Dinas 7 less magnificent Head (From Penarth Times)

Dinas 7 less magnificent Head

Dinas Powys FC UNDER-14s v Cogan

While there may have been a touch of dj vu about this match, having only recently played the first fixture, with a similar outcome, there was not as much similarity with the Dinas performance.

This somewhat flat performance lacked the intensity and buzz that was evident throughout the recent epic against Sully Colts, although the boys still did a professional job in recording a 7-0 victory, with no lack of effort or determination to get the job done.

With a number of big, strong players, and showing plenty of commitment, Cogan showed they were in no mood to roll over, and had their share of possession, creating a number of reasonable chances.

The game proved the old football adage, though, that whereas what goes on in the middle of the park is important, it's what happens at either end of the pitch that wins or loses matches.

The lesson was evident within the first couple of minutes, when, after a period of Cogan possession, Dan Jose took advantage of what the Cogan manager called sloppy defending to put Dinas 1-0 ahead.

Dinas were generally tight at the back, despite a few sloppy moments of their own, although Cogan's main reason for a blank scoresheet was their own inability to take their chances, much to their supporters' frustration.

No such problems at the other end, with a Jose hat-trick, (including another top-corner cracker) and a Max Smith goal against his old club, arriving late at the far post, on the end of a great Alex Grigoriou cross, to finish one of a number of good sweeping moves, the half ending 4-0 to Dinas, as before.

With daylight between the teams, Dinas took the opportunity to make three planned substitutions at half time, in the continuing search to ensure all the pieces of the jigsaw are in the right place, and give playing time to those who have figured little to date.

With the Dinas disruption aiding Cogan's refusal to be beaten, there was an uncomfortable spell while they settled, before killing the game completely with another two Jose goals, plus one for substitute Tom John.

It is perhaps more a sign of the growing belief within the camp, and the much higher expectation that comes with it, that players and coaches alike were not completely satisfied with a 7-0 victory that two months ago would have delighted them.

Dinas team: J Stone, W Mason, C Hignett, J Palfrey, J Nellany, A Grigoriou, O Poole, J Boylan, M Smith, D Jose, R Jeffery. Subs: C Riley, T Ensor, T John, S Gardiner, A Gilflin.