Promotion achieved (From Penarth Times)

Promotion achieved

IT WAS celebrations all round as Dinas Powys AFC achieved the first part of their season's objective by gaining promotion to the Second Division of the Welsh League by beating Albion Rovers of Newport 1-0 in a thrilling encounter under floodlights on Wednesday, April 24.

As the champagne corks popped in the changing rooms after the match, news filtered through that the Villagers great rivals for the championship, Newport YMCA had come unstuck in their game against Tillery which meant the prospect of winning the league was back in the hands of the team, as long as they won their remaining five fixtures!

After the disappointment of the previous week when the team lost two games, it was important the players regained their confidence against a team who were battling for points to stave off the threat of relegation. The game started off at a frantic pace with Dinas attacking mainly down the right through Rhodri Foote.

He was heavily involved in an excellent inter-change of passes which finished with his shot whizzing just past the upright.

Moments later Foote again made progress.

This time his cross on the run fell to Jamie Dix whose first time effort brought a flying save from the keeper.

Next up was Nathan Hosgood, back in the team after missing two games through injury. His spontaneous effort to chip the keeper almost crept in under the bar, but again an acrobatic save denied the Villagers getting that all-important, calming opening goal.

The half ended as it began with Foote being the thorn in the home side's defence, but again his effort was saved by the keeper.

Player manager Paul Giles's half-time team talk concentrated on the need to remain composed and patient and the good football the team had played would eventually pay dividends.

On the hour it seemed as if this would pay off.

Dinas won a corner, which Albion cleared initially, the ball falling to Peter Walker far out on the right.

He showed delightful skill to find Hosgood whose short cross found Mike Mayer on the far post. Running out of space Mayer made a superb effort but his header scraped the woodwork.

Next it was Mayer the creator. He hit a 60 yard pass which found Hosgood whose excellent run had bisected the centre backs.

His graceful looping header beat the keeper (at last) but no luck, it flashed past the post.

It was the great golfer Gary Player who said: "The more you practice, the luckier you become."

The team kept its shape and battled for every ball and the luck changed when, with only five minutes to go they got their just rewards when a long cross by Geoff Poole found Neil Jeremy on the far post.

He out-jumped two defenders and powered his header down into the net.

A momentous well deserved three points with the whole squad showing character and courage in abundance. The team were applauded all the way from the pitch by the large contingent of travelling supporters led by its main cheer-leader Frank Martin.

On Saturday the team were away again, this time to Pontyclun. With promotion secured they were now trying to achieve the second part of their season's objective and win the championship.

A win was vital to keep rivals Newport under pressure but it wasn't going to be easy against a Pontyclun side that had been in the top six throughout the season.

The only change was the return of David Mann for the injured Mike Mayer at centre-back.

Mann made his mark immediately, when straight from the kick off Dinas forced a corner. Geoff Poole swung over a perfect cross and Mann rose and headed down (he must be learning from Neil Jeremy) to find the net, a sublime start.

It was Poole again 10 minutes later, this time his long cross found Jeff Hooper at the far post. His header across goal hit the upright and went in to put daylight between the two teams. Poole was 'on fire' and he was unlucky when on the half-hour his fine effort hit the post.

Dinas then had two set-backs. Firstly Hosgood had a recurrence of his injury and had to be replaced by Giles and just before the break, the hosts pulled one back with a finely crafted goal.

But Dinas weren't to be denied and on the hour that man Poole put over another fine cross into the box which found Dix steaming in to hammer the ball into the roof of the net.

A good win against strong opposition. The end of season run-in is going to be finely balanced with all the Villagers remaining fixtures at home.

May 2, Caerau Ely, ko 6.15pm; May 4, Newcastle Emlyn, ko 12.30pm; May 7, Pontypridd, ko 6.15pm; May 11, Newport YMCA, ko TBA.

The Newcastle kick-off is early due to the FA Cup Final in Cardiff.

The run in is not going to be easy. So the place to be to help the team achieve its quest for the championship is the Murch Field. Admission is £1.50 (including programme) with senior citizens and juniors free.