DINAS Powys faced Caerleon on Saturday, September 13 with Dinas winning 4 – 0.

Dinas didn't have the best of starts to this game when two of the selected starting 11 had to be dropped to the bench after the warm-up found them to be carrying injuries, so Nicky Bruce and King Junior Mwedzo were replaced by Sam Johnson and Joe Briscombe.

Dinas quickly got into their stride, Sam Johnson firing in a shot from 25 yards which Caerleon keeper Richard Lancaster took comfortably and Atif Bashir fed Johnson who in turn found Ben Ah-Mun but he was tackled before he could get a shot away.

This was followed by some determined play by Bashir who, despite having to ride three tackles came away with the ball to lay it off to Luke Swaffield down the right wing, his determination led to a corner which Swaffield took but Lancaster gathered.

Caerleon began to get their act together and a shot from Scott Lewis wide on the left was on target but Dinas keeper Perks collected comfortably.

On the 22 minute mark Dinas took the lead, a strong run down the left flank by Joe Briscombe, he beat the full back and put in a great cross to Johnson at the far post to volley the ball home from six yards for the opener.

Dinas were well on top and a further chance came when Swaffield powered down the right wing and crossed to Johnson but his header was blocked by a defender and cleared.

At the other end Caerleon were mainly only able to hit shots from distance, Dan Bailey playing in a cross cum shot into the Dinas box from 35 yards but Perks took the ball high under his crossbar and the Dinas defence were rarely troubled with Bloxham, Marr and Lazarou all in fine form.

A half chance did come Caerleon's way, Scott Lewis finding Liam Head in a dangerous position but skipper Bloxham was there to once again clear the Dinas lines.

Johnson was making some excellent runs for Dinas and he almost got on the end of another cross from Swaffield but the towering Lancaster just beat him to it. On the half-hour mark persistence by Ah-Mun won Dinas another corner but again it was unproductive.

There was a bit of a scare for Dinas as a scramble ensued in front of their goal but Caerleon couldn't get a shot away and Perks eventually grabbed the ball. A further half chance came their way when Liam Head found Dan Bailey who got a shot away but it was well wide and when they forced a corner, Head sliced it behind the Dinas goal.

The nearest Caerleon got to scoring was when a cross from the right reached Jamie Davies; he shot low and just inside the post but Perks dived to his left to make a fine save.

Caerleon's Matt Compton then sustained an injury and had to be replaced by Kade McConville.

Dinas kept pressing and the second goal came with just seconds of the half remaining, Briscombe was again the provider with another good run and cross which Johnson buried in the back of the net to bag his brace and as the half-time whistle went Dinas were well worth the lead.

Caerleon started the second half with a bit more purpose, Jamie Davies getting an early shot in which was wide and their passing was good but the final ball was missing and Dinas began to get on top again with Bashir, Rhodri Foote and Keiron James battling away in midfield and James causing problems for the hosts with his strong jinking runs into the area.

Some excellent passing by Dinas culminated with Johnson and Ah-Mun combining to find Swaffield and he put in a dangerous cross but it was cleared and Johnson and Ah-Mun combined again a couple of minutes later to put James in on goal but his first touch was too strong and a defender cleared the danger before he could get a shot away.

Next it was James' turn to put in a good cross after some excellent link-up play, he found Johnson but he was dispossessed by the overworked Caerleon defence. The hosts then made a change, Liam Head being replaced by Ben Wooten.

The pressure continued with Rhodri Foote threading a ball through to James who was fouled on the edge of the box. The free kick taken by Briscombe hit the wall and the chance was gone. With 20 minutes remaining Dinas rang the changes, Briscombe being replaced by Khalid Inyang.

McConville didn't make the most of a chance he had for the hosts when James slipped and he got a powerful shot away which was straight at Perks who took it easily. Their number six Dan Bailey was then booked for a high tackle.

Jack Coles then entered the fray for Dinas, replacing Foote with 10 minutes remaining. The writing was really on the wall then for the hosts after Bailey received his marching orders for a second bookable offence for a foul on Bashir.

Dinas soon made their man advantage tell, Johnson chipping the ball through to Ah-Mun who hit a great shot for 3-0. And just a couple of minutes later Jack Coles threaded the ball in to Ah-Mun who then laid it off to Johnson to grab his hat-trick and give Dinas a 4-0 lead.

They kept the ball well for the final five minutes to progress into Round One.

This was a superb all round team performance which managers Lee Saunders and Richie Garland were delighted with.

Dinas squad. 1 Jack Perks, 2 Luke Swaffield, 3 Sam Johnson (3), 4 James Bloxham (c), 5 James Marr, 6 Mike Lazarou, 7 Joe Briscombe, 8 Keiron James, 9 Ben Ah-Mun (1), 10 Atif Bashir, 11 Rhodri Foote, 12 Jack Coles, 14 Khalid Inyang, 15 Nicky Bruce, 16 King Junior Mwedzo, 17 James Curtin.

It's back to league action on Saturday, September 20 when Llwydcoed are the visitors to the Murch, kick off 2.30pm.

Peter King