NEWPORT YMCA 4 DINAS POWYS 0

Welsh League Division Two

THIS was the worst result and probably the poorest performance of the season for Dinas, against a YMCA side boosted by their 1-1 draw the week before against top-of-the-table Ton Pentre.

Dinas weren’t able to get any fluency in their football on a lively pitch during a first half with YM edging possession, but Dinas having the best opportunities to get on the scoresheet.

On 32 minutes a Ben Dimond corner found Dave Penikett at the far post who somehow managed to hook the ball back for Gareth Tedstone, but his shot hit the upright.

A few minutes later a good ball out of defence found Tedstone who crossed for Barrie Gunstone, whose first-time shot hit the same post and bounced down into the grateful arms of Mark Mears in the YM goal.

At the other end Naill Yates headed a free-kick wide and an Oliver Backett cross forced Dave Burnett in the Dinas goal to punch the ball out for a corner.

In the second half Dinas just didn’t get going, their cause not helped when they lost two influential players, Dave Penikett and Barrie Gunstone, to injury.

Twenty minutes into the half the home side took the lead when an innocuous 30-yard free-kick was deflected to substitute Daniel Edwards who scored with a low shot from eight yards.

Just before the goal Dave Burnett in the Dinas goal had made an excellent save from a Yeates header, but he couldn’t do anything when he was beaten by Oliver Beckett’s deflected shot from 20 yards for 2-0.

The best goal of the game came from YM captain Alex Jenkins who didn’t need any help from a deflection with his 25 yard effort.

The visitors' misery was complete when a low cross found Aaron Stewart who had the simplest task from close range to give the home side a fully deserved three points.

With a certain Wales v England match next Saturday, Dinas travel to Ammanford for a rearranged game on the Sunday.

Squad: 1. Dave Burnett, 2. Rhodri Foote, 3. Danny Street, 4. Michael Hayward, 5. Dave Penikett, 6. Jon Carpentier, 7. Ricki Morgan, 8. Liam Jones, 9. Barrie Gunstone, 10. Gareth Tedstone, 11. Ben Dimond. Subs: 12. Stephen Provis, 14.Mark Dunford, 15. Dan Jose.

* Next game: Welsh League Division Two - Sunday, March 27, Ammanford v Dinas Powys, ko 2.30pm.

* For further news and fixtures see the club’s website: www.dinaspowysfc.co.uk

DINAS POWYS GIRLS U18 1 MARDY TIGERS U18 0

ON Sunday, March 13, was a top-of-the-table clash between two sides with 100 per cent records in the league, although Mardy had beaten a weakened Dinas Powys side 5-0 in an earlier cup game.

Both sides started nervously but it was the visitors who settled quicker without creating too many opportunities, while the Dinas girls struggled to get their passing game together.

The first half was a tough battle between powerful midfielders on both sides with the Tigers shading it on possession and chances.

After the break the home side settled and started to play more cohesive football, although the best chance came to Hattie Powell, the Tigers lone forward who got through the middle of the Dinas defence only to have her shot blocked by home keeper Amy O’Callaghan.

Apart from a mad scramble in front of O’Callaghan’s goal, chances were again at a premium, although home striker Shanelle Edwards created a great chance for herself with some tricky skills only to blast her shot high and wide.

While Mardy again edged possession they couldn’t create much to trouble the home keeper.

With five minutes to go and the game looking like ending in a rare goalless draw, the Tigers lost the ball in midfield, where it was picked up by Jordan Guard who slipped a superb pass between the visitors' right back and centre back for Edwards to run on to and finish neatly into the far corner.

The final minutes were dominated by Mardy who threw everything at Dinas but with some resolute defending, and O’Callaghan taking two superb catches from dangerous in-swinging corners under extreme pressure, Dinas girls managed to see out time.

ELLEN PHILLIPS

THERE was some great news from Belgium where Wales U19 Girls were playing a friendly on Tuesday.

