South Wales FA will go into their second match in the UEFA Regions Cup Preliminary Round mini-tournament full of confidence after their 5-0 victory over Region of Gothenburg at Jenner Park.
Next up (Thursday, 7 June, 7.00pm) for the Welsh regional champions, whose opening round victory was the highest score by a Welsh team in the tournament’s history, will be a clash with the Macedonian side, Amateurs FYR, back in Barry.
Star of the show in the 5-0 win was Penydarren Boys and Girls FC striker Chris Colvin-Owens, who netted twice to add to his mounting reputation. The bearded striker scored more than 50 goals for the South Wales Alliance League Premier Division side as they went through their 30 matches unbeaten to win the title by 20 clear points.
But their biggest achievement was to reach the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup, the first side from Welsh football’s fifth tier to go that far, before bowing out to the full might of Bangor City.
No wonder, then, that five Penydarren players appeared in the South Wales FA squad for the UEFA tournament.
The 30-year-old first shone as the captain of Merthyr Town’s Under 18 team. As well as being their top scorer in two unbeaten seasons, he also captained the side before going on to have trials with Cardiff City, Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion.
Training session this morning for @WelshRegionsSq at @JennerPark3G pic.twitter.com/49ZS0h5c4N
— South Wales FA (@SouthWalesFA) June 6, 2018
He may not have made it at the professional level, but he has hammered home hundreds of goals in his time at Penydarren and during short spells at Treharris Athletic, Pant and Treforest.
Now his goals are proving vital for South Wales FA as they attempt to become the first Welsh team to qualify for the Intermediate Round of the UEFA Regions Cup.
Goytre United’s Adam Jenkins started the rout against Gothenburg by winning a penalty that he calmly despatched. Jordan Evans, of Baglan Dragons, then powered an unstoppable half-volley past the Swedish goalkeeper Emil Kecevic before Colvin-Owens struck twice.
Canton Liberals’ Chris Quick then made it 5-0 moments after coming on.
Another win in tonight’s (Thursday, 7 June, 7.00pm) second outing at Jenner Park could be enough to see the Welsh side through. The Macedonians were beaten 1-0 by Evia Region of Greece at the Cyncoed Campus in round one. The Greek team meet Region of Gothenburg at Cyncoed Campus today (3.00pm kick-off).
South Wales FA Squad
Steven Price (Brecon Corries), Ryan Morgan (Trefelin), Richard Noyes (Bridgend Street), Alex Lloyd (Penydarren BGC), Phil Quick (Canton Liberal FC), Asa Lloyd (Penydarren BGC), Travis Monks, (Trefelin), Adam Jenkins (Goytre United), Chris Quick, (10) Alex Long (Sully Sports), Chris Colvin-Owens (Penydarren BGC), Aaron Fettah (Canton Liberal FC), Liam Pika (Canton Liberal FC), Andre Phillips (Canton Liberal FC), Matthew Phillips, (16) Jordan Evans (Baglan Dragons), Joshua Brogden (Penydarren BGC), Connor Keating (Penydarren BGC)