Promising young forward Ruben Davies grabbed two goals to secure Briton Ferry’s passage through to the Nathaniel MG Cup third round with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Trethomas Bluebirds last night.
Davies’ close-range header put Ferry ahead in the 16th minute, as they faced a Trethomas side still finding their rhythm after a turbulent summer that saw the squad of last season’s Cymru South runners-up completely overhauled.
The 21-year-old notched his second of the evening barely a minute into the second-half with a low finish at the near-post that left the Bluebirds with a mountain to climb.
Ferry should’ve extended their lead but were repeatedly denied by the offside flag that overruled two further goals and Trethomas goalkeeper Suleiman Susso, who turned in an erratic but effective display for Paul Evans’ side.
Ellis Sage sealed the win, firing home a late third goal, moments after coming on, as he beat Susso to Sam Snaith’s defence-splitting pass.
Briton Ferry begin their second season in the Cymru Premier next weekend with Davies likely to be given an increased role in wake of the departures of Luke Bowen and Tyler Brock, who put pen to paper with Trefelin in the off-season.
Davies made just 3 (6) league appearances for Ferry last season, scoring his only goal in a 4-3 defeat to Barry Town.
But the former Swansea City academy prospect is poised for a breakout season with Andy Dyer believing he is ready to step up and fill the void left by key departures.
“Ruben is a key player for us,” Dyer stated. “He came to us as a number nine and the truth is, we’re dropping him down a line a little bit. He’s playing in between people, he’s like a false nine.
“He has such fantastic ability in terms of in front of goal, and he’s another one that’s growing and growing in confidence and fitting in now. Let’s hope he has a big season, because the one thing we’re going to get from Ruben is goals for sure.
“When you lose two people like that [Bowen and Brock], who’ve been unbelievable for the club and have had such a positive impact on and off the pitch, you know, you have to find someone to replace that, but for Ruben to grow and develop, he actually needed that pathway, that gap and pathway of those two opening the way for him to step into it because it’s horrible being 20 years of age and not having those opportunities.”
Ferry performed something of an escape act last season. The club’s first-ever campaign in the top-flight got off to the worst possible start as a seven-game losing sequence left them rooted to the bottom of the table.
However a subsequent improvement in results saw Briton Ferry adapt to their new surroundings and eventually finish six-points above the relegation zone.
The new season kicks off with a daunting visit to champions The New Saints and Dyer is confident his young squad has matured and is prepared to step up once again.
The club recently completed a successful pre-season, culminating in a tour to Cornwall, and Dyer believes the team is in a good place both on and off the pitch.
“I think every competition that we’re going to be involved in, there’s got to be an aim for us to try and do as well as we possibly can,” he concluded. “And there’s no reason why the group can’t do as well as we possibly can and there’s no reason the group can’t have a go.”
“I think pre-season’s been fantastic, we’ve had eight weeks,” said Dyer. “We spent the first four weeks constantly on the grass, and the second four weeks we didn’t train at all. We just played games and that was great. We finished off with a nice tour in Cornwall last week, against Falmouth and Tavistock, and it was brilliant on the pitch, and off the pitch for the boys. Now, we’re all really glad we’re up and going.”
Reflecting on the progress of his squad, which Dyer describes as a “very, very young group,” he noted a significant change from last season. “There’s been loads of development, growing and learning over the last 12 months. They don’t look young now. They looked young last year trying to find their way. It looks an established group, but time will tell now.”
Dyer is under no illusion about the difficulties that lie ahead in the top flight. “The challenges ahead are going to be a lot tougher than tonight, that’s no disrespect to who we played tonight,” he admitted. “We’re going to have to defend a lot more, we’re going to be challenged a lot more, of course we are. So for me, it’s about us getting as many points on the board as quickly as we possibly can by hook or by crook.”
A key change for the upcoming season is a new, clearer tactical approach. “The main difference between us this year is there’s a very clear way how we’re doing things,” Dyer explained. “Last year, I probably got caught up in trying to do something that really wasn’t effective. So we spent all pre-season making sure everybody knows their roles and responsibilities.”
Friday, August 1, 2025
Afan Lido 0–5 Swansea City
Briton Ferry Llansawel 3-0 Trethomas Bluebirds
Caernarfon Town 3-0 Colwyn Bay
Cambrian United 2-0 Cardiff City
Ruthin Town 0-9 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Barry Town United v Aberystwyth Town
Buckley Town v Newtown
Cardiff Met v Pontypridd United
Flint Town United v Holywell Town
Guilsfield v Bala Town
Haverfordwest County v Newport City
Llandudno v Gresford Athletic
Rhyl 1879 v Denbigh Town
The New Saints v Airbus UK Broughton
Trefelin v Penybont
Ynyshir Albions v Llanelli Town
The Welsh Football Notebook 