Time For Football,Time To Be Sully Again

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Well it's Wednesday around six and I'm at the Sully Sports FC pitch to watch their match against the Cardiff Corinthians.

I remember seeing the Corinthians years before, in a match against Penybont FC (or as it was pre merger with Bridgend Town FC Bryntirion AFC).The capital side were fighting relegation, which they were eventually unsuccessful in, and in this particular game they were in the first half constantly under pressure yet by the break it was still goaless. Come second half they had a free kick just outside the box. The guy curled it into the net. Football can do that. Unfortunately the pressure told and they lost by three, possibly four to one.

I'd learnt from my first experience visiting the ground a few weeks back. Firstly it didn't matter that it was the end of August, the sky was blue and the sun shining. The pitch is by the sea so you wear a jumper.

The second was that if you want to make sure you watch all the game get your food before not at half time. So first thing I did was to go to the stall.

"What would you like?" asked the lady

"Small portion of chips....and a coke"

"Regular or diet?"

"Well as I'm having chips....... diet"

And she smiled. Having got the joke.

We chatted. I'd explained that I was here as I'd recently moved into the area and saw that it was on. "Ah" she said. "Someone rang up a few weeks back and asked how much was it to get in for the game against Pentwyn"

Pencoed actually was the thought in my head......that person being me.

Chips were nice

As I walked towards the ground I saw the Corinthians training. That moment it was where they raise a leg and move it in a circular direction apparently so that they could as instructed "feel the groin". A rare moment where this could be done in public without a police response.

The Corries in training

Of course as it was just my second visit to the ground not all mysteries were solved. I still don't know the answer to the question as I was eating my chips ready for the game to begin....

What is this?

Oh and of course as always I'm claim to be the first person to read a Bruce Chatwin book during the break in a Welsh football game.



There was a notable bright sun for most of the game to the right of where I was spectating which might affect the players. Assumed then that Sully won the toss as they weren't facing it first half.

Yes everybody Wales has sun

As I was awaiting for the kick off the manager and his enforcer number two were walking behind me. All I could hear the enforcer say was that someone had quit. Few things more intriguing than catching half a conversation.

For the Cardiff management team though there was no ambiguity.

"Two minutes to get blowing!!!" Whatever that means.

So the match began.

For a moment you can avoid the match and just look at the sea

It wasn't that long (about six minutes) when there was a goal. The Sully number 7 got the ball bypassed the defender and scored. The Cardiff management seemed to blame the defending, but there seemed to be skill in that goal as well. Anyway one nil Sully.

The Management

For most of the half the teams were relatively equal. Cardiff hit the post once. It seemed that by the break it was going to be Sully in the lead. Then however a Corries player got pushed in the box. Referee immediately awarded a penalty. The man by me was unimpressed and shouted at the manager that it didn't need much pressure for the Cardiff player to fall down. The manager, angry at the notion his team could be full of wussies responded by saying the felled player was "powerful". Of course implying the Sully player that tackled his man was more stronger.

It was "Zak " who had to take the penalty. He was under pressure. Not just from his team but by the boy being held by his relative nearby. Dad was playing for Cardiff so he knew what team to support.

"Score a goal Zak"

"Score a goal Zak".

Don't know whether Zak could hear him. Probably best not. For he would then know the weight of a child's hope and innocence rested on his shoulders. The reality of a cruel world would have been faced by one so young.

"Score a goal Zak"

Zak versus the Sully goalkeeper aka the man in radioactive orange.

"Score a goal Zak"

Thankfully for those of us who believe in childhood hope Zak scored. Of course it was not enough.

"Score a goal Dad"

"Score a goal Dad"

Dad didn't score. No one for the rest of the half did. As it happened it didn't matter. There was always the second half for him to score and besides, the boy was off with his Nan to the swings.

Kids. Fickle huh?

1-1 then. The team most clearly agitated at half time was Sully. The enforcer number two demanded an all out attack in the first ten minutes. Words like "Smash" and "bang" were used. It was as if they were planning a bank robbery.

As it happens in the second half  this attack didn't happen. Basically everything seemed equal until about the last twenty minutes. It was then that the Sully bank raid happened. Attack after attack was thwarted or the final shot was just not there. The Cardiff management were getting more frenzied.



Incidentally I learnt that a jumper was of no use. It was getting colder. Knee buckingly colder. Coat next time.



With about seven or so minutes to go the ball fell to the Sully number 10 just outside the Corries box. He shot. I think it was deflected. It didn't matter. It was a goal. 2-1 Sully.

That was how it finished. To be fair because of that last twenty minutes Sully deserved the victory.

I left feeling cold, in need of a cup of tea but having enjoyed a good game.

Until the next time.