FORMER Cardiff City player Dane Griffiths scored the only goal to secure the Corries victory against Ynyshir Albion but if they are to extend their six-match unbeaten league run they must overcome a former Bluebird who started his career at Anfield.
Former Wales under-21 midfielder Leyton Maxwell has been in charge of Premier Division newboys Cardiff Draconians for the past two years and has taken last year’s Division One Champions to fourth in the table, one place and as many points behind the Corries.
Rich Field boss Damien Daniels will be keen to test himself against the experienced professional in the home dugout when the two teams meet at Lydstep Park this Saturday, October 21 (2.30pm).
But the focus for the visitors when they travel to the capital will be leapfrogging second place Penydarren, who have 18 points, and piling the pressure on leaders Sully Sports who have 23 points from 12 games.
St Asaph-born Maxwell, who came through as a trainee with Liverpool, scored as a 19-year-old on his only appearance for the Reds – at Anfield’s Kop end – in a 4-2 league cup victory over Hull City. His professional career led him to Cardiff City in 2000, where he made 44 appearances in three years, before moving on to various lower league clubs and eventually the Welsh Premier League.
The 38-year-old is now earning his stripes in mangment with the ambitious Gabalfa-based club who like the Corries have won five of their nine games this term but with three losses have lost one more game. The Dracs will be in good spirits having thrashed bottom side Llangynwyd Rangers BGC 1-5 in the Valleys last time out.
The Corries will hope the defensive resilience they showed in Saturday’s home victory will hold out and allow their dangerous attacking players to make their mark.
Griffiths, who was let go by Cardiff City in the second year of a professional contract with the development side in 2014, opened his Corries account with a headed goal just before halftime at the Rich Field in a tough encounter.
Both teams enjoyed chances but home goalkeeper, the Corries captain, Stephen Price produced an outstanding display to earn himself the man of the match award and most importantly deny the Albion attackers.
Despite missing some key players the Corries used their squad players to good effect – Jordan Baker with a good performance at the back alongside Dale Evans. Upfront the Corries caused problems for the visiting keeper with Paul Keddle and Griffiths linking up well, with the tenacious Jack Bain feeding off any scraps.
But with chances not as forthcoming as previous weeks it was a case of digging deep and protecting their precious lead.
The next Corries home fixture is Saturday, October 28 when they welcome another Cardiff side Grange Albion, who currently occupy one of the three relegation places, to the Rich Field, kickoff at 2.30pm.