Thomas: Pryce big factor in decision

19/11/2010 @ 01:04

Berriew have the chance to unseat Llanrhaeadr at the top of the Spar Mid Wales Division One with two games in 72 hours.

And while on the pitch, the home matches against struggling sides Presteigne and Aberystwyth University look like bankers, off the pitch the club was boosted by the news that star striker Will Thomas has committed his immediate future to Berriew.

The news took many by surprise, with Alliance clubs Caersws and Guilsfield both making concerted efforts to sign him, but the goal machine has revealed the reasons behind his decision to stay.

“The clubs that came in for me are great clubs with brilliant managers,” he said. “I loved playing under Russell last season here which made it harder to turn down Guilsfield and, in terms of Caersws, they'll be battling for promotion to the super 12 so that was a big attraction too.

“In the end I opted to stay at Berriew at least till the end of season. I have a lot of my good mates here; I’m enjoying the football and Neil Pryce (right) has just taken the manager's job and I want to support him. I just hope now we can now push on and keep winning to get promotion back up to the Alliance where, I think, we should be.”

The comments were music to the ears of delighted boss Pryce who said the team deserves credit for Thomas’s decision to stay.

“We’re delighted to keep him,” he said: “His scoring record shows how important he is to the club and it’s a credit to how well the team is playing that he’s turned down higher league clubs to stay. We got a huge weekend ahead of us and Ed Baldwin and Dan Bowen are still injured so the squad is still stretched somewhat.”

Leaders Llanrhaeadr face a tricky match at reigning champions Penparcau who appear to have lost their shine this season, while Waterloo Rovers hunt for more points at home to Tywyn Bryncrug.

Dyffryn Banw, buoyed by a return to winning ways last weekend, travel to the Aberystwyth students while Llansantffraid Village host Llanidloes Town.

Division Two statistics show that Montgomery have the best defence and the best attack in the league, and with just one defeat and only three home games played all season, you can understand manager Clive McNamee’s (below) optimism.

“We may be a little off the top spot but, like I have said before, we are not worried,” he said: “We have dropped less points than anyone in the league. We know where we need to be at the Xmas break and we will be there. League positions at this stage don’t always tell the truth. I know we have to win games in hand but what’s to say we won't? I look at points dropped not points on the board when some teams have played up to five games more than others.”

Tomorrow, Montgomery have a welcome home match with Talgarth.

Four Crosses will be annoyed they are without a league fixture having seen their incredible eight-match unbeaten streak take them to second. They will be hoping Llanfyllin can pinch something at leaders Kerry, while Llanfair United will look to piece together some consistent form at home to Rhosgoch. Bottom side Meifod entertain Aberaeron.

Huws Gray Alliance

Guilsfield v Porthmadoc

Ruthin v Technogroup Welshpool

Spar Mid Wales league

Division 1

Aberystwyth Uni v Dyffryn Banw

Berriew v Presteigne (ko 2.30pm)

Carno v Newbridge-on-Wye

Dolgellau v Bow Street

Llansantffraid Village v Llanidloes

Penparcau v Llanrhaeadr

Waterloo v Tywyn Bryncrug