A great advert for lacrosse (From Penarth Times)

A great advert for lacrosse

PENARTH 8 READING 9

THIS was a great advert for the game, with skill, speed and a fair chunk of hard-hitting lacrosse - and a hard fought win for Reading by the odd goal in 17.

Reading broke the deadlock midway through the first period, and a textbook fast break by the visitors stretched their lead to two.

But they were prevented from running away with it by a Penarth side fighting for a last chance of promotion.

The reply came quickly, Penarth captain Matt Wills breaking down the midfield for the home side to give Penarth a 4 on 3 advantage, through Barrett.

Durns once again proved the difference between the sides in the second quarter, with Penarth conceding a single score to take Reading into the half-time break with a 4-2 lead.

Penarth responded magnificently.

Galvanised by the break, Penarth first drew level through two more goals from Barrett, before Andy Morgan pushed the home side in front with a trademark shot from distance which left the Reading defence and goalkeeper helpless.

With the momentum firmly with the home side, Reading found an equaliser before Penarth edged back into the lead through Smith, who found acres of space on the crease to plant the ball past a helpless Durns.

Reading needed an immediate response, and once again the Division 1 side showed their mettle to tie the scoreline and then reclaim the lead by the end of the third period, going into the break 7-6 up.

Having blasted their way into contention, Penarth won good possession from the opening face-off and used it to their advantage, once again drawing level through Stanford.

Reading took full advantage of a fast break by their US import to take the score to 8-7.

Yet again, Penarth needed to respond and yet again they did, this time through Barrett, attacking his short stick defender at pace and shimmying past, before blasting his shot into the net.

Both teams were unrelenting, as possession see-sawed and attack after attack was broken down until Reading's Joe Darkin produced a superb solo goal after split dodging his defender and firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Penarth found strength to come back again, laying siege to the Reading goal for the final minutes.

But they were unable to find a way past the outstanding Durns, although a late penalty for slashing against the visitors allowed the home side a man advantage for the final seconds of the match.

This was Penarth's best all-round performance for months, and despite the disappointment of failing to take any points from the game, they will be encouraged by a return to form, particularly through the midfield which dominated on ground balls throughout.

However, the defeat also effectively signals the end of any hopes for promotion this season, as Bath seem to have the division and sole promotion spot wrapped up.

Penarth's goalscorers: Barrett 4, Bolderson, Proctor, Smith, Stanford.