Cardiff-born Rhys Griffiths was a huge success when it came to scoring goals in the Welsh Premier League – and now he is out to set similar standards in management.
Griffiths is in charge of a Penybont team who stand top of Nathaniel Car Sales Welsh League Division One and they are the only unbeaten team in the higher echelons of Welsh domestic football.
“Being undefeated gives us added motivation to win each game,” says Griffiths. “We will lose eventually, but until we do it’s important to maintain the run and that will hopefully stop us taking our eyes off the ball.
“There’s a flip side, though, because it gives our opponents added incentive too. Everyone will want to beat us even more now.”
The next test for Penybont is against Goytre United at home on Saturday, January 5 and how Griffiths would’ve a win to start the New Year.
He scored 269 Welsh Premier League goals in 342 appearances, winning the Golden Boot in seven consecutive seasons.
Penybont stand top of Welsh League Division One and perhaps defeats against Barry Town United (Nathaniel MG Cup) and Newtown (Welsh Cup) may enhance their chances of being promoted.
Haverfordwest are Penybont’s closest challengers and they have been prolific scorers in Welsh League football with Dan Williams, Ben Fawcett and Lee Trundle leading the way.
Trundle, though, has announced his departure from Haverfordwest after scoring 12 goals in all competitions and the former Swansea hit man has been linked with a return to Llanelli.
They narrowed the gap on Penybont to two points when they finished the year on a high after comfortably beating Ton Pentre.
All the damage was done in the first 45 minutes. Three first-half goals put Haverfordwest on course and they cruised to victory.
Lee Trundle scored two with Fawcett and Sean Pemberton completing the tally.
Ton Pentre: Fleming, Thomas, Jones (capt), Bassett, Hardy, Phillips, Davies (Griffiths 81), Chappel-Smith, Price, Islip (Watkins 86), Maksimovic (Dima 72).
Haverfordwest County: Hall, Watts, Luby, Pemberton, Hicks, Dyson, Williams (Wilson 64) Scotcher (Bevan 81), Fawcett (Davies 81), Trundle, Thomas.
Penybont are still in the Welsh League Cup and have been drawn against Port Talbot Town in the quarter-finals.
Draw (ties to be played 1st/2nd February 1 or 2): Trefelin BGC v Undy Athletic, Ynysygerwn v Haverfordwest County, Port Talbot Town v Penybont, STM Sport v Penydarren BGC.
Cambrian and Clydach are the only Welsh League team left in the FAW Senior Cup.
Flint Town United and Bala Town must meet again in the cup after their tie was abandoned four minutes into the game because of floodlight failure.
The lights in one corner of the ground had initially failed shortly before the start of the tie, delaying kick-off by 10 minutes while the lights were reset.
Bala then made a blistering start to the encounter, taking a second minute lead through Kieran Smith’s volley from the edge of the area, but the same floodlights failed again.
Match referee Rob Jenkins had no choice but to abandon the tie.
Welsh Senior Cup:
The draw in full (Ties to be played January 25/26): Carmarthen Town v Connah’s Quay Nomads, Haverfordwest County v Flint Town United/Bala Town, Bangor City v Caernarfon Town, Barry Town United v Cefn Druids, Airbus UK Broughton v The New Saints, Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC v Rhyl, Aberystwyth Town v Cardiff Met, Llangefni Town v Llandudno
Welsh League Fixtures:
Saturday, January 5 (all 2pm kick-off): Afan Lido v Haverfordwest County (2pm), Ammanford v Cwmamman United (2pm), Briton Ferry Llansawel v Undy Athletic (2pm), Cambrian and Clydach v Goytre FC (2pm), Pontypridd v Goytre United, Ton Pentre v Penybont.
Welsh League Division One results:
Saturday, December 29:
Ammanford 0, Cambrian and Clydach 4; Cwmamman United 2, Cwmbran Celtic 2; Goytre United 0, Llantwit Major 1; Port Talbot Town 1, Ton Pentre 2; Undy Athletic 2, Pontypridd Town 4.
Friday, December 28: Briton Ferry Llansawel 2, Penybont 2; Goytre 1, Afan Lido 4; Ton Pentre 0, Haverfordwest County 4.
Saturday, December 22: Afan Lido 1, Cambrian and Clydach 3; Ammanford 5, Cwmbran Celtic 0; Briton Ferry Llansawel 0, Haverfordwest County 3; Port Talbot Town 1, Cwmamman United 1; Ton Pentre 4, Goytre FC 0.
Welsh League Division One 2018-2019
| POS | NAME | P | W | D | L | F | A | PTS | |
| 1 | Penybont | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 11 | 32 | |
| 2 | Haverfordwest County | 13 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 40 | 12 | 30 | |
| 3 | Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 12 | 29 | |
| 4 | Afan Lido | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 22 | 29 | |
| 5 | Cwmamman United | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 15 | 21 | |
| 6 | Cwmbran Celtic | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 29 | 21 | |
| 7 | Ammanford | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 29 | 26 | 18 | |
| 8 | Llantwit Major | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 18 | |
| 9 | Undy Athletic | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 22 | 16 | |
| 10 | Goytre United | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 14 | 16 | |
| 11 | Briton Ferry Llansawel | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 18 | 15 | |
| 12 | Goytre | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 27 | 13 | |
| 13 | Port Talbot Town | 15 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 30 | 11 | |
| 14 | Ton Pentre | 15 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 34 | 11 | |
| 15 | Pontypridd Town | 13 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 37 | 10 | |
| 16 | Taffs Well | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 24 | 8 |