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Ahead of Saturday's big KO in the newly re-launched Welsh Premier League we look back at the way in which the squad has prepared for the most eagerly awaited season in years, ahead of our first game at Bangor on Saturday.
The new League will comprise of 12 teams and after the first tranche of games it will split into two sixes ahead of a race for European competition - the prize that everyone will be vying for and this is how preparations have gone.
The squad, including new signings Lee Trundle and Kris o'Leary assembled on July 1st and for the first two weeks spent their time on fitness routines, including three visits to the now dreaded Skewen banks!
The first game came against the Swans on July 15th and after being 2 down after 3 minutes, the same scoreline at the end brought many positives for our new look squad from the first game. The reception that both Lee and Kris enjoyed was marvellous and added to the occasion.
Following some more conditioning sessions we then headed for Cornwall for our traditional pre-season tour of the West Country. Games against Bodmin and St Blazey were on the agenda. The first game against Bodmin ended up with a 3-1 win, following first goals for the club from Lee Trundle, Craig Hughes and Paul Fowler. The following day brought a 3-0 success with 2 more from Trundle and a first goal for the club from Chad Bond.
On our return we prepared for another visit from the Football League, as Hereford Utd came to the Gnoll on the 31st July with new manager and local boy Simon Davey at the helm. Against quality opposition we played really well for an hour and with the score at 2-1 to the visitors ( Kevin Cooper had cracked in a free kick from 30 yards previously) we pushed for an equaliser. But the League 2 visitors finished the stronger and despite a goal for young Liam Thomas, following a magic moment from Trundle in the box, the game finished 6-2 to the team that had previously turned the Swans over in pre-season, but again there were many positives to take from the game.
We then embarked on a number of games against teams from the Welsh League and fixtures against Bridgend (0-0), Cambrian (3-3 - Ashley Evans, Chad Bond and Lee Trundle), Aberaman (3-2 Kevin Cooper,Craig Hughes and Chris Jones) and Briton Ferry Llansawel (1-0 Chris Jones) ended our pre-season preparations. The last game was the Malcolm Judd Memorial game that we play each year and played in the spirit of the great man it was a fitting way to end preparations for Saturday.
We now get down to business and after assembling a great squad let's hope we can now deliver the ambitions that everyone has for the forthcoming season!
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