Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup Round 2

Dinas Powys 1 - Taffs Well 4

DESPITE bowing out of this year's competition on Saturday, November 14, Dinas took a lot of positives from the game, keeping their shape well and creating a number of scoring opportunities.

Because of the inclement weather, this game was switched to the 3G pitch at Llanrumney playing fields to get the fixture played.

As expected Taffs Well had the lions share of possession but the young Dinas team had listened to the instructions given by the management team and played some excellent football at times. An early ball down the right flank from Rhys Harlin sent King Junior Mwedzo on his way but he was eventually dispossessed.

At the other end a through ball found Jason Bertorelli but his effort was wide.

Adam Jones then squared a ball to Mwedzo who hit a sweet shot just wide of Neil Collins upright.

Taffs won the first corner which was dealt with by Dinas captain Ben Luck, however the Division One side looked dangerous at times and their passing and movement was keeping the Dinas back four on their toes.

Both teams were awarded direct free kicks from outside the area, Taffs taken by Tyrone Topper was off target and Nicky Bruce, for Dinas, was also wide.

On the 30 minute mark Taffs Well took the lead when a shot by Bertorelli took a big deflection off a Dinas defender leaving James Curtin stranded.

Just eight minutes later Dinas levelled when Nicky Bruce drove through the Taffs defence and hit a powerful shot which Collins could only parry into the path of Mwezdo and he tucked the ball home just inside the post for 1-1.

Bertorelli then evaded several tackles to get into the Dinas box but, again, failed to hit the target.

Mwedzo was having a great game for Dinas and, picking the ball up just outside the box, he hit a rasping shot just wide with Collins scrambling across to cover it.

The last action of the first half was a Taffs Well corner which found the head of Jac Evans who headed downwards on target but Curtin dived on the ball to smother the danger and at 1-1 Dinas were certainly still in the game.

Although the rain eased slightly at the start of the second period the wind picked up making conditions very difficult.

The Villagers had the first chance, a Bruce free kick reached Mwezdo who back-heeled the ball on target but Collins took it comfortably. However, just three minutes into the half Taffs Well took the lead again, a cross from the left was headed home by Topper from close range.

Dinas began to assert themselves again with Keiron James, Bruce and Rhys Palmer battling hard for possession, and it was Adam Jones who played Mwedzo in, he got a good shot away on target bringing a fine save from Collins.

With 30 minutes still to play Taffs skipper Evans picked the ball up in midfield and hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner for 3-1 to virtually make the tie safe.

Dinas then rang the changes, taking off striker Scott Muir for Nathan Donnelly.

A mention must be made of Dinas' two young full backs who both had fine games, Rhys Harlin and Mason Ah-Mun and it was the latter who powered down the wing, laying the ball off to Mwedzo who cut inside and curled a shot in which hit the cross-bar.

At the other end Dinas had James to thank for clearing a goal bound ball off the line.

With just five minutes remaining Taffs Well added a fourth goal which rather flattered the scoreline, substitute Harry Collins netting from close range.

Dinas squad: 1 James Curtin, 2 Rhys Harlin, 3 Mason Ah-Mun, 4 Ben Luck (C), 5 James Marr, 6 Nicky Bruce, 7 Rhys Palmer, 8 Keiron James, 9 Scott Muir, 10 King Junior Mwedzo (1), 11 Adam Jones, 12 Luke Swaffield, 14 Nathan Donnelly, 15 Paul Caulfield, 16 Tom Edwards, 17 Steffan Ross.

Next Saturday, November 21, Dinas are back in league action when they travel East to take on Undy Athletic with a 2pm kick off.

Peter King