Tata Steel 2 v Dinas Powys 1

IN HORRENDOUS conditions, with a gale force wind and driving rain throughout the game both teams tried to play some good football on a very sticky pitch on Saturday, November 28.

Dinas started the better winning a corner after just one minute, Nicky Bruce finding Luke Swaffield but he skied his effort over the bar. An excellent through ball from Mamadu Banguraso played Nathan Donnelly in on goal but he was adjudged offside.

The hosts won their first corner on 11 minutes which Dinas central defender James Marr headed away powerfully. Banguraso then committed a foul out by the right touch line, Thomas Edwards drove the ball in low which reached Justin Williams whose volley was wide of James Curtin's right post. The game was flowing from end to end and Dinas were certainly playing much better than the previous Saturday.

A good through ball played Scott Muir in but the Tata 'keeper Matthew Stanton just got to the ball first.

Some excellent work by Keiron James led to him feeding a ball into Swaffield's path but again the linesman's flag went up for offside.

A fierce tackle by Tata's Daniel Williams on the half hour mark by the the touch line ended Banguraso's game, sustaining a calf injury, Luke Garland replacing him. Garland was straight into the game winning a corner for the visitors, Bruce took it and Scott Muir got his head to it first to open the scoring from four yards.

Tata began to up their game and a fine run and cross by Thomas Edwards brought Dinas' superb goalkeeper James Curtin into the action, diving on the ball with the Tata players all around him.

Some battling work by Donnelly, who had a superb game, played speedy winger Rhys Palmer in on goal, he shot on target but Stanton gathered the ball easily.

Another trademark save by Curtin, this time from Gavin Williams from close range when it looked as though he must score but Curtin spread himself and saved the shot with his leg to keep Dinas' slender lead intact. Tata continued to press but the Dinas back four were well organised.

In the last minute of the half there were chances at both ends, Curtin making another fine reaction save from Tom Phillips and Nicky Bruce from 20 yards, forcing Stanton to concede a corner which he gathered and the half ended with Dinas still with their noses in front.

In the gathering gloom Tata managed to level things when striker Phillips nodded home a cross from five yards after just six minutes of the second period.

Dinas upped their game again and a good cross by Palmer was headed just over by Donnelly.

The visitors were dealt another blow when young defender Mason Ah-Mun sustained a hamstring injury after 17 minutes, Gavin Lewis replacing him.

With 15 minutes remaining Dinas made their final substitution, Tomos Edwards replacing Scott Muir.

The hosts also made some substitutions.

Dinas then had an excellent chance to take the lead again when a good ball in was controlled by Edwards and with only Stanton to beat he put his effort too close to the Tata 'keeper who parried it away to safety and the visitors were made to pay dearly for this in the very last minute when Gavin Williams lobbed Curtin, who just couldn't jump high enough to tip it over the bar in the quagmire he was standing in and the visitors returned to Dinas without at least a point their play had deserved.

Dinas squad: 1 James Curtin, 2 Rhys Harlin, 3 Mamadu Banguraso, 4 James Marr (C), 5 Mason Ah-Mun, 6 Keiron James, 7 Luke Swaffield, 8 Nicky Bruce, 9 Scott Muir (1), 10 Nathan Donnelly, 11 Rhys Palmer, 12 Gavin Lewis, 14 Luke Garland, 15 Tomos Edwards.

Next Saturday Dinas are at home to Chepstow, kick off 2pm at The Murch.

Peter King