An Easter Bank Holiday Monday saw a trip to Plaskynaston Lane - home of the self-professed 'Oldest Football Club in Wales - Elements Cefn Druids, known as the Ancients.
Based in the Wrexham village of Cefn Mawr their quaint Plaskynaton Lane home has plenty of character and charm - but not the required facilities to gain an FAW Domestic Licence. This will be the Druids last full season at the ground before they move to a new-purpose built venue in nearby Rhosymedre which should meet all the new specifications. By then though, the Druids will be playing at a lower level in the Cymru Alliance for the first time in over a decade.
Unfortunately their history is all they've had to cheer about this season as they have languished at the bottom of the Welsh Premier, fielding a youthful side having had to slash their budget by 50% just prior to Christmas. Needless to say a number of players left but to their credit many have stuck around.
Attendances are regularly low despite nearby Wrexham FC's recent decline and dire performances at non-league level, they pulled in over 2,000 for a dismal draw against part-time Gateshead, while simultaneously Haverfordwest's visit to Druids brought a measly 64 spectators to Plaskynaston.
It is under these conditions that old Wrexham FC favourites Waynne Phillips & Lee Jones have done a superb job of keeping the Druids competitive. There are more connections to Wrexham FC's better days with Trinidad & Tobago World Cup star Dennis Lawrence also helping out, while the team-sheet includes sons of three notable ex-Wrexham players: Josh Russell - son of Kevin 'Rooster' Russell, Craig Pejic (son of Mel Pejic, brother of Shaun Pejic) and Jonathan Rush (son of ex-Wales & Liverpool goalscoring legend Ian Rush).
Despite their struggles the Druids soldier on and this game was no different. Haverfordwest - looking to secure their place in next season's 'Super 12' only took the lead on the stroke of half-time. They doubled it not long after the resumption but Druids were not outplayed or outfought.
With less than 20 minutes to go the Ancients had their playing co-manager, 40 year-old Waynne Phillips pulling the strings in midfield, sent off for a second bookable offence. Pleasingly they pulled a goal back as Rush scrambled in a consolation that gave Haverfordwest a nervy finish to the game.
Hopefully it will not be too long before the Druids return to the Welsh Premier - which would be a fitting reward for the small band of people who keep them going.
Man of the Match: Josh Griffiths. It was difficult to pick one player out of a real team effort but the dimunitive teenage wide-player for Cefn Druids stood out with his close-control and willingness to carry the ball forward.
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