A glorious afternoon and a much changed Aberdare squad hosted new side Cwmdare FC in the first of many local derbies throughout the season with boss Jordan Price overseeing a 10-0 win in front of a large crowd. The first half saw Aber attack the Town end but the visitors first opportunity saw a shot go past the far post on 10 minutes. However, on 13 minutes a Jayden Hopkins, one of only four players from last season to remain, effort was parried by the away 'keeper only for Price to tuck home for 1-0. A fine ball in the 22nd minute from Dai Owen saw Price shoot over and his next attempt hitting the post. The home side continued to make chances which were not taken advantage of until, in the 36th minute, a right side free kick from Kai Davies was well headed home by Jon Williams at the far post. On the 39th minute Price set up Hopkins to roll home the third. After Southern Rowlands had hit the post, it was 4-0 in the 42nd minute as Price played in Lance Lewis to score on his return to the Club, With Brandon Drake coming on as a substitute at half-time, intricate home build-up saw Price hit the cross-bar before a delightful Matt Parsons chip found Davies to make it 5-0 on 53 minutes. Nicky Morgan and Tyler Lewis had been introduced from the bench and fellow substitute Lewis Reed was unable to convert from close range. The 58th minute saw a fine left side run by Williams end with an excellent effort into the far corner for 6-0 and 10 minutes later Price's run saw a Cwmdare own goal for a seventh. It was 8 after 72 minutes as a Tyler Lewis shot was parried for Price to score. Cwmdare, who never gave up,had a rare attack but it was thwarted while the 5th Aberdare replacement in Ceri Jones followed, before a Morgan shot from 25 yards was pushed round his post by the ever-busy Cwmdare No.1. With 10 minutes left, Aber notched their ninth with Tyler Lewis driving into the far corner after a fine run and the scoring was complete on the 87th minute when, after pinball in the visitors box, the Half Soaked Laundry Player of the Match, Price notched his first hat-trick for the club and the final 10-0 result. A fine performance from all involved and a confident start to the season while Tuesday 11th August sees a stern test of the new Aber side when hosting league and cup holders AFC Llwydcoed Reserves (ko 6.15 pm) HALF SOAKED LAUNDRY MAN OF THE MATCH (as chosen by match sponsors Dirt-b-Gone) was hat-trick hero Jordan Price TEAM Callum Webber, Sion Budski (Brandon Drake), Jon Williams, Dai Owen, Matt Parsons, Southern Rowlands (Lewis Reed), Jordan Price, Dre Evans, Lance Lewis (Ceri Jones), Kai Davies (Tyler Lewis), Jayden Hopkins (Nicky Morgan)

Published 8 August 2026 Report by Ray Pearce Photo by Ian Pearce