DINAS Powys FC played against Cwmbran Town in the JD Welsh Cup Round One, emerging as victors 4-1.

Dinas booked their place in Monday's Round Two draw with a superb hat-trick from Adam Johns and a Keiron James strike but they had their 'keeper, James Curtin, to thank for a couple of top draw saves to weather the early pressure by the visitors.

A long throw-in from Michael Marsh caused some concern in the Dinas box but they cleared the danger. Cwmbran were then awarded a corner which reached Lee Newman and he looked odds on to score but Curtin showed his worth with a fantastic save.

At the other end a cross reached Rhys Palmer at the far post, he didn't have much to aim at but got a shot away just inside the upright but Town 'keeper Dan Wise scrambled it away to safety.

On the 15 minute mark a good ball in by Nicky Bruce was clipped into the air by the Cwmbran defence and Adam Johns headed past Wise for the opener.

Dinas began to settle and got their passing game going but the visitors were still looking dangerous and after a corner was half cleared, Jordan Hill put a good cross in which Curtin gathered well to thwart the danger.

Young right back Rhys Harlin was making some good overlapping runs down the right flank and Dinas were pressing well at times. A Nicky Bruce free kick forced Wise into taking the ball at full stretch under his cross-bar.

However, Curtin was called into action again just after this when he had to dive bravely on the ball to smother a shot by Michael Dobbs with the forwards closing in.

Dinas began to press again and a half cleared ball fell to James Marr but his effort was well over the bar. The hosts were not to be denied however and in a flowing move, Keiron James linked up with Joe Hinds who laid it back into his path and he slotted the ball home from 10 yards giving Wise no chance for 2-0 with just a minute remaining of the half.

The last action of the half saw Cwmbran striker Luke Thomas evade a couple of tackles to put a curling shot in but it was just wide of the left post.

Cwmbran didn't do their cause any good just five minutes into the second half when Michael Phillips was straight red carded for a bad foul on Rhys Palmer who needed lengthy treatment before he could continue.

The 10 men were still dangerous and Curtin made another brave save at the striker's feet.

Dinas were then awarded a free kick taken by skipper Ben Luck, he found the head of Johns but he skewed his effort wide of the left upright.

With 30 minutes still to play Cwmbran replaced Francesco Marino with Marshal Roberts. Just five minutes later he pulled a goal back after Nicky Bruce missed a tackle and Roberts beat Curtin from 10 yards for 2-1.

This gave the visitors some hope and they rallied for a while but Dinas began to make their man advantage tell as first Palmer spun with the ball to get a shot on target which Wise managed to save, then King Junior Mwedzo, who was receiving plenty of accurate passes out wide on the right from Joe Hinds, put in a great low cross to Hinds but somehow the keeper parried his shot from five yards when he looked odds on to score.

The hosts were well on top by this stage and the goal of the game came when Johns volleyed home a cross from Bruce from 15 yards giving Wise no chance to save. Just a couple of minutes later Johns bagged his hat-trick, taking a great pass from Hinds in his stride, he chipped the ball over the 'keeper for 4-1.

Manager Lee Saunders then rang the changes over the next six minutes replacing Palmer, Ross and Johns with Mamadu Banguraso, Courtney Aviet and Tom Edwards with Johns getting a standing ovation as he left the field.

Dinas kept up the pressure for the remaining five minutes, a Luck free kick curling just wide and a pass from Banguraso to Hinds, who picked his spot but Wise saved his effort at full stretch, and a late corner by Bruce was headed back into the six yard box by Luck where Marr got a header on target but again Wise gathered the ball and a good all round team effort had put Dinas through to the next round. The match ball for the game was kindly sponsored by Vale Food Services.

Dinas squad: 1 James Curtin, 2 Rhys Harlin, 3 Nicky Bruce, 4 Ben Luck (C), 5 James Marr, 6 Joe Hinds, 7 Adam Johns (3), 8 Keiron James (1), 9 King Junior Mwedzo, 10 Steffan Ross, 11 Rhys Palmer, 12 Courtney Aviet, 14 Mamadu Banguraso and 15 Tom Edwards.

On Saturday, October 10, Dinas are back in league action when they travel West to take on Pontardawe Town, kick off 2.30pm.

Peter King