Ambitious Trethomas Bluebirds aiming for Cymru Premier

Mark Dunford’s side have made an excellent start to the campaign after coming up as Ardal South East champions.

They are third in the table, two points back on Cambrian and level with Carmarthen, and aim to return to winning ways when hosting Afan Lido on Friday night.

The Bluebirds were beaten 2-0 in Carmarthen last weekend but that was only a second league defeat of the opening months in the second tier.

Trethomas have built steadily under Dunford – “we have taken the stairs and not the elevator” – and their approach won’t change despite the strong start.

However, they are also ambitious with the possibility of moving from the second tier to Cymru Premier.

IMPRESSIVE: Trethomas Bluebirds have made a super start to Cymru South (Image: Rob Hill Photography)

“We have applied for Tier One licensing, the FAW have been really supportive,” Dunford said to the governing body’s Cymru Leagues website.

“We’re ambitious, the chairman David Evans and our hard-working committee is ambitious and if we can make things happen we will, but we won’t put ourselves in a position where we can’t back that up and that goes down to our resources and budget.

“We’re doing what we do to the best of our ability and seeing where it takes us and if come March, we’re four or five points around the leaders or up around there, then the expectation changes.

“I can’t remember the last club from around this area to be in the Cymru Premier. It’s been crying out for it for such a long time.

“This area deserves Cymru Premier representation. The fact we’ve got the Cymru South in the borough is pretty big and we’ve been seeing some great crowds and shows there is interest in the area.

“We would love to be the team to make that breakthrough, whether we can make that happen, who knows?”

The Cymru Premier conversation is one for further down the line with the Bluebirds aiming to get back to winning ways against an Afan Lido side who are one from bottom and haven’t won in the league since the end of August.

Cwmbran Celtic are also in Friday night action when they travel to Treforest to take on Pontypridd United.

Simon Berry’s side climbed to 10th in the table thanks to a dramatic win against Caerau Ely last time out.

It was 1-0 to the visitors until the game went bonkers in the closing stages with Jack Prosser equalising and then Cole Doolan making it 2-1 at the death.

The Cardiff side looked to have earned a share of the spoils at the start of added time but then Prosser scored his second to turn one point into three.

Ponty will be a stern test after climbing to fifth with back-to-back away wins at Newport City and Penrhiwceiber Rangers.

Newport City go on their travels to Llantwit Major on Saturday afternoon buoyed by a superb 3-2 win at Llanelli Town.

The Steelmen, who headed west on a three-game losing streak, won 3-2 to inflict a first league loss of the season on the Reds.

Louis Phillips was the last-gasp hero as Newport fought back from 2-0 down, the teenager slotting after Owen Cuddihy and Ethan Wynne had got Sam Houldsworth’s side back on level terms.

They face a Llantwit Major side who beat them in the Nathaniel MG Cup in July and sit sixth, a point behind them.

WEEKEND FIXTURES Cymru South: Friday - Ammanford v Goytre United, Caerau Ely v Llanelli Town, Pontypridd United v Cwmbran Celtic, Trethomas Bluebirds v Afan Lido; Saturday - Baglan Dragons v Cambrian United, Llantwit Major v Newport City, Penrhiwceiber Rangers v Taffs Well, Trefelin BGC v Carmarthen Town.

Ardal South East: Friday - Abergavenny Town v Caldicot Town, Goytre v Brecon Corries, Saturday - Abercarn United v Blaenavon Blues, Abertillery Bluebirds v Undy, Croesyceiliog v Chepstow Town, Newport Corinthians v Risca United, Treharris Ath Western v Canton, Treowen Stars v Tredegar Town.