PURE SWANSEA: ‘The recognition is for the collective’: Midwinter on his award and the Wales trio

League leaders Pure Swansea return to action on Friday night as a double award-winning side, Jack Midwinter named Novira Cymru South manager of the month and Casey Coughlin taking the player award.

The recognition arrived during a fortnight’s break in the league programme, with the leaders not in action since the eight-goal thriller with Pontypridd United at the end of August.

“It’s nice to get some recognition,” said Midwinter. “I think it’s important to understand that that recognition doesn’t come if the boys and the staff don’t do their jobs and don’t perform the way they have over the last month.

“I said to the lads this afternoon, as much as my name on the award, it’s a collective. The recognition is for the collective and it’s something that we should kick on and strive to achieve again later on in the season.”

‘When they’re in the trenches’ against Pontypridd

Pure twice led the top-of-the-table meeting with Pontypridd despite losing captain Jordan Hughes to a red card, before two late goals rescued a point for the visitors.

“If you’re a neutral it was a good game,” said Midwinter. “Obviously for us at the time, at full-time it was disappointing to come away with a point, having led for long periods of the game.

“But on reflection I think going down to ten men, the boys showed great character and togetherness to come from behind themselves and take the lead and I just think in the end the boys worked themselves into the ground.

“It was that last 30 seconds, so we’re proud of the lads. It keeps us unbeaten in the league, keeps us with a very good start and if anything, probably brings the boys together.

“They will have more understanding that when they’re in the trenches they know they can look to the left and right and they’ve got people who will support them and run with them to the very end.”

Coughlin’s seven and the boys in Bosnia

The break belonged to Coughlin above all, whose seven goals in Bosnia lit up Tîm Rhanbarthol Cymru’s UEFA Regions’ Cup campaign, with Dan Ingram and Mason Kelly also involved.

The adventure ended on Monday with a 4-0 defeat to hosts Zenica-Doboj in the winner-takes-all decider, a draw having been enough to qualify, leaving Wales second in the group with 13 goals from their three games.

“We’re pretty confident that if any player from Pure went to represent the club on an international stage or a bigger stage they would do us proud and would perform to the levels that they could,” said Midwinter.

“Obviously Casey’s goals, when he was away, scoring seven in three games was what was highlighted to everyone, but Dan Ingram was probably instrumental in two clean sheets out there and young Mason when he came on affected the games and got himself an assist in one.

“We’re really proud of the boys. After every game their teammates checked it and they’ll make sure they were well congratulated on the results and their performances.

“We’ve got an environment where players are driving each other to be better whether they’re young or old, and players are taking that opportunity with both hands when they get a chance.

“When the momentum is the way it was it’s always nice to keep playing and playing games, but we’re not going to take a break lightly. We’ve trained hard, but it just means that all the boys are ready to go again.”