Cwmbran Celts Ladies 1

Dinas Powys Ladies 6

DINAS Powys Ladies FC were going into this important match without inspirational skipper Leanne Pattermore, so it was time to show the strength in depth in this squad.

The Dinas 'Villagers' knew this was going to be a tough battle from the opening minute as Cwmbran Celts Ladies have only lost one game all season and the chance to make it to the SWFA Women's Cup final rested upon them to ensure it was two loses.

Dinas started the brighter as Molly Chapman and Alicia Cox were linking up well down the right hand side and Chapman delivered some early crosses to test the home sides back four. Laura Murray fired an early warning to Cwmbran as she managed to roll her defender but the 'keeper gathered the shot.

Then 20 minutes in, Murray showed her class as she managed to score a brace within five minutes to relax the visitors. Naomi Wilson had to be on her guard then as the home side threw bodies forward and failure to deal with a clearance allowed the home side to have a snap shot from the edge of the box which deflected off a Dinas player into the bottom corner.

This only fired the visitors on and from then it was a display of organised football as Dinas defended extremely well but also looked like scoring on countless attacks.

Demi Bounds was fastest to react and smashed home goal number three from five yards, before Murray completed her hat-trick.

At the break the ladies were reminded about certain tasks they had been set. This proved vital in the second period.

Further goals from Bounds and another from Murray saw the game over as a contest within 10 minutes of the restart.

Cwmbran could have thrown the towel in but to their credit they kept on plugging away.

Rachel Beare, Kelly Tuck, Cox and Alex Allen were in no mood to let anything past. Beare in particular was like a rock as she bravely headed away numerous attacks.

At set pieces, Beare was very unlucky not to score at the other end as the Cwmbran 'keeper pulled off a great reaction save from her header and on another corner Beare saw her effort cannon off the bar.

Saunders, Jones and Nao are a match for any team as the experience they have and energy gives the forwards a platform to work off.

The ever dependable Vicki Elison replaced the impressive Bounds and Dinas looked to turn on the style as they were encouraged to work the ball wide for Allen and in particular Cox who, for a young player, showed a tremendous work rate on the right.

The outstanding Murray was then replaced by Gemma Crowley who was straight in the thick of things as she linked up play very well.

Sophie Whittle was the final sub used replacing Molly Chapman who ran herself into the ground as she does in every match. In the later stages Whittle managed to flick the ball through to Cox who ran her defender and crossed into the box and there was no surprise to see five Dinas bodies in there trying to grab a goal.

That determination shown late on by the girls to fill the box on a great counter attack shows the effort and work rate the ladies have put in all season.

Dinas now welcome Beccy Rees and Emma Higgs into the squad, who are two very experienced girls, for the remainder of the season as they continue their unbeaten run.

Player of the match was dually shared between Laura Murray and Rachel Beare who as a centre half attacked every ball bravely and with a desire rarely seen at ladies football.