Carling were just too hot to handle for Penarth Wanderers Vets in the semi-finals of the EVS South Wales Casual League Charity Division Cup, running out 12-2 winners on a stiflingly hot day at Llanishen High School.

With a couple of late drop-outs, Penarth went into the game with a 16-man squad led by player/manager Alan Robinson.

Things started reasonable well but after losing Joe Davies to injury, the speed and accuracy of the Wanderers passing began to falter.

They were 4-0 down by the time the referee called for a drinks break, and keeper Mark Lewis had conceded another two by the time Lewis Williams pulled one back to make it 6-1 at half-time.

Another couple of Carling goals early in the second half and the game was all over as a contest.

Changes were made as energy levels dropped and, after Carling added another, Dean Huxter blasted an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net for 10-2.

The final substitution saw Robinson replace Dave Lewis, before the final two goals rounded off a 12-2 rout.

Penarth had entered the match in a buoyant mood, knowing if they could compete then there was a good chance of progressing to the final.

But the situation proved a little too much and the performance was not up to the high standard of previous games, while the opposition worked the system to their benefit.

That’s it for another season for Penarth, so now it’s a case of waiting to see what next term holds in store.