Friendly: Llanrumney Athletic FC 12-3 CSKA

CSKA Sophia Gardens continued their pre-season preparations with an extraordinary 12-3 loss away to Cardiff and District side Llanrumney Athletic FC in a 2pm kick-off over Llanrumney University Playing Fields on Saturday afternoon.

The game will be remembered as one of the darkest days in CSKA history with nasty injuries to three key players that have rocked the club's plans ahead of the start of the new Cardiff Combination League season.

It was a match that started with a high level of intensity as both teams set out their stalls early. It only took 9 minutes for the first goal to go in when a bursting run by the Llanrumney left winger saw him reach the edge of the CSKA area before drilling a clinical shot into the bottom right corner in off the post.

The scores were then levelled after 18 minutes when a CSKA corner was seemingly slapped clear by the Llanrumney defender. The ref had no choice but to give a penalty. Kris Dolby stepped up and converted to make it 1-1.

Only 5 minutes passed before Llanrumney Athletic regained the lead. Another lightning run down the left flank from the dangerous Llanrumney winger saw him reach the by-line before cutting a low cross back that evaded three CSKA defenders before an unmarked player struck a shot in from the edge of the area. 2-1.

The ding dong affair continued as just 2 minutes later CSKA levelled. Dolby picked up the ball deep in the Llanrumney half before picking out fellow striker partner Owen Jones on the edge of the area on the right side. Jones struck a bullet shot into the roof of the net from range to once again level the game.

There was no let-up in the action. Almost immediately, CSKA conceded to go behind. A goal area scramble saw the ball fall to the Llanrumney player on the edge of the area again who then ruthlessly fired into the net to make it 3-2 to the home side.

Llanrumney Athletic then doubled their lead not long after. A through ball found the Llanrumney striker and claims of handball from the CSKA defence by the Llanrumney striker fell on deaf ears as he finished into the net.

Despite being 4-2 down, CSKA didn't deflate. In fact, it seems that the feeling of injustice of the goal from the corner motivated the players on to get back into the game. A couple of corners came and there was a feeling that a CSKA goal was coming. That eventually happened when Ceri Jones, on for the injured keeper Alex Skinner with Paul Jarvis deputising in between the sticks, fed in Dolby who turned and curled in a stunning effort into the top right corner from just outside the box. Unfortunately, whilst turning to get the shot off, Dolby twisted his ankle and this movement resulted in the full weight of his body putting enough pressure on the area that he suffered a clean break of his fibula with his ankle also being displaced.

The game was delayed by 20 minutes as Dolby received treatment and the decision was made to move the game to another pitch with Dolby unable to be moved until suitable transport arrived to take him to hospital.

As the game restarted on the other pitch, it soon became clear that the decision not to abandon the game was probably the wrong one from CSKA. The players look shot of energy and focus from the get go. Llanrumney made it 5-3 just before half-time. A corner hit the helpless Huw Williams on the abdomen with the deflection landing right at the feet of the Llanrumney player who only had to tap in from close range.

There was still time for Llanrumney to get another goal. This time it came from a controversial corner kick that CSKA defender Max Lapit was adamant never touched him. CSKA protestations once again fell on deaf ears and Llanrumney took full advantage by scoring from the corner. It was 6-3 at half-time.

The second half started as the first half had ended with Llanrumney in the ascendancy. The troublesome left winger continued to terrorise down the CSKA right flank. He broke past the CSKA back-line before cutting in and finishing to make it 7-3.

It was then a more direct approach that led to the next goal for Llanrumney. A CSKA attack was broken down and a clearance from the Llanrumney back-line landed behind the CSKA defence with their pacey striker nipping in and finishing his chance in the area. 8-3.

The problem came down the CSKA left side for the next goal when a quick run provided a cross to a player unmarked at the far post to convert easily to make the score 9-3.

CSKA were then dealt another blow when deputy keeper on the game Jarvis rushed out to clear a ball over the top but missed the interception. Llanrumney managed to score to make it 10-3. Jarvis was also forced off with a suspected broken rib.

Trouble once again came down the CSKA right flank when the fast winger got in, cut in, and took his chance well to earn a deserved hat-trick and inflict even more pain on CSKA for 11-3.

The final goal then came not long from the end when 52 year old Matty Wright, who had come on as an emergency substitute for Jarvis with centre back and captain Jordan Lloyd going in goal, was left one-on-one with the Llanrumney striker who shifted the ball past Wright to score clinically for 12-3. The final whistle blew not long after.

CSKA Starting Line-Up

GK: Alex Skinner

DC: Owen Lewis DC: Jordan Lloyd

DC: Max Lapit

RWB: Cai Mckenzie

LWB: Huw Williams

MC: Sam Byrne

MC: Paul Jarvis

AM: Aiden Martin

FC: Kris Dolby

FC: Owen Jones

Subs: Ceri Jones, Frazer Richards, Cory Mackay, Matt Wright, and Dan Carter

Goals: Kris Dolby (2) and Owen Jones

Assists: Kris Dolby and Ceri Jones

Three Stars: Aiden Martin, Kris Dolby, and Owen Jones

CSKA Manager Steve Day said "Well, I can't really find the words to describe today's game. I'm not sure I've ever managed a game where both keepers have been injured and a top scorer has also been injured. Our thoughts are with Kris right now because it looks like a bad one. It's also looking like we'll be without a keeper for some time. In hindsight, we probably should have abandoned the game because it became clear after the restart that our lads were hit emotionally and physically by what happened to Kris. Still, despite everything that had happened and how tough an opposition Llanrumney Athletic were none of the lads stopped trying so I have to give them credit for that.

Day added "This has undoubtedly been the toughest pre-season I've experienced as a manager. Poor player availability, injuries, and cancellations has really hampered us. We now have a goalkeeper crisis and have lost our top scorer in pre-season to a long-term injury. We will carry on though. We'll support the lads who are out injured. They are still very much involved with the club until they return. The challenges don't end there because we face a tough Radyr Rangers FC in our next friendly next Saturday. Well played to Llanrumney Athletic FC on a dominant victory and it's a shame we couldn't see how the game would have unfolded when it went 4-3. Both teams were really going at it in an enjoyable attacking game. Best of luck to them this season and we move on to next week!"