The Villagers overcome Maesteg on penalties (From Penarth Times)

The Villagers overcome Maesteg on penalties

THERE WAS a big crowd down at The Murch last Saturday to watch the Villagers entertain Maesteg Park from the First Division in the first round of the Welsh League Cup.

They weren't disappointed in a pulsating match which finished at 1-1 after extra-time with Dinas winning the penalty shoot-out 4-3 to achieve a memorable victory.

Changes were necessary after the impressive win at Porth Tywyn with their player/manager Paul Giles deciding not to take any chances with his own fitness after receiving a knock down in West Wales.

He introduced new signing Ray John, a local player with bags of experience into the back three and pushed David Mann into midfield. He also brought in youngster John Carpentier from the junior section to gain experience onto the bench, and what an inspired move that proved to be!

The opening 15 minutes were cut and thrust but the Villagers had the best chance when from a Geoff Poole cross, Craig Lima, who had stayed up from a corner, found himself with space but his first time shot was parried onto the post by the visitors keeper.

It was Lima again who went close when a Poole free-kick was swung over but Lima's forceful header was well saved by the Maesteg keeper.

Half-time came and it was a ding dong battle with it still being anyone's game.

With 15 minutes to go and a no score draw being the bookies favourite, the visitors scored.

The referee awarded Maesteg a free-kick centre stage just outside the box. Should there have been more than four players in the wall? Maybe, as the resultant kick nestled in the back of the net with keeper Alex Skinner well beaten. Skinner, only 18 years of age has proved a capable deputy for regular keeper Duncan Smith who was still out of the squad due to injury, but Skinner was still to have a vital impact on this game.

It was time for Dinas to throw caution to the wind and Rhodri Foote and Matthew Higginson came on for David Mann and Spencer Lamb.

Dinas then had a good shout for a penalty but the referee decided otherwise. Giles then had his last throw of the dice bringing on Carpentier for Dix.

The Villagers were now exerting severe pressure on the Maesteg defence and got their just rewards when, after a good move, the hard-working Nathan Hosgood slotted home a deserved equaliser with only three minutes left on the watch.

Dinas could have had victory when Lee Street threaded a short pass through to the hard-running Carpentier who shaped to shoot but found himself tumbling from a clumsy challenge, but again the referee's verdict went against the home side.

The Villagers had the better of the 30 minutes extra-time with Danny Street and Higginson both going close but it wasn't to be and the dreaded penalty shoot out loomed. Maesteg went first and would you believe young Alex Skinner saved the first two, one being of the highest quality whilst the other was more fortune, but any penalty save is worthy of note.

Craig Lima stepped up for Dinas and buried the first penalty into the top corner, but unfortunately Hosgood's effort hit the post. The visitors converted the rest of their five. Geoff Poole converted and up stepped young Carpentier to take the fourth. Why was he taking it? Who knows, but he was coolness personified as he left the experienced visitors' keeper flat-footed and found the corner of the net and as they say, "cometh the hour, cometh the man."

The fifth and final shot was down to Ray John and he calmly stroked the ball into the corner to give the Villagers a deserved victory against opposition from a division higher.

The large crowd who had stayed to watch the events unfold had their monies worth and still arrived at The Star to watch Wales Wales win in Helsinki.

Two of the teams keenest supporters Alan and Maureen Giles have kindly decided to make an award to the man-of-the-match after every home game at the club's headquarters, The Star. This week it was the "ice man" John Carpentier.

An excellent victory against opposition from the higher echelons. Next week it's the same again as the team goes West to Neath who are top of Division 1 in the Welsh Cup - Europe next stop?