CROESYCEILIOG 1

DINAS POWYS 1

DESPITE a determined second-half display, Dinas Powys had to be content with a point from this Welsh Soccer League clash between two sides battling in the lower reaches of the Second Division.

On a wet day and heavy pitch, both sides both knew they couldn't afford a defeat and the hosts settled quickly, having the upper hand for the first 10 minutes, during which Lewis Clare shot well wide following a throw in.

Getting their passing game going, Dinas pressed, with Steve Provis, Marc Bonet and Ryan Garland linking up well without threatening the home goal. A fine cross from Carlos Indjai found Garland but his effort was wide.

After Dinas goalkeeper James Curtin tried to punch clear, the ball fell to Jamie Arnold whose shot was well over.

Dinas midfielder Bonet shook off a nasty clash of heads to get a powerful shot on target but it hit a defender and went out for an unproductive corner. A good overlapping run and cross by left back Victor Arnau picked out Garland at the far post but he misjudged the flight of the ball and the chance was gone.

Croesy striker Jody Jenkins was found with the resulting goal kick and, given too much room, he lobbed Curtin for the opener on 22 minutes.

The game was a bit scrappy as the rain continued to make conditions slippery and then Indjai put in a fine run and cross which was gathered by Croesy 'keeper Matthew Morris.

When Provis provided a high through ball, Zac Cleary beat the offside trap to get a strong shot away but it was straight at Morris who saved comfortably.

As the half drew to a close, Dinas looked the better side, with Fallas crossing and Indjai heading into the side netting at the far post.

With Dinas looking to convert some of their chances, they were on the attack from the off in the second half, with Garland and Fallas combining to force an early corner, and a good header from James Bloxham was tipped over by Morris. From another corner by Garland, Indjai headed wide at the far post. At the other end, Jenkins played in Clare but Curtin made a good save.

With right back Provis sustaining a thigh strain, Dinas brought on Ronan Scott and then forced yet another corner. The kick was only half cleared and Bloxham powered a header in just under the crossbar for the equaliser with 30 minutes still remaining.

Maintaining the pressure, Dinas forced two further corners without troubling the home defence and, with 20 minutes remaining, striker Barry King replaced Fallas.

With the game flowing from end to end, Dinas were thankful to Curtin when, with a left foot curler by Dave Powell looking destined for the top corner, the excellent young 'keeper produced a superb save to tip the ball over.

For the final 10 minutes, it was Dinas on top but they couldn't get the winner their second-half performance deserved.

Dinas were back in action on Tuesday when they hosted Newport YMCA in another relegation battle.

Dinas squad: James Curtin, Steve Provis, Victor Arnau, James Marr, James Bloxham (capt), Marc Bonet, Ryan Garland, Luke Swaffield, Dimitri Fallas, Zac Cleary, Carlos Indjai, Samir Boulache, Ronan Scott, Barry King and Rizwan Ahmed.

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