Goalkeeper denies Penarth comeback (From Penarth Times)

Goalkeeper denies Penarth comeback

WALCOUNTIAN BLUES 2 7 PENARTH LACROSSE CLUB 6

WITH promotion hopes all but gone, a severely depleted ten-man Penarth squad made the journey to Blues' south London home for the third time this season.

They were without captain Matt Wills and with only two long stick defenders, but hopeful of maintaining the pressure on Bath and second place in Division Two.

Despite a final quarter surge, Penarth's lack of numbers took its toll as their Division Three opponents won by the narrowest of margins, in no small part due to an outstanding goalkeeping display from ex-Norbury keeper, Sam Rowlands.

Penarth needed an early breakthrough to find their rhythm, and a chance quickly fell to Will Barrett, captaining in the absence of Wills, but he was unable to find a way past Rowlands.

The home side eventually posted a score from a textbook feed to the crease, as the zone defence was pulled apart by several well-timed cuts. Penarth responded almost immediately, this time Barrett's shot beating Rowlands only to be denied by the post.

Further efforts from Bolderson and Stanford threatened the Blues 2 goal, but the home side broke quickly and doubled their lead as the Welsh midfield struggled to get back into defence.

In the second period Barrett brought the visitors back into contention. Blues 2 were sensing an upset, and were keen to press home their advantage, taking their lead back to two with a fine goal off the crease.

Penarth found themselves fighting for a win for the third week running and this time attack man Rob Proctor stepped up to shrug off his defender before firing past the Blues keeper.

Blues 2 scored again just before the half time break, to lead 4-2 at the whistle.

Penarth's lack of substitutes was beginning to take its toll, and although they scored from a blistering outside shot from Welsh midfielder Rod Stanford, Blues 2 were content to sit back and break quickly to capitalise on the tired Welsh midfield.

These tactics paid off superbly as they added three more goals to their total, and seemingly had the game wrapped up at 7-3 going into the last quarter.

As they did against Bath and Reading, Penarth found strength and stamina from somewhere to dominate the final period and came achingly close to taking a result which seemed well beyond them.

They scored through Barrett and Bolderson and hustled for every ball. Bolderson pulled the visitors to within a single goal with three minutes left.

The Blues 2 defence withstood a final onslaught as Penarth laid siege to their goal only to find Rowlands using every part of his body to keep the lead intact and allow Blues to take a massive victory and prized scalp.

Penarth showed character in abundance, but paid for a slow start.

It took a man of the match performance from Rowlands in the Blues 2 goal to stop the visitors taking a win back to South Wales, but the defeat may have huge ramifications if the league is restructured on a geographical basis in the close season.

Penarth scorers Barrett (2), Bolderson (2), Proctor, Stanford.