Dinas Powys 2 Caldicot Town 1

DINAS have been playing some delightful football recently without getting any luck when it comes to scoring goals but at last they got their reward for all the hard work put in at training and this victory against high-flying Caldicot was no fluke and was well deserved as the Caldicot management team acknowledged after the game.

A special mention must be made for three recent signings, Keiron James, Connor Caton and Nathan Donnelly who have all made the step up from lower league football and have adapted superbly and made a big difference to the squad.

Both sides took a few minutes to settle but it was the visitors who had the first half chance, a free kick wide on the right taken by David Lloyd which was well cleared by Nicky Bruce.

Dinas began to get their neat passing game going with Ben Ah-Mun, Keiron James and King Junior Mwedzo linking up well but Mwedzo was dispossessed before they could exert any pressure on the opponents’ goal.

However it was the hosts who forced the first corner of the game, taken by Nicky Bruce which the visiting defence dealt with. Sam Johnson then got a shot away which was just wide of Caldicot goalkeeper Ben Davidson's left upright.

Johnson was then fouled out wide on the left, Bruce took the 25 yard kick which reached Caton at the far post and he slammed the ball home but was adjudged offside so the goal did not stand.

The visitors then exerted some pressure on the Dinas goal and in the 17th minute they got their noses in front when Dinas failed to clear the danger and Dan Saunders beat James Curtin from eight yards to open the scoring. David Lloyd then hit a 25 yard free kick well over the bar for the visitors.

At the other end James Alloway was chopped down just outside the penalty area, Bruce taking the kick which resulted in a corner which again Bruce took finding the head of Donnelly to plant the ball just under the cross bar for a well deserved equaliser on 25 minutes.

Dinas were taking the game to their opponents but Caldicot were dangerous on the break and Lloyd broke through for a one-on-one with Curtin but screwed his shot wide from 15 yards.

Both sides forced further unproductive corners and in the last couple of minutes of the half Mitchell Slape looked as if he must score when he beat the Dinas defence, but Curtin came rushing off his line and Slape hit a poor finish wide so it was honours even at the interval.

Just three minutes into the second half Alloway was tripped in the area, the referee pointing straight to the penalty spot. Alloway dusted himself down to take the kick, beating Davidson to give Dinas the lead.

Dinas had a golden opportunity to increase their lead when Ah-Mun latched onto a through ball to lob to Davidson but the Caldicot shot stopper just got his fingertips to it and the ball just cleared the cross bar when perhaps a hard low shot would have been more productive.

Caldicot were getting desperate and made two substitutions but it was Dinas calling the shots most of the time.

Keiron James then made one of his mazy runs for Dinas, gliding past several tackles before he was fouled just outside the box. Bruce took the kick but the Caldicot defence cleared it.

Dinas manager Lee Saunders then introduced fresh legs, Joe Briscombe replacing Alloway. They were still getting the lion's share of possession and, from a throw-in on the left, Sam Johnson powered into the box and got a good shot away which Davidson got a slight touch to and the ball cannoned off the cross bar and went over for yet another unproductive corner.

Dinas captain Steve Provis was then chopped down but was able to continue after some lengthy treatment. He then found himself with space through the middle but was still feeling the effects of the tackle and although he got a shot away he was off balance and his effort went wide.

The visitors then resorted to pumping long balls down the middle but the Dinas defence of Atif Bashir, Caton, Provis and Bruce were in no mood to relinquish their lead and dealt with everything Caldicot tried.

Further Dinas subs were introduced with six minutes remaining - Ah-Mun was replaced by James Bloxham and Johnson made way for Mamadu Banguraso.

Dinas mounted one last promising attack with great inter-play between all the midfield men culminating in a shot by Mwedzo which didn't trouble the Caldicot ‘keeper and despite the referee playing four minutes injury time Dinas never looked like conceding and they deserved to take all three points at the final whistle.

Dinas: 1 James Curtin, 2 Atif Bashir, 3 Nicky Bruce, 4 Connor Caton, 5 Steve Provis (c), 6 Keiron James, 7 Sam Johnson, 8 King Junior Mwedzo, 9 Nathan Donnelly (1), 10 James Alloway (1), 11 Ben Ah-Mun, 12 Joe Briscombe, 14 Lewis Marsh, 15 Mamadu Banguraso, 16, James Bloxham and 17 James Bagnall.

On Saturday, March 28 Dinas are home again when Caerleon visit the Murch.

Peter King