Ellen Phillips, who plays for the Dinas Powys Ladies team, scored in a 2-2 draw. Ellen was named in the squad to play two games against Belgium in the National Centre in Tubize.

In addition Jordan Guard and Shannelle Edwards were on stand-by for the squad.

LLANELLI U19s 5 DINAS POWYS U19s 4 (AET)

WL YOUTH MACWHIRTER YOUTH CUP ROUND 2

DINAS Powys U19s faced Llanelli’s Academy U19s in the MacWhirter Youth Cup on Sunday, March 6, and were unlucky not to get the result their hard work deserved.

The game was played on the excellent Stebonheath pitch in perfect weather, and didn’t disappoint.

Llanelli went in front after just four minutes, when a quick free kick caught the Dinas defence napping and a cross from the left was headed past Steve Johnson in goal.

Llanelli doubled their lead five minutes later, when the excellent Adam Orme managed to beat his marker and place the ball into the bottom corner.

To their credit, the Dinas lads were not fazed by the goals and were working hard to get back into the game, and after a couple of half chances Dimitri Fallas pulled one back with a neat turn and shot from 20 yards.

Dinas got the equaliser five minutes later, when some good work down the left flank by Ben Ah Mun produced a cross that striker Matthew Tucker slotted past the keeper.

The Dinas lads went in front with five minutes to go to half time, when Tucker again got onto a ball in the box, just beating the keeper to poke home into the empty net.

Llanelli began the second half in determined mood and dominated possession for the first 10 minutes, but the Dinas back four of James Marr, Rhys Davies, James Bloxham and Nicky Bruce were in outstanding form.

However, the Llanelli pressure eventually brought a corner that was headed home to bring the game level.

The game became very open and the Dinas midfield of Elliot Ball, Esteban Arbeledo, Joe Briscombe and Ben Ah Mun worked tirelessly to close down any space.

Dinas took the lead again with 20 minutes to go when a corner was headed home by Captain Rhys Davies. Llanelli then equalised when a big kick down field from the Llanelli keeper evaded both the Dinas centre backs and allowed Orme to score again.

With extra time looming, the Dinas management rang the changes with the fresh legs of Mitchell Brownhill, Ryan Foat and Rowan Davies bolstering the Dinas midfield. Both sides created a couple of further half chances but the game could not be decided in 90 minutes.

In extra time Dinas continued to try and pass the ball around but tired legs were beginning to show as some sloppy passing began to creep into the game.

One of these misplaced passes allowed a Llanelli midfielder to slide a pass in behind the Dinas defence for Orme to complete his hat-trick and put Llanelli 5-4 in-front. The Dinas lads worked tirelessly to get the equaliser and were unlucky when Fallas struck the side netting late on.

This was a good performance by the Dinas lads against the current cup holders and was a good learning curve playing against two or three of the Llanelli players who have Welsh Premier experience.

DINAS POWYS FC JUNIOR SECTION

GIRLS U12s:

CONGRATULATIONS to Gwennan Davies, Jess Thompson and Georgia Roberts Powell for being selected to attend the Welsh Development Squad run in conjunction with the South Wales Girls League, Cardiff City and The FAW. Possible future Welsh caps in the making!

Well done to the U12s for beating Troedyrhiw 2-0 on Sunday, March 13. No mean feat as Troedyrhiw had gone 18 games unbeaten this season until they were outdone on the day by a quickly improving Dinas U12s team.

Best of luck in their forthcoming quarter final tie on March 27 at Bryn-y-Don against Valleys Utd in the SWGL cup.

GIRLS U14s:

WELL DONE to Ella Hatherill, Chloe Jones and Emily Hill for making the Cardiff and Vale U14s Squad. Also to Kelsey Murray and Ellie Wenger for being put on standby for possible selection.

Well done to the U14s for their fine 1-0 win on March 13 against Caerphilly. A fine run of 4 games unbeaten now puts them 12th in the League. A superb achievement after a very difficult start in what is their first season on full size pitches.