DINAS Powys FC played Ely Rangers on Wednesday, August 27 with Ely Rangers winning 4-3.

This was a local derby that had everything. Seven goals, a missed penalty, a sending off and the game played in pouring rain!

Unfortunately for Dinas they let a comfortable half-time lead slip from their grasp to leave Station Road with nothing to show from an entertaining game.

The first couple of minutes both sides were feeling each other out but it was the impressive Joshua Allen who got the early breakthrough for Rangers, smashing home a superb shot from 15 yards after just 5 minutes.

And it was Rangers who continued to call the shots, after a free kick out wide by the left corner flag which was cleared, some fine inter passing opened the way for Nicky Gardener to hit a low shot which fizzed just past the post.

As the driving rain intensified it was Dinas who seemed to adapt better and some sharp passing to feet by Nicky Bruce and Keiron James played young striker King Junior Mwedzo in on goal but a defender just got a block in as he was about to pull the trigger.

At the other end Allen was again threatening but he was forced wide and his shot hit the side netting. Dinas began to asert some good pressure, Keiron James' persistence forcing an unproductive corner but they forced another corner, taken by Nicky Bruce, and this time Carlos Indjai got a fine glancing header in to beat Ely keeper Ashley Hart for 1-1 on 15 minutes. They were well on top at this stage and after some further pressure down the left involving Bruce, Indjai and James, the ball reached Ryan Garland who put in a low cross and Indjai reacted quickest to clip it home from 6 yards to give Dinas the lead with just 20 minutes gone.

The wet surface was making for a fast end to end game and just 3 minutes after taking the lead the visitors made it 3-1 when excellent pressure by Mwedzo led to a half clearance by a desperate defender, and Ryan Garland following up slotted the ball past Hart and in off the post.

Dinas had to fight hard now as Rangers stepped up their game, Jordan Cotterill getting the better of Joe Briscombe to fire just wide and Allen bringing a good save from Dinas keeper Alex Hales. After further pressure by Mwedzo, who was giving the Ely defence a torrid time, he was again dispossessed but Garland; following up hit a sweet shot which clipped a defender and out for a corner.

Then the inevitable happened, as Mwedzo weaved his way into the box he was chopped down for a penalty, young Ronan Scott was asked to take it, he struck it well but Hart guessed the right way and made a good save which was too prove very costly for Dinas.

Mwedzo was scythed down again, this time just outside the penalty area, Ryan Garland stepped up and bent a superb shot round the wall but it clipped the cross-bar and went over much to Hart's relief.

The last 5 minutes of the half was end to end, Ely forcing 2 corners which the Dinas defence dealt with and Nicky Bruce forcing Hart to make a save in the last minute, the visitors well worth their lead as the half-time whistle went.

The rain stopped as the players came out for the second half, Dinas having to make a substitution, Sam Johnson replacing Marc Bloxham who had taken a knock.

Rangers started with a lot more purpose and they pulled a goal back after just 7 minutes, a smart back heel by one of their strikers after a scramble in the six yard box found the net for 3-2.

Things went from bad to worse then for Dinas with Indjai sustaining an injury and had to be replaced by Dimitri Fallas with 30 minutes still to play.

However, Jordan Cotterill then received his marching orders for a second bookable offence but this only seemed to make Rangers more determined and they began peppering the Dinas box with deep crosses from both flanks. Dinas seemed to be weathering the storm as skipper Bloxham organised his troops. But Ely were not to be denied, James Cotterill netting the equaliser.

Dinas rang the changes replacing Mwedzo with James Alloway but they couldn't compete with the powerful Ely side who grabbed the winner with a minute or so left leaving Dinas deflated.

They must now pick themselves up for their Welsh Cup Qualifying Round 1 game on Saturday 30, when they travel by coach to take on Penrhiwfer AFC with a 2.30pm kick off.

Dinas squad: 1 Alex Hales, 2 Ronan Scott, 3 Nicky Bruce, 4 James Bloxham (c), 5 Marc Bloxham, 6 Kieron James, 7 Ryan Garland (1), 8 James Marr, 9 Carlos Indjai (2), 10 King Junior Mwedzo, 11 Joe Briscombe, 12 James Alloway, 14 Dimitri Fallas, 15 Sam Johnson, 16 Akmol Ali.

Peter King