CARDIFF
26th September 2026 2.30pm Kick Off
D R AC O N I A N S Welcome to the Orange Llama Stadium
VS
Caerau Ely FC
MATCHDAY GROUND ENTRY £6 PROGRAMME £1.50
Today’s Programme at a Glance Manager’s Message Match Report Dracs Crowdfunder! Man of the Match The Teams Team of the Week Interview with Harry Player Q&A Fixtures League Table
Managers’ Message Saturday brings one of the fixtures that everyone looks for when the season begins, as we take on our local rivals Caerau Ely. It is a proper derby, and I am sure there will be a real edge to the game from the first whistle. I have known Caerau manager Ben Staite for a long time and have a lot of respect for the work he is doing. Caerau are a club I know extremely well, having previously managed there and enjoyed a league-winning season. However, that was a number of years ago, and my full focus is now on Cardiff Draconians and continuing to move this club forward. Since becoming Dracs manager, I have not managed to beat Caerau, so we know the size of the challenge in front of us. They have signed some extremely talented players and possess a squad full of quality and experience. They also have the best facilities in the league and are operating with a budget that is very different to ours. There is no point pretending otherwise - we go into the game as the underdogs. In terms of budget and facilities, the two clubs are miles apart. However, derbies are not decided by budgets, facilities or what is written on paper. They are decided by what happens on the pitch, and we will go into the game determined to compete for everything and give a good account of ourselves. We arrive with confidence following our 5–1 victory over Aberbargoed Buds in the Welsh Cup. It was a strong team performance and great to see Dan Bowen score a hat-trick. Dan worked incredibly hard and fully deserved his goals. It was also pleasing to see Myles score first goal of the season. Hopefully, this will give him confidence and be the first of many. The biggest positive for me was having four of our youth players named on the bench. That shows the pathway we are trying to create at Cardiff Draconians. We want talented young players to see that genuine first-team opportunities are available if they work hard and show the right attitude. We are expecting a big crowd on Saturday, and I am sure both sets of supporters will create a brilliant derby atmosphere. We know Caerau will provide an extremely difficult test, but these are the matches everyone wants to be involved in. We will need to be disciplined, brave and fully focused from the first minute until the last. With our supporters behind us, we will give absolutely everything for the badge.
Diolch yn fawr, Nana Baah
Match Report Aberbargoed Buds Cardiff Draconians 5-1 Aberbargoed Buds
Orange Llama Stadium – 19th September 2026 – Attendance: 105 Match report by Josh Thomas. Dan Bowen scored a hat-trick to help Cardiff Draconians progress in the FAW Welsh Cup after a 5-1 win against Aberbargoed Buds on Saturday. The Dracs opened the scoring in the 19th minute, the first of three goals in seven minutes, through Haben Samson, after the winger scored directly from a corner, moments after Josh Stephens’ effort was cleared off the line.
Bowen then turned on the style with two in a minute. He scored his first goal of the season from a superb free kick before the forward rounded off a lovely move when he slotted home into the bottom corner to make it 3-0 at half-time. Pics by Josh Thomas
Nana Baah freshened up his side during the break, including bringing Marouane Oukali off the bench to make his debut. Myles Corson made it four two minutes after the break when he picked up a lovely ball, which was missed by Rees, and he was able to tap the ball home. Bowen had the chance to get his third from the penalty spot three minutes later, which he duly obliged to round off a superb performance.
Aberbargoed Buds, however, did get one back after Cadie Brewer’s effort struck the post before coming back to Lawson Jones, who slotted home from close range in the 53rd minute.
