PENARTH TOWN 2 GILFACH GOCH 1

PENARTH Town FC earned another deserved home victory on Saturday, January 2, after scoring a late winner against Gilfach Goch in the South Wales Amateur league.

The game almost fell foul to the winter conditions, but an early pitch inspection gave the go-ahead.

This was a 'six pointer' as both teams are at the wrong end of the table.

Gilfach were quicker out of the blocks. They applied early pressure which paid dividends in the 10th minute with a well worked goal.

The home team sought an equaliser for the remainder of the first half, and there were numerous attempts on the Gilfach goal – but the spectacular efforts of the keeper kept Gilfach ahead at half time.

Penarth Town manager Brian Sullivan gave a rousing half time talk. After emphasising what had gone right rather than blame for what had not, the Town players started the second half in positive mood.

Pressure was put on from the start, but two more exceptional saves in the first 10 minutes made a few supporters fear it might not be Penarth's day.

However, following an exceptional cross by assistant player-coach Ronnie Rahman, the equaliser came through a fierce shot from Scott Muir in the 55th minute.

But the next 35 minutes saw shot after shot at the Gilfach Goch goal go without reward. Following two disallowed goals for the home team for offside, it would have easy for Penarth to settle for a draw.

The game had in the main been played in fine spirit, hard but fair. There had been several injuries, caused mainly by the harsh conditions.

Penarth Town players were anxious for a winner, so 5 minutes injury time was more than welcome.

And in the first minute of injury time a fine break saw Tyrone Phillips put the ball securely into the battle-torn Gilfach goal.

The last four minutes saw Town consolidate their lead, while a reckless challenge by the Gilfach nº8 resulted in a straight red card.

This was an important result for both teams. "These 3 points will be very important to Penarth Town's survival in the South Wales Amateur league," said Brian Sullivan after the game.

The next home game at Cwrt-y-Vil is another 'six pointer' against Bryna AFC on Saturday, January 9, kick off 2pm.