Dinas edge closer (From Penarth Times)

Dinas edge closer

DINAS POWYS AFC took the short trip to Taffs Well last Saturday in their quest for league points to further their ambitions of winning the Welsh League second division championship.

A narrow 1-0 victory stretched the Villagers run to 11 games and kept them at the top of the table with six games to play.

Matches against Taffs Well always have that little extra bite about them with ex Dinas old boy Nicky Tucker managing the hosts and keen to put one over his old club.

Dinas player/manager Paul Giles left himself on the bench whilst skipper Danny Street played at the back alongside Robert King and Ray John deputising for the injured Mike Mayer.

The pitch at Taffs Well is on a pronounced slope and the Villagers took the advantage in the first half and played down hill!

Dinas made the more positive start and striker Jamie Dix went close in the early stages.

A shot low down to the keepers left was well saved and scrambled for a throw-in.

Then Leigh Vick took advantage of the narrow pitch and his throw reached the near post where Dix was on hand but his looping header was tipped onto the cross-bar.

Playing some neat football on a difficult pitch the Villagers weren't to be denied and they scored the all-important goal after only 15 minutes.

A Neil Jeremy free kick caused consternation in the Taffs Well defence and Vick forced the ball home from six yards. Not the prettiest goal ever scored but they all count.

The visitors then had a couple of set-backs. First wing back Geoff Poole went off injured and soon after midfield dynamo Matthew Higginson followed.

Giles made some swift changes with Lloyd Davies coming on at the back and the versatile Street taking on Poole's wing-back role. Spencer Lamb was Higginson's replacement.

The disruption hadn't stopped the visitors playing the better football and they almost increased their lead with a break out of defence, down the right by King.

His exquisite low cross had "defend this" written all over it but unfortunately it not only evaded all the defenders but also Dinas's strike-force.

In the second half the visitors played up the slope but still looked the more likely to score.

Whenever the hosts threatened, Duncan Smith was equal to the occasion with safe and reliable handling.

The only fright came in time added on when an overhead kick bounced on top of the cross-bar before going for a goal-kick. Smith's after comment was: "no problem, I had it covered."

On Saturday the team is away at Blaenrhondda, ko 3pm.

All associated with the club send best wishes and safe home to Matthew Kettlety who is in Iraq with the British Army.

Matthew started playing for Dinas Powys in the U-10s and still turns out for the Seconds or Thirds when home on leave.

Late News: Dinas entertained Newport YMCA on Tuesday evening in a re-arranged league fixture.

After a goalless first half Dinas netted twice in the second period, through Joe Finlayson and a penalty from Neil Jeremy.

The points looked safe but in the last 15 minutes the visitors scored twice, the second with a curling free kick, to grab a share of the spoils.

A full report of this game will be featured in next week's Times.

The season is now reaching its climax and positions at the top of the table before Tuesday evening's game are as follows: