Dinas are only undefeated side in League (From Penarth Times)

Dinas are only undefeated side in League

DINAS POWYS'S visitors to the Murch last Saturday for their Third Division Welsh League fixture were Troedyrhiw.

Travelling down the A470 from Merthyr they were looking to avenge the Villagers victory at "their place" and they almost achieved their objective, coming away with a deserved 1-1 draw.

Everyone wants to take Dinas's unbeaten record (the only one in the Welsh League) and Troedyrhiw started off in determined fashion taking the game to their hosts and on the half hour they deservedly took the lead, albeit in a fortunate manner. A cross from the left evaded defenders and struck the incoming centre forward and was deflected into the net, he hardly knew anything about the goal!

This galvanised the Villagers into action but luck wasn't on their side when a Nathan Hosgood looping header hit the far post and bounced into the Troedyrhiw keeper's hands.

Without being too critical it could be said it wasn't one of the Villagers most inspiring halves of the season.

The second period started off with Dinas making a couple of substitutions to try and break the deadlock, Jamie Dix and Rhodri Foote coming on for Hosgood and Lee Smith.

The team seemed to have more balance and the Villagers pushed hard for the equaliser, getting their just rewards on the hour.

A Geoff Poole corner was headed home superbly by Lee Street.

The last 30 minutes were frantic as both teams pushed for the three points. Neil Herniman and Neil Jeremy went close for Dinas whilst the Merthyr side had the best chance of all but unfortunately for them they hit a penalty wide of the goal, a let off for the Villagers.

Keeper Duncan Smith, who had seen the penalty flash the right side of the upright as far as he was concerned, was then called into action to repulse a couple of Troedyrhiw attacks.

A draw is better than a defeat and it's always good to get something out of a game, especially when the team hasn't played at its best.

The big squad will come into its own in the next few weeks with 12 games still to play and only six weeks to get them in and it is important the team regroups under player manager Paul Giles to drive towards its championship and promotion aspirations (see team photo on back page).

On Saturday the team is away to Pontlottyn and the following Tuesday (April 9), away to Caldicot, kick off 7.15pm under floodlights.