Penarth dig deep for hard-fought victory (From Penarth Times)

Penarth dig deep for hard-fought victory

4:01pm Friday 1st March 2013 in Sport

ST ATHAN B 2 PENARTH TOWN B 3

PENARTH Town Seconds travelled to play St Athan B in a Vale Soccer League Second Division clash on Saturday, with both teams looking very ragged initially, but hardly surprising given how little football has been played in the last few months.

This trend continued for most of the first half although the home team did have more of the ball and created the few chances. Dan Soltys, however, in the Penarth goal looked very sharp and was quick to snuff out all St Athan initiatives.

Town did create one or two opportunities through Will Harlin and Llewelyn Kemp but nothing to really trouble the home side’s ‘keeper.

After a goalless first half, Penarth stepped up the pace in the second period and all of a sudden they looked a different side.

They were now moving the ball well, creating for each other and generating wave after wave of attacks. It would only be a matter of time before they achieved a breakthrough and a hopeful chip in by Peter Ryan from the right hand side saw Luke Horwood head in low down to the ‘keeper’s left. Soon after Liam Parker went close with an excellent strike on the half volley which required a fine save.

Town continued to press and, not long after, Parker had another chance from a cross, and this time finished emphatically to make it 2-0.

Penarth kept up the pressure, despite St Athan trying to break out, with Liam Wingren directing the ball back up field and setting a fine captain’s example. This culminated in a ball over the top dropping to Peter Ryan who struck sweetly into the top-right corner.

It seemed like game over at 3-0 with 10 minutes to play; not so, the home side suddenly found new energy and this, linked to a rapidly tiring Penarth side, allowed them to score with a header from a corner. This lifted their spirits and they really started to press with attack after attack. Soon they had another chance when the ball was chipped over the top and their striker slotted in neatly to the ‘keeper’s right.

Town’s nerves were really jangling now and called for some heroics at the back.

First, late substitute Alex Dodds cleared off the line and then Soltys saved a strong shot from six yards out. Captain Wingren kept encouraging his team to the last and finally the whistle came and Town claimed the three points. It had been a really hard game, but credit to Penarth who dug deep when it mattered. They meet the same team in the quarter- finals of the Dockers’ Cup next weekend, at home at Cwrt-y-Vil.

Penarth line-up: Dan Soltys, Peter Ryan, Liam Wingren, Ross Dennison, Luke Horwood, Jack Stansfield, Liam Parker, Callum Reynolds, Kurtis Shapley, Will Harlin and Llewellyn Kemp. Subs: Alex Dodds, Ellis Davey and Dewi Jones.