Wnaeth tridiau o law di-baid yn Ne Cymru fethu a thawelu ysbryd a phenderfyniad Gwalia Unedig wrth iddynt wynebu Wimbledon yn Stadiwm Casnewydd ddoe yn y Gynghrair Genedlaethol. Ac eto, yn debyg iawn i rediad Wrecsam yn nhrydedd haen y Gynghrair Bêl-droed, cododd Gwalia United—y tîm gyfatebol o Gymru yn ymdrechu am gydraddoldeb yn eu cynghrair eu hunain—i’r achlysur gyda safiad trawiadol yn erbyn tîm hynod gywir Wimbledon. Mewn gêm a ddiffiniwyd gan asgwrn cefn yn gymaint ag uchelgais, roedd hwn yn gyfle arall i ddangos y gallai Gwalia Unedig fyw a ffynnu yn erbyn safonau gwrthwynebiad calibr uchel y gynghrair a bwrw colled y penwythnos blaenorol i hanes.
Achosodd y diwyd Kylie Nolan ac Ellie Sargent broblemau i Wimbledon gyda’u cyflymder a’u hegni. Bu bron i bwysau dygn Nolan dalu ar ei ganfed yn gynnar gyda ricochet rhyng-gipio gan gôl-geidwad symud ychydig yn llydan. Yn erbyn gwynt eithriadol o gryf yn yr hanner cyntaf, fe fanteisiodd yr ymosodwr Casi Greggson a’r asgellwr Jessie Taylor ar waith da’r canol cae i achosi problemau i amddiffyn Wimbledon, ond fe wnaeth cyfuniad o gôl-geidwadu ardderchog ac amddiffyn cryf gadw Gwalia mâs.
Mewn gêm lle’r oedd pob modfedd yn cael ei hymladd â ffyrnigrwydd, Emily Poole gipiodd y foment fawr ychydig ar ôl hanner amser. Gwahanodd ei gôl yr ochrau gan ennill buddugoliaeth galed ond haeddiannol i Gwalia. Roedd yn wobr briodol i dîm yr oedd eu hawydd am frwydr yn parhau nid yn unig yn drosiadol, gyda cherdyn coch hwyr yn pwysleisio natur egnïol a chorfforol y gêm.
Ac felly, wrth i fwy o law barhau i gwympo ar Dde Cymru dros ŵyl y banc, dangosodd Gwalia United ei fwriad i fod yn dîm ar gynnydd, heb ei rwystro gan yr elfennau.
Gwalia United Prevail Over Wimbledon
Three days of relentless August rain lashing South Wales could hardly quell the spirit and determination of Gwalia United as they faced Wimbledon at Newport Stadium yesterday in the National League. Yet, much like Wrexham’s charge into the third tier of the Football League, Gwalia United — the Welsh female equivalent striving for parity in their own corresponding league — rose to the occasion with impressive poise against a well drilled and impressively accurate Wimbledon team. In a match defined by attrition as much as ambition, this was another opportunity to show that Gwalia United could match the standards of the league’s high calibre opposition and cast the previous weekend’s defeat to history.
The impressive and industrious Kylie Nolan and Ellie Sargent posed Wimbledon problems with their pace and energy. Nolan’s tenacious pressing almost paid dividends early with an intercepted ricochet from a goalkeeper clearance drifting just wide. Against an exceptionally strong wind in the first half, striker Casi Greggson and winger Jessie Taylor capitalised on the good work of the midfield to cause the Wimbledon defence problems, but a combination of excellent goalkeeping and strong defending kept Gwalia out.
In a game where every inch of the turf was contested with ferocity, it was Emily Poole who seized the decisive moment just after half-time. Her goal separated the sides and earned Gwalia a hard-fought but well-deserved victory. It was a fitting reward for a team whose appetite for battle continued not just metaphorically, with a late red card emphasising the high spirited and physical nature of the encounter.
And so, as more rains continue to drench South Wales this bank holiday, Gwalia United’s showed its intent to being a team on the rise, undeterred by the elements.
Gwalia United 1 – 0 AFC Wimbledon
E.Poole (48)
