Gorseinon compiled a superb run chase to edge out Penarth at the Athletic Field – but the hosts are still only nine points off third place in division two of the South Wales Premier League.

Despite losing Will Skone to the first ball of the day, caught behind off Gafyn Donald, Penarth, eighth in the table, made the most of some near perfect batting conditions.

Nitin Mathias and Tom Sidford put on 172 for the second wicket as the excellent pitch and lightning outfield contributed to make the bowlers toil.

Mathias was next to go having made a superb 92, but there was little respite for the Gorseinon bowlers as Sidford was joined by Ben Wellington.

The pair added another 74 before Wellington (28) and Adeeb Ilyas (0) both fell in the 42nd over with the score on 246.

Sidford was out just three short of his century in the following over but useful late contributions from Llyr Morris, Greg Cross and Nick Hartley pushed the hosts beyond 300 and made them firm favourites at the break.

There was little to alter that assessment in the early stages of the reply as Nathan Piddock grabbed the wickets of Roberts and Hitchcott to leave Gorseinon on 28-2.

Runs flowed reasonably freely but Skone reduced the visitors to 88-3 by bowling Fowles for 36 with the victory target still way off.

There was a further breakthrough for Penarth as Ilyas bowled Keiran Howells for 33 with the score on 146, and again when Josh Rencken was trapped lbw by Skone for 65 with 100 still required in just 12 overs.

That brought Christopher Morgan and Donald together and the two produced a brutal partnership that brought Gorseinon into contention and then made them firm favourites.

They eventually finished unbeaten on 80 and 51 respectively, guiding their team home to a memorable win in the penultimate over.

Penarth visit Carmarthen Wanderers this Saturday.