Baah made some more changes, including bringing on both Tom Holley and Oliver Matthews, on for their first appearance for the club to cap off a wonderful day and securing a place in the second round. Johnson (C) (Holley 57), Nippers (Roberts 46), Saunders, Matthias, Corson, Stephans, Bowen (Matthews 57), Treharne, McCarthy (Oukali 46), Samon (Cawley 57), Benford Goals: Samson (19), Bowen (25, 26 and 49) and Corson (47)
Pics by Josh Thomas
Cardiff Draconians Crowdfunder HELP US BRING THE LYDSTEP PARK FAN ZONE TO LIFE! We’re building more than just football at Cardiff Draconians we’re building a community. Our exciting new Community Fan Zone at Lydstep Park will create a fantastic space for matchdays, families, players and the wider community to enjoy. We’re now so close to reaching our final funding target and we need your help to get over the line! Every donation helps. Every share makes a difference. Together, we can make this happen. The Fan Zone will be more than a matchday facility. It will be a lively community hub - a place to gather, celebrate, support local sport and create lasting memories at Lydstep Park. If you can, please support the crowdfunder and help us get over the line. If you are unable to donate, sharing the campaign still makes a real difference. Together, we can build something special for our club, our supporters and our community. Scan the QR code to donate or share: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/qleJVkAW
Match Officials Referee 1st Assistant Referee 2nd Assistant Referee
Robert Fulford Arthur Rudkin-McLaren Leigh Carrick
Harry Johnson (GK)
Dan Bowen
Jacob Benford Efu Kazadi Callum Nippers Jamal Roberts Carlos Indjai
Luke Gullick Cameron Egan Rhys McCarthy Cole Mace Haben Samson
Josh Stephens Amani Babah Sam Cawley (C) Dylan Amin Miles Corson
Tom Holley (GK) Harry Treharne Keegan Saunders Brandon Thomas
Manager Assistant Manager Coach 1st Aider Goalkeeping Coach
Nana Baah Paul Smith Darren Buttle Colin Ashton Gareth Hicks
Caerau Squad Adam Coomer
Jed Osborne
Charlie Lewis Dan Griffiths George Sheppard Harry Irving Harvey Sing
Joseph Baker Joshua Graham Lathan Garret Lewis Harling Liam Bishop
Hywel Davies Jack Turner Jacob Jones Jaden Bahumaid James Williams
Owen Bancroft Tim Parker Tom Mclean Vaughn Fowler Zack Maher
First Team Manager Coach Coach Coach Sports Therapist Team Helper
B Stait G Davis D Hughes A Mullany J Hall J Seymour
Interview with Harry The Cardiff Derby between Cardiff Draconians and Caerau Ely is always a match to look out for, but for Harry Treharne today’s game is one that will stand out for different reasons. After an impressive first season, where he picked up six goals and three assists in 29 Cymru South games and the Dracs Young Player of the Season, Treharne left in the summer to sign with the Young Guns, but the centre-midfielder rejoined the Orange Llama Stadium outfit a few weeks later. Treharne returned to the Cardiff Draconians starting line-up against Baglan Dragons, helping the team pick up a 2-1 win, before appearing in the Dracs 5-1 victory against Aberbargoed Buds in the FAW Welsh Cup, playing the whole 90 minutes in both. Now with Caerau Ely arriving in the Welsh capital, Treharne says he is expecting a “good test” with his former employees but believes Cardiff Draconians have it in them to come away victorious, as long as they turn up and perform to their absolute best. Treharne shares with media officer Josh Thomas on being back with the Dracs, our victory against Aberbargoed Buds in the FAW Welsh Cup and taking on Caerau Ely this afternoon. JT: Having been back with the club for a couple of weeks, and making your debut again against Baglan Dragons, just how great is it to be back. HT: It’s really good to be back. We’ve had a couple of tough sessions the last couple of weeks. Nana took us up the sand dunes, a couple of Saturdays ago, when we had a game off, which was a real good test. So, we’ve been doing a lot off the pitch. We were a bit lucky against Baglan that they went down to 10 men within the first minute, but Baglan Dragons are a good side, experienced in the Cymru South and to be honest, I thought it was a great result. I know they obviously had 10 men for a large portion of the game, but at the end, we were down to nine men, and we managed to get the three points, so it was a really good result. Obviously, last week as well (with Aberbargoed Buds) we won again, they were good, they were an all-right outfit, but we got the job done, and we got another win. JT: Just how pleased were you the performance shown against Aberbargoed Buds? At the beginning, they pushed you, but to get those three goals in seven minutes, and then for Dan Bowen to get a hat-trick, and win the game 5-1 and get a place next round. Just how pleased are you with Dan? HT: Yeah, I was really pleased with Bows last week. I think they were his first goals this season. Hopefully now he can use that going into the game today. So, hopefully now he’s got his confidence and he can go and score against Caerau Ely today because he’s a massive player for us. Pics by Josh Thomas
JT: We had Tom Holley, Oliver Matthews and Marouane Oukali, three 16-year-olds make their first team debut against Aberbargoed Buds, how great is it to see them make their debut? HT: It’s a special moment for them. They have obviously worked hard all throughout their whole career. The chances to make their debut at 16, they come on and they’ve done really well. Tom (Holley) played for us in a friendly a couple of weeks ago, and I thought he was brilliant against Cardiff Met. There’s no doubt that in a couple of years’ time, he will be playing regular Cymru South, to be honest, and obviously it was good for the other two lads to come on today and make their debut.
