Mac gives rivals the nod

11/08/2010 @ 03:30

Montgomery boss Clive McNamee (pictured) has given a vote of confidence to the side that became his nemesis last season.

Monty went head-to-head with Llanidloes for most of amateur football’s major honours, but it was The Daffs that had the edge over Mac’s men with the Amateur League title heading across the Severn Valley.

And the experienced boss has tipped Antony Griffiths’s side to make an immediate impact on their return to Spar Mid Wales football by picking them to win the league.

“It may surprise a few people but I really believe they can win Division One,” he said. “They had a good squad already and have strengthened very well so I believe they can win it.”

A single goal separated the two sides last season, with Llanidloes winning the winner-takes-all league decider in front of 800 fans. The victory secured promotion to the Spar Mid Wales Division One with Montgomery forced to settle for a campaign in Division Two.

“We were disappointed to finish runners-up but to go through the season only dropping four points was an incredible achievement for a club only three seasons old,” he said. “We also reached three cup finals and are still in the semi-final of the unfinished Montgomeryshire Cup. I think two promotion places should have been up for grabs in the Amateur League as we were runners up the season before.

“Montgomery Town could certainly have held its own in the Spar first division, which is where we set our sights when the club was reformed.”

Montgomery are one of six former Amateur League clubs that will take part in the newly formed Spar Mid Wales League Division Two this season.