be what they need to push them back up the pyramid where they once dominated.
The Post Match 
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