A PRICELESS three points were gained by Dinas in a hard fought game against a physical Tata Steel outfit in which the highlights were a fantastic goal from 16-year-old King Junior Mwedzo, who worked tirelessly the whole game as did Ben Ah-Mun, covering every inch of the pitch in the Dinas cause.

Dinas goalkeeper James Curtin was called into action in the first minute to smother the ball with the Tata strikers bearing down on him.

The home side then forced a corner from a 40 yard James Alloway free kick but this was dealt with by the visiting defence.

Then came the highlight of the game, right back Atif Bashir played the ball to Ah-Mun who put Mwedzo in on goal, he looked up and then struck a superb shot into the top corner of the net from 18 yards giving Tata ‘keeper Matthew Stanton no chance with 12 minutes on the clock.

Tata began to assert themselves and had two attacks and crosses down the left wing, but their shooting was well off target, the first by Ross Davies was over the bar and the second by Tom Phillips was wide. A cross from the right was headed out for a corner by Bashir which was close to being an own goal.

A goalmouth scramble then ensued from a Tata corner but Curtin managed to drop on the ball despite Tata protests that it had crossed the line.

Dinas weathered the storm and mounted an attack, Ah-Mun finding Donnelly with a good ball and he gained a corner from his efforts, taken by Alloway but this was cleared despite Mwedzo appearing to get roughed up in the six yard box.

Then came a controversial decision by the referee as Donnelly charged into the penalty area, he was blatantly tripped but the referee didn't give the penalty and waved play on.

At the other end Curtin was forced into a double save, parrying the first effort and gathering the ball from the second by Phillips and Davies respectively.

The visitors were pressing hard to equalise in the last five minutes of the half and Chris Parfitt managed to get past Luke Swaffield but his effort hit the side netting.

A throw in by Gavin Williams was well struck by Matthew Lewis but Curtin got down well to save to keep Dinas' one goal advantage at the interval, despite being under pressure at times.

A stern team talk was needed by Lee Saunders in the Dinas dressing room and it seemed to do the trick as they started the second half in determined fashion. Dinas then made an early substitution with Sam Johnson, who had been ill in the week, being replaced by Nicky Bruce with 35 minutes remaining.

Donnelly broke into the Tata box again and got a shot away but he was off balance and his effort was wide.

Dinas were having more of the ball now and forced a Nicky Bruce corner which nothing came of but young Mwedzo was getting roughed up by Stanton while waiting for the kick and the referee had a word with him.

The visitors made their substitutions and from a corner, Curtin was forced to punch the ball clear.

With 15 minutes remaining Dinas brought on Charlie Baister for Alloway.

A half chance came Mwedzo's way when Donnelly found him with some space but he had to shoot with his weaker left foot and the ball cleared the cross-bar.

Dinas were in no mood to concede now and they had to defend stoutly at times with Connor Caton and James Bloxham winning the ball in the air time and time again.

Striker Donnelly then aggravated a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Jamie Bagnall for the remaining minutes. Another controversial incident then occurred when Mwedzo was one-on-one with the ‘keeper who appeared to stamp on his foot but again the referee didn't see it as a penalty despite the protests from the Dinas bench.

Curtin had to make two further saves in the last couple of minutes, the first of which he gathered at the second attempt from a free kick and the second he gathered comfortably also from a free kick. Time ran out for the visitors and the Dinas young side proved that they cannot be intimidated in a physical game.

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

Dinas travel to play Aberbargoed Buds on Saturday, April 18, 2.30pm KO, followed by an evening game away to Caerleon on Tuesday, April 21, 6.30pm KO.

Dinas Powys FC are pleased to support the FAW Fair Play and Off The Pitch campaigns

Peter King