Undy Athletic 5, Dinas Powys 2

ALL the recent good form shown by Dinas was undone in a lack-lustre first half when they conceded four goals in this game writes Peter King of Dinas Powys FC

Undy had an early free kick from 25 yards taken by Tom Hooper which didn't trouble Dinas keeper James Curtin and for the first 10 minutes of the half Dinas took the game to their hosts, a through ball from Keiron James reached Sam Johnson and looked promising but Undy keeper Smallcombe dashed off his line to get to the ball first.

Nathan Donnelly then headed a ball on to Johnson who was well placed but his shot didn't have enough power to trouble Smallcombe who gathered it comfortably. Dinas were then awarded a free kick wide on the right which Nicky Bruce drilled in hard and low but it flew across the six yard box and out for a goal kick without anyone getting a touch.

The home side soon began to assert themselves however and a through ball to Gareth Cullimore saw him side step his marker to drill the ball home for 1-0 after 16 minutes. This was followed by an inswinging corner which hit the cross bar and was cleared by Dinas defender Steve Provis.

Undy were getting on top and just four minutes after the first goal they doubled their tally when a good cross by Cullimore was drilled home at the far post by Oliver Beckett.

At the other end Bruce took a free kick on the edge of the box whick Smallcombe managed to push round the post for a corner but Dinas failed to capitalise on this and with 25 minutes on the clock Beckett ran through the Dinas defence to slot the ball home for 3-0.

Dinas were then dealt a blow when their recent signing Nathan Donnelly went down with what was thought to be cramp at first but proved to be a slight hamstring pull, necessitating an early substitution, James Alloway coming on in midfield and Ben Ah-Mun taking the striker's role. Dinas were awarded a couple more free kicks taken by Bruce but their couldn't penetrate the Undy defence.

Dinas' youngster 16-year-old King Junior Mmezdo was then chopped down just outside the box. Alloway took this and got it up and over the wall forcing a good save from Smallcombe.

A poor half by Dinas then got worse in the last minute when, from a short corner, Beckett got through again to make it 4-0 giving the visitors a mountain to climb in the second half.

Undy started the second half well forcing two corner which were both dealt with by Connor Caton. Dinas began to press and after Johnson was fouled on the edge of the box, Alloway took the kick which Smallcombe fumbled but his defence reacted quickest and the danger was cleared.

Dinas kept up the pressure and from a long Steve Provis throw in Alloway headed the ball on to Johnson who headed it powerfelly into the net for 4-1 with 15 minutes gone. Just a minute later Johnson turned provider, slotting the ball through the channel for Ah-Mun to beat Smallcombe with a well placed shot and Dinas had halved the deficit.

Another strong run by Ah-Mun resulted in a corner with no end product. Dinas then rang the changes, Nicky Bruce being replaced by Jamie Bagnall at left back with 20 minutes remaining.

Undy still looked dangerous on the break but the two goals had given Dinas some hope and they were defending much better. They then made their final substitution, Johnson making way for Charlie Baister.

Dinas were then dealt the final blow, a pass reaching James Gidney who hit an unstoppable shot from 18 yards right in the top corner to make it 5-2. The visitors kept plugging away and a strong run and cross down the left by Ah-Mun was just too high for Baister to head at the far post. Baister then got to the bye-line with a good run and cross but the ball evaded everyone. In the last minute Curtin make a superb save from point blank range by Cullimore to keep the final score 5-2 which, despite a good rally by Dinas in the second half, was deserved.

Dinas: 1 James Curtin, 2 James Bloxham, 3 Nicky Bruce, 4 Connor Parsons, 5 Steve Provis (c), 6 Keiron James, 7 Sam Johnson (1), 8 Luke Swaffield, 9 Nathan Donnelly, 10 Ben Ah-Mun (1), 11 King Junior Mwezdo 12 James Alloway, 14 Jamie Bagnall, 15 Charlie Baister.

On Saturday, April 11, Tata Steel visit the Murch with a 2.30pm ko.