DINAS Powys FC faced Caerleon on Saturday, March 28 with Dinas winning 4-1. The match ball was kindly donated by Brookman Plastering.

Dinas were in confident mood going into this match after their fine win over Caldicot Town the previous week and they knew a win was imperative to keep their hopes of Division 2 football alive for next season.

Both sides had long range efforts from 25 yards in the opening minutes, Nathan Donnelly for Dinas, which was off target and a free kick for Caerleon which James Curtin gathered comfortably.

A cross from the right caused some problems in the Dinas six yard box but they eventually cleared the danger at the expense of an unproductive corner.

A flowing move by Dinas involving Atif Bashir, King Junior Mwedzo and Ben Ah-Mun ended with a good cross by Ah-Mun but no one was at the far post to get a shot away. A Nicky Bruce free kick then reached Donnelly but he was adjudged to have handled the ball when well placed.

It was Donnelly again who headed the ball on to Sam Johnson but his shot didn't trouble Gareth Wesson who gathered it comfortably.

Caerleon's Ross Oakley was then booked for a foul on Mwedzo.

The game was end to end at this stage in difficult conditions with the pitch heavy after overnight rain and a swirling wind but both sides were producing some attractive football at times.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when, from a corner from the left, Liam Head volleyed the ball home.

Dinas began to press for the equaliser, a long throw in by Steve Provis fizzed across the six-yard box but again, no Dinas player was at the far post and the danger was cleared.

However, it only took Dinas five minutes to equalise when, from a Bruce free kick a goalmouth scramble ensued, the ball was half cleared to 16-year-old Mwedzo who picked his spot to drive the ball through a crowded area to beat Wesson from 15 yards for a fine goal.

Dinas ‘keeper Curtin was then called into action when a Caerleon cross from the right was deflected but he got down smartly at his near post to grab the ball.

Donnelly was having a fine game and after shrugging off a couple of tackles where he was driven wide on the right, he got in a good cross to Johnson but he couldn't control the ball and the chance was gone.

The home side did get the ball in the net again just after this but Bashir was adjudged to have handled the ball as he headed it past Wesson.

However, they were not to be denied and an excellent through ball by Provis reached Donnelly who slid it past Wesson and into the corner of the net for a superb goal in the last minute of the half and Dinas were worth their interval lead on chances created.

Caerleon came out with more purpose for the second half but the Dinas defence of Bashir, Connor Caton, Provis and Bruce were on fine form with Caton in particular winning everything in the air. The visitors did manage to get an early shot on target by Yousif Al-Doori but Curtin was in his usual form and gathered the ball.

With 10 minutes gone Dinas replaced Bashir with James Bloxham as the visitors were pressing hard but then came the goal of the game, Donnelly played the ball to Mwedzo who was closely marked but he somehow flicked the ball into the path of Johnson who coolly lobbed Wesson from just inside the box for a goal that would grace any standard of football.

The Villagers then made another substitution, James Alloway being replaced by Luke Swaffield.

Dinas were back in control now except for the odd Caerleon attack, from one of these, Mike Walters got a shot away but it didn't trouble Curtin.

Bloxham then conceded an unnecessary penalty when he tripped a player who was running away from goal but, just when the Dinas management team thought it was going to be a tight last 30 minutes, Curtin made a brilliant penalty save from Jamie Davies to keep their two goal lead intact.

The home side then made their final change, Jamie Bagnall replacing Mwedzo. Hard working Dinas midfield man Keiron James then made one of his surging runs which ended in him winning a corner which was cleared.

With five minutes remaining Dinas made it 4-1, Bagnall playing a superb ball into the path of Donnelly who charged into the box and again slid the ball past Wesson for another superb finish.

The win takes Dinas off the bottom of the table but there is a lot of work to do in the remaining games if they are to retain Division 2 status.

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

Next Saturday, April 4, Dinas travel east down the M4 to take on Undy Athletic, 2.30pm KO.

Peter King