CAERLEON 0

DINAS POWYS 0

IN buoyant mood after a terrific midweek away win at high-flying Garden Village, Dinas Powys' Macwhirter Welsh League Soccer side travelled to Cold Bath Road on Saturday.

A gutsy all-round team performance produced the 2-1 win at Garden Village, highlighted by an excellent goalkeeping display by James Curtain and goals at each end of the first half by Dimitri Fallas and Paul Penikett.

Starting Saturday's game at Caerleon on the front foot, Dinas enjoyed the lion's share of possession for long spells and two free kicks in the first five minutes were well saved by home 'keeper Richard Lancaster who injured his hand in the process and needed lengthy treatment.

Dinas had a good chance to open the scoring in the 15th minute, with Lancaster at full stretch to hold a shot from Paul Penikett following Carlos Indjai's cross.

However, the hosts were dangerous on the break and Curtain was at full stretch to push the ball around the upright from Luke Cueto and then punched the resultant corner clear.

Most of the action was at the other end, with skipper Paul Dawes playing Fallas in and his persistence forcing a fruitless corner taken by Marc Bonet. Dinas forced further two unproductive corners, with the first following good link up work by Bonet and Tony Herrin and the second after Indjai drove into the box.

On the 30-minute mark, an excellent cross from left back Connor Parsons was met at the far post by Herrin but his header was just too high. Late in the half, Dinas had a strong shout for a penalty waved away, with a through ball putting Fallas in on goal before he was 'squeezed' out by two defenders. A further chance for Dinas came in the last minute of the half, when another well-placed corner by Bonet found Paul Penikett at the far post but his header was just wide.

Dinas continued to dominate most of the play in the second period, with Bonet and Indjai linking up well before the latter's cross was too close to the 'keeper.

At the other end, there was a shock for Dinas when a tremendous strike from Jamie Davies cannoned off the crossbar and out to safety. Upping their game after this lift, the hosts produced a flowing move which ended with a diving save from Curtain.

Having withstood the spell of pressure, Dinas responded strongly and, after forcing two corners, brought on Barry King for Fallas. Electing to shoot, instead of squaring the ball where King and Penikett were well placed for a tap-in, Indjai put his effort wide, and yet another chance came when the hard-working Bonet burst through the middle but the ball bobbled just as he was about to shoot and his effort cleared the bar.

Ryan Garland replaced Indjai for the last few minutes and the only other half chance for Dinas came when King sidestepped his marker but his shot struck a defender.

In the end, Dinas, stretching their unbeaten run to four games, were happy with a point but, with a little more luck, could have taken all three points for the second time in a week.

Dinas continue their travels this Saturday, December 14, when they visit Penrhiwceiber Rangers; kick-off 2pm.

Squad: James Curtain, James Marr, Connor Parsons, Dave Penikett, James Bloxham, Tony Herrin, Paul Dawes (c), Marc Bonet, Paul Penikett, Dimitri Fallas, Carlos Indjai, Ryan Garland and Barry King.