Giles confident of success (From Penarth Times)

Giles confident of success

IT WAS a blank Saturday for Dinas Powys AFC last Saturday.

Heavy rain preceding match day had put the Murch Field pitch in doubt and it was almost a formality when an early morning referees inspection deemed the ground waterlogged.

It was no surprise as South Wales had taken the brunt of the storms and only three fixtures survived in the three divisions of the Welsh League.

The only game played in Division Two was local rivals Grange Quins who had a comfortable 3-0 victory over lowly Morriston Town. The match used up the Quins "game in hand" and left them six points behind the Villagers with nine league games to play.

Promotion to Division One is almost a "perm any three from four" (see table).

The Villagers run-in will be difficult with games against all the title contenders but player/manager Paul Giles is confident that the squad of players he has assembled will be able to withstand the pressure even if fixture congestion gets any worse.

Club secretary Eric Armstrong has been on the ball re-arranging games due to weather or cup runs and the revised fixture list until the end of the season is:

Sat March 15 Aberaman (Cup) (a) Sat March 22 Bridgend (Lge) (h) Tues March 25 Grange Quins (Lge) (a) Sat April 5 Taffs Well (Lge) (a) Sat April 12 Blaenrhondda (Lge) (a) Sat April 19 Tredegar (Lge) (a) Wed April 23 Treharris Lge) (a) Sat April 26 Newport YMCA (a) Sat May 5 Ammanford (Lge) (h)

Armstrong's view on the one remaining fixture to be re-arranged, Newport YMCA at home is that Sunday, March 30, the day after Wales play Azerbaijan is favourite, but watch this space for confirmation.

This Saturday's cup match, away to Aberaman (ko 2.30pm) is the last eight of the Cynfig Cup which covers teams from the three divisions of the Welsh League, and a semi-final place is the aim of Giles and his squad.

P W D L Diff Pts Dinas Powys 25 19 4 2 58 61 Bridgend 27 17 6 4 34 57 Grange Quins 24 16 4 4 39 52 AFC Llwydcoed 25 15 6 4 31 51 Taffs Well 25 12 5 8 11 4