Trethomas Bluebirds vs Penybont

Cann's ninth-minute opener set the tone. A lead inside the first ten minutes forced Trethomas out of their defensive shape far earlier than they would have planned, leaving gaps that Penybont exploited for the remainder of the half. Once the second goal arrived before half-time, the contest was effectively settled.

Ethan Cann (Penybont) — Two goals, one in each half, from a striker who looks sharp despite it being early in pre-season. His movement in behind troubled the Bluebirds defence throughout.

Ryan Hill (Penybont) — One goal and a lively midfield display in what was effectively his first appearance since joining from Aldershot Town. Showed the driving runs that made him a fan favourite at the EBB Stadium.

Penybont defence — Faced limited threat but dealt with everything Trethomas threw at them, keeping a clean sheet on the road in warm conditions — always a useful marker in pre-season.

The 3–0 scoreline reflected a clear gulf between the two Welsh divisions. Penybont's three first-half shots on target produced two goals, an efficiency that will please Griffiths. Trethomas, who compete in the Cymru South (tier two), managed only sporadic counter-attacks and registered no more than a couple of attempts on goal across the 90 minutes. Possession data was not officially recorded for this friendly, but the eye test showed Penybont holding a comfortable edge.

For Penybont, this was a controlled first outing of pre-season as they build towards a UEFA Conference League qualifying tie — the exact date and opponent still to be confirmed as of publication. The Bont will face a stiffer test in their next friendly, but the integration of summer signings Cann and Hill into the XI showed early promise.

Trethomas Bluebirds, preparing for another Cymru South campaign, will take positives from the work-rate but will need to sharpen up defensively before the competitive season begins.

Penybont's next scheduled fixture is a pre-season meeting with Merthyr Town on Wednesday 1 July 2026, while Trethomas continue their preparation against Llanelli Town on Saturday 28 June 2026.

A routine pre-season win for Penybont against a lower-tier opponent. Cann and Hill gave the new-look midfield and attack a sharp edge, and a clean sheet keeps the momentum positive. The real tests come against higher-grade opposition and, ultimately, European opposition — but this was exactly the kind of professional start Griffiths would have wanted.