Please note this game has been rearranged to Ocean Park Cardiff and not Newport Stadium kick off 2pm.
This weekend, Gwalia United face MK Dons in a crucial fixture in the National League Southern Premier Division, with both teams eager to climb the table as the half way point of the season closely approaches. Within a season full of learning and growth for both sides, this match will feature two squads packed with young, exciting talent looking to make their mark, in what is for many players, their first few months’ experience at this competitive level.
For Gwalia United, being the only Welsh team competing in the English football system, the journey this season has been about steady progress and development, with a renewed focus on building the team’s identity both on the pitch. After two hard-fought draws on the road against Lewes and Cheltenham, which showcased Gwalia’s growing tenacity in challenging environments, they will be eager to carry that resilience into their return to South Wales. This match will take place at their old home, Ocean Park in Cardiff, due to a fixture clash at Newport Stadium, and they’ll be looking to build on those strong performances.
Manager Fern Burrage Male stated
“They will be first and foremost up for the game, they have faced some tough teams so far this season and they will be up for this game as we are”
Gwalia will be looking to the likes of dynamic midfielder Emily Poole, key in the remarkable second half resurgence at Cheltenham, to be at the heart of the team’s play. Her ability to dictate the tempo, break up opposition moves, and drive the team forward has made her an essential figure in the middle of the park. Alongside her, the pace and technical ability of Ellie Sargent and the attacking threat posed by Kylie Nolan will be critical if Gwalia are to break down the Dons.
On the other side, MK Dons also come into this fixture with a young squad hungry for success. They, like Gwalia, are eager to push up the league standings and will view this game as a vital stepping stone to achieve that. They have had three tough results over the last three weeks, yet have also shown an impressive ability to compete with the best most notably in a 3-3 draw against Billericay Town. They play both Gwalia and Wimbledon in October, therefore will have certainly targeted this period to re-energise their campaign.
Welsh international goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan Jones is under no illusion on the challenge awaiting Gwalia this weekend, stating:
“MK Dons have had a lot of change, and they will bring a lot of fight this weekend”
With their squads filled with youthful talent, this game could be a showcase of high-energy football, with players on both sides looking to make an impact. For Gwalia United, the home advantage and recent momentum could give them the edge, but MK Dons are more than capable of making it a difficult afternoon.
Yr wythnos hon, bydd Gwalia United yn gwynebu MK Dons mewn gêm hanfodol yn Adran Uwch y De o’r Gynghrair Genedlaethol, gyda’r ddau dîm yn awyddus i ddringo’r tabl wrth i bwynt canol y tymor agosáu’n gyflym. O fewn tymor sy’n llawn dysgu a datblygu i’r ddau dîm, bydd y gêm hon yn cynnwys dau garfan wedi’u llenwi â thalent ifanc a chyffrous, sy’n awyddus i wneud argraff, yn enwedig gan fod hwn yn brofiad cyntaf llawer o chwaraewyr ar y lefel gystadleuol hon.
I Gwalia United, fel yr unig dîm Cymreig sy’n cystadlu yn system pêl-droed Lloegr, mae’r daith y tymor hwn wedi ymwneud â chynnydd cyson a datblygiad, gyda ffocws newydd ar adeiladu hunaniaeth y tîm ar y cae. Ar ôl dwy gêm gyfartal galed i’w hennill oddi cartref yn erbyn Lewes a Cheltenham, a ddangosodd wydnwch cynyddol Gwalia mewn amgylcheddau heriol, byddant yn awyddus i ddod â’r gwydnwch hwnnw i’w gêm gartref yn ne Cymru. Bydd y gêm hon yn cael ei chynnal yn eu hen gartref, Parc y Môr yng Nghaerdydd, oherwydd gwrthdaro gemau yn Stadiwm Casnewydd, ac fe fyddan nhw’n edrych i adeiladu ar y perfformiadau cryf hynny.
Bydd Gwalia yn edrych at chwaraewyr fel Emily Poole, sy’n allweddol yn yr adfywiad arbennig yn yr ail hanner yn Cheltenham, i fod wrth galon chwarae’r tîm. Mae ei gallu i reoli’r tempo, torri symudiadau’r gwrthwynebwyr, ac yrru’r tîm ymlaen wedi gwneud iddi fod yn ffigwr hanfodol yng nghanol y cae. Yn ei hymyl, bydd cyflymder a gallu technegol Ellie Sargent a’r bygythiad ymosodol a ddaw gan Kylie Nolan yn hollbwysig os yw Gwalia am dorri amddiffyn y Dons.
Ar y llaw arall, mae MK Dons hefyd yn dod i’r gêm hon gyda charfan ifanc sy’n llwglyd am lwyddiant. Maen nhw, fel Gwalia, yn awyddus i ddringo’r tabl ac yn gweld y gêm hon fel carreg gamu hanfodol i gyflawni hynny. Maen nhw wedi cael tair canlyniad anodd dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, ond maen nhw hefyd wedi dangos gallu trawiadol i gystadlu gyda’r gorau, yn fwyaf nodedig mewn gêm gyfartal 3-3 yn erbyn Billericay Town. Maen nhw’n chwarae Gwalia a Wimbledon yn Hydref, felly yn sicr byddan nhw wedi targedu’r cyfnod hwn i ailfywiogi eu hymgyrch.
Gyda’r ddau dîm yn cynnwys talent ifanc, gallai’r gêm hon fod yn arddangosfa o bêl-droed egni uchel, gyda chwaraewyr ar y ddwy ochr yn edrych i wneud argraff. I Gwalia United, gallai mantais y cartref a’r momentwm diweddar roi mantais iddyn nhw, ond mae MK Dons yn fwy na galluog o wneud iddo fod yn brynhawn anodd.