JT: Going back to Baglan Dragons, just how great was to make your debut again? HT: I really enjoyed it. It was my first 90 minutes this season. And to be honest, I think I needed those minutes in my legs. I felt sharper last week, and I just feel my sharpness coming back (against Aberbargoed), my fitness coming back, and hopefully we can go to put on a performance against Caerau Ely now today.
JT: It was a difficult start of the season, but the last few weeks, especially with those three wins, including going through in the cup. That’s a really momentum booster, isn’t it? HT: Yeah, I think a lot of it is just confidence to be honest. We’ve had a few good results now. Obviously beat Llanelli, beat Baglan Dragons, and Aberbargoed Buds, and hopefully now we’ll use the momentum going into today (with Caerau Ely).
JT: Having signed for Caerau Ely for a short stint, and now you’ve come back. It’s a really big game, but for you it’s a bit personal, isn’t it? HT: Yeah, I wish Caerau Ely all the best for the season. They have a great group of boys. We know the quality that they’ve got. We are going to have to be on it from the first whistle next week. We are not going to be able to start slow, because we know that they’ll punish us. They got some of the best quality in the league. They obviously just missed out on promotion last year, so it is going be a real good test for us. But if we turn up today and we bring our A game, well there’s no reason why we can’t put on a performance and turn them over, to be honest.
Pics by Josh Thomas
Feeling lucky? Then join in with our club fundraisers of the Lucky 24 Tote and the 100 club! For £1 a tote ticket there is a weekly chance of winning our current jackpot of £4000. Join the 100 club for £10 a month and be part of the monthly draw to win a prize of either £100, £75, £50 or £25. 100 club draw takes place the end of every month! See a club member in the shop to find out more or buy a ticket, or message us online. Thanks to everyone who supports us in this and good luck in the next draws.
Email: Cardiffdraconians@aol.com Twitter: @CDraconians Facebook: @CardiffDraconiansFC
Q&A with Harry! Age? 22 Position? Centre midfielder Favourite Football team? Chelsea Favourite meal? Nandos Chicken Thighs If you could have any three dinner guests who would they be?
Pic by Josh Thomas
Leo Messi, Eden Hazzard and Chrsitiano Ronaldoo
Go to Karaoke Song? Weekend in Paradise by Jamies Webster What is your best footballing attribute? Passing Previous clubs? Caerau Ely, Taffs Well and Cambrian How long have you been with the club? Rejoined this summer Best player you have ever played with? Marinho Manga Best player you have ever played against? Liam Eason Best piece of advice you would give upcoming footballers: Just keep working hard, don’t give up. Obviously football has a lot of ups and downs, more downs than ups and you have to put in the graft behind the scenes when nobody is watching. Make sure that you can be the best player you can be every single week. Harry is sponsored by:- MDT Electrical
Pic by Josh Thomas
Fixtures
Once a Drac, Always a Drac
Pl
W
D
L
GF GA GD Pts
1
Pure Swansea
6
5
1
0
22
5
17
16
2
Aberystwyth Town
6
5
0
1
19
7
12
15
3
Treowen Stars
7
4
1
2
16
11
5
13
4
Pontypridd United
6
4
1
1
16
11
5
13
5
Baglan Dragons
8
4
1
3
8
8
0
13
6
Carmarthen Town
7
3
2
2
17
16
1
11
7
Caerau Ely
7
3
1
3
16
17
-1
10
8
Afan Lido
8
3
1
4
13
15
-2
10
9
Trethomas Bluebirds
7
2
3
2
14
13
1
9
10
Ynyshir Albions
6
2
3
1
6
5
1
9
11
Caerphilly Athletic
7
2
2
3
7
12
-5
8
12
Cardiff Draconians
5
2
1
2
7
8
-1
7
13
Newport City
5
2
0
3
9
5
4
6
14
Pontardawe Town
6
1
0
5
5
13
-8
3
15
Llanelli Town
8
0
2
6
6
23
-17
2
16
Llantwit Major
5
0
1
4
2
15
-13
1
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