We extended our unbeaten run to 4 games with a last gasp equaliser from the penalty spot at the Avondale Motor Park Arena by captain Andrew Larcombe, his 2nd goal of the match. However, rather than a point gained, this was 2 points lost given that, for a total of 22 minutes in the 2nd half, Celtic had a one-man advantage. Taffs Well started anything like a team languishing 5 points adrift at the bottom of the table on the back of 9 successive defeats. They dominated the first half hour and were unlucky not to take the lead in the 20th minute when they had 2 shots from corners both hit the bar, the first deflected by the outstretched hand of Lewis Watkins. So it was very much against the run of play when Celtic took the lead in the 34th minute, Larcombe with a great header into the top corner of the net from a cross by Sam Powell. In 1st half time added on Oliver Berry’s free kick was well saved by Gardiner diving to his right in the away goal and then Shepherd was sent off for a 2nd yellow card.
In the 2nd half, on 56 minutes, Isaac Powell was sent off which evened the sides up. On the hour the visitors equalised through a penalty by Reece Perry given for a foul in the box. Gabriel Howells split the away defence with a glorious through ball to Larcombe who was foiled by a defender’s last-ditch tackle which allowed Gardiner to gather the ball. Then, from a Celtic corner, a header was cleared to Howells whose shot flashed just wide of the right post. On 81 minutes Harry Jones scored a superb goal from 25 yards which flew into the top corner of the net to put the Wellmen in front. On 84 minutes Marenghi became the 2nd visiting player to be red carded for 2 yellows. In time added on Celtic had two chances from a corner. First a shot was half cleared to Jude Bull whose shot clipped the right post. Then, from a Berry free kick, Callum Hodges was brought down in the box for a penalty. Larcombe stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way, stroking the ball into the net for Celtic’s last gasp equaliser. There was then a 3rd Taffs sending off, the culprit was Perry.
We remain in 12th place but failure to take an extra 4 points in total from recent drawn home games against Penrhiwceiber and Taffs Well, both a man down for portions of the games can only make Celtic’s efforts to avoid relegation more difficult. These are the only points these 2 teams have taken from their last combined 13 games.
Cwmbran CelticTaffs Well 