Worthy winners (From Penarth Times)

Worthy winners

PENARTH 10 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY 5

AFTER a dismal run of results this year, Penarth turned around their fortunes with a comprehensive display against one of the South's finest Univer-sity sides, running out worthy winners.

Captain Matt Wills was still out with concussion, but the return of long stick midfielder Andy Ford, among others, was key to this victory, as Penarth's defence dominated the Cambridge attack for much of the game.

From the outset, it was clear that Cambridge were confident of taking a result and they played with vigour throughout the match.

However, with Stanford dominant at the face-off X, Penarth enjoyed the vast majority of possession and took the lead early on through Welsh attackman Will Barrett.

Cambridge replied almost immediately with a well-worked score, having moved the ball crisply through the attack and feeding from behind the goal to find an incisive cut and finish.

The visitors then took the lead as a fast break by the Cambridge defence was not dealt with by the Penarth backline, allowing a free run on to goal before a fine finish with the defence stick.

Poor stick handling and shooting from Penarth let down some excellent build-up play until Rory Peters fired home his first of the afternoon to level at 2-2.

Another defensive failure let the visitors in again and they led 3-2 at the end of the first quarter.

Penarth set out their stall early in the second period, and with the arrival of key attackman Gareth Bolder-son, began to impose themselves on the game.

With plenty of fresh legs on the bench, the home side were able to seal off the visitors' midfield on the Cambridge clear, allowing Penarth's attack to ride hard and press the defenders and goalkeeper into mistakes, which they capitalised on.

First Proctor picked a clearance clean out of the air for Bolderson to tuck away, and then Stanford seized on some indecision by the Cambridge midfield to steal possession and score off an acute angle.

Cambridge continued to press the home defence but found them in more resolute form than in the first quarter, with Evans, Jones, Willis and Ford all putting in hard body checks and the latter producing some spectacular take-away checks to deny the students' attack.

A well-deserved goal for the visitors took the score to 4-4 at half-time and both teams entered the break full of belief they could win.

With the Penarth defence growing more and more dominant throughout the third quarter the midfield and attack were able to pile pressure on and could have had several more goals with better shooting.

Chris Lee showed excellent composure to finish from the crease and a trademark rifled shot by Dave Porter gave the hosts a two-goal cushion.

Rod Stanford then extended the lead to three, before being sent off for an unnecessary retaliatory hit from behind, allowing Cambridge a six on five advantage for the remainder of the period.

Cambridge reduced the gap to 7-5 at three-quarter time. But Penarth showed resilience and went about the final quarter with great determination.

Led by Man of the Match Andy Ford, the Penarth defence were unyielding and, backed up by a fine display from Welsh goalkeeper James Richardson, kept a clean sheet in the final period.

The Penarth attack scored early on through Bolderson before Rory Peters made a penetrating cut through the heart of the Cambridge defence to finish with venom and post his second of the game.

A final goal from Bolderson saw off any last resistance from the visitors.

Penarth goalscorers v Cambridge: Bolderson (3), Peters (2), Barrett (1), Lee (1),

Porter (1), Proctor (1), Stanford (1)