Blaenavon Blues AFC

When the season started on a wet and miserable afternoon in August Blaenavon Blues were full of optimism for the new season. After all the new management team of Paul Challenger and Mark White had guided the first team to sixth place during the final three months of the previous season after being bottom but one in February. But an opening day loss to local rivals Mardy but a downer on the start of the season.

An away win 4 days later against Panteg was followed by a 7-3 thrashing at home to league champions Newport Civil Service, by the end of September the Blues were out of contention for the league. During September, October and November the Welsh Trophy became the Blues focus. Entering the competition for the first time the Blues beat Swansea side North End in extra time then Ynysddu Welfare in October before losing in the third round to former winners Ragged School on November 24^th. In the league things were not going well a good point away at Abercarn was followed by a good win at home against Cefn Fforest. But the Blues were so inconsistent an embarrassing 5-1 hammering at home to Clydach Wasps should have had the alarm bells ringing. In November the Blues beat Crickhowell in the first round of the Amateur Cup but lost out to Pentwynmawr in the 2nd round of the County Motors challenge cup.

With the Blues struggling at the foot of the Gwent County division one-table attention turned to the only opportunity of silverware, which was the Amateur cup. The Blues eventually beat Panteg in the second round after numerous postponements and an abandoned game and then beat Villa Dino/Christchurch 1-0 in a mud bath at Newport. The following week the Blues beat second in the table Abertillery Bluebirds 3-0 at Abertillery and showed that side is more than capable of beating the best sides in the Gwent County. Sadly seven days later the Blues showed by they were at the bottom of the table with a poor performance at home against Abercarn losing 3-1.

In the quarterfinal of the Amateur cup the Blues drew top of the table and league champions Newport Civil Service at home in February. A hard over night frost meant the fixture had to be switched to Newport. With Civil having one eye on the league the Blues took full advantage and beat their hosts 3-1 with Jonny Arthur scoring one of the goals of the season to seal the win.

After the quarterfinal the Blues struggled in the league and failed to get any consistency going. The semi-final of the Amateur cup saw the Blues paired with Chepstow Town, but the game was twice postponed during March, and it was obvious that the Blues were looking at the cup semi rather than concentrating on their league programme.

A run of poor results meant that the Blues were sat one place outside the drop zone. Manager Paul Challenger had issued his warning previously during the season that he wanted a better response from the players. A poor performance at home to local rival Cwmffrwdoer resulted in a 4-1 lose, two days later and the Blues could only manage a goaless draw at home to Coed Eva. A further two days later and the Blues visited the side directly below them in the league Spencer Youth & Boys. The Blues never turned up and 4-5-1 formation never suited the side and the Blues never had a shot on goal and lost the game 1-0, which meant that they were right in the relegation mire.

The Spencer game was the final straw for manager Paul Challenger who decided to step down with immediate effect, just 5 days before the semi-final of the Amateur cup. The club committee stepped into the breach and picked a squad for the vital league encounter with local rivals Mardy. A resounding 2-0 victory was followed two days later by a magnificent 1-0 win over Chepstow Town in the Semi-final of the Amateur cup. On the Saturday Panteg visited the Co-op, with the Blues knowing a win would ensure First division football next season, that came courtesy of a 3-1 win and two Vinny Evans goals.

The rest of the season was played out at a canter, as playing four games a week for four weeks took its toll on the players, as fatigue played a major role. The week leading up to the final saw the Blues win their final league fixture 2-1 away to Coed Eva on a pitch that was covered in water at the start, and if played during January would have never had started.

The Gwent FA Amateur cup final was played on Saturday 3^rd May at Abergavenny Thursday’s Pen-y-Pound Stadium. The Blues were relaxed on arrival and in front of a 300+ crowd started the game well. But missing experienced players Craig Williams, Ryan Huish and Neil Cox along with injuries to Lee Wathen after five minutes and Darren Harries after 20 minutes meant that the Blues were going to struggle against Third division champions Govilon. And that proved the case as the Blues lost the game 3-0.

It was great to see the first team enjoy a great cup run and make the final of the Amateur cup something, which they have never done before but a poor display in the final meant all their hard work came to nil. The disappointing thing for the club over the season was the poor form shown in the league. Who ever takes over as first team manager will have to get this good young squad playing football again and working hard for each other, fitness levels have not been good enough this season, and the final was lost during the winter months.

While the first team struggled for most of the season the reserve team had a superb season under the guidance of manager Rob Browning and his assistant Mick Brenton. A runners up spot in the league to worthy winners Clydach Wasps was just reward for all the effort that the reserves had put in during the season. With a young squad and only a sprinkling of senior players the reserves only lost a handful of games all season including cup competitions. A good Open cup run saw the Blues beat Abergavenny Thursday’s in the quarterfinals and then squeeze past local rivals Fairfield United on penalties in the semi-final. The final saw the Blues face league champions Clydach Wasps at Goytre’s Plough Road ground. In a game spoiled by the officiating the Blues played some great football on a great surface at Goytre with only ten men for most of the game as Blues captain Nathan Priest was dismissed for violent behaviour after only five minutes. But on the hottest day of the year so far the Blues were unable to hold out and conceded two late goals. And so the Blues lost two-cup finals in two weekends. A number of players in the reserves will certainly be pushing for a first team place next season. Josef Ward has been outstanding for the reserves and will surly be a first choice central midfielder for the first team next term. Grant ‘Vinny’ Evans has had a great season finishing as top goal and he has got better has the season has gone on, and pushed himself into the first team towards the end of the season. Liam Powell is another player who has got a lot of ability and will be a first team regular very soon. Fellow youngsters Ben Penry and Jamie Brankley have had very good first seasons in senior football and are two names to look out for in the future of Blaenavon Blues.

The ladies side in their first season have had a great year, after starting the season in the under 18 division. After playing their opening games it became apparent that there were not enough sides to make up the league and the side left the under 18’s and entered the South Wales Woman’s league division one. A superb season for the young side resulted in the Blues ladies finishing the season in 3^rd place. A great foundation to push on next season and secure promotion to the Premier division, which is something, I’m sure, they will be doing under the guidance of Steve and Lisa Reed.