Croesyceiliog 2 v Dinas Powys 1

DINAS Powys FC withstood some early pressure from the hosts and began to assert some pressure of their own down the right wing, Luke Swaffield and Sam Adamson combining well without really threatening the home team's goal.

The first real attempt on goal came from Croesyceiliog via a 25 yard free kick by Mike Baugh which Dinas stand-in 'keeper for the day Liam Sadler cleared with a kick under pressure from the Croesyceiliog attack.

Dinas began to get more possession at times but the home team's passing was better enabling them to have the lion's share of possession. James Arnold was played in on goal but his effort was well over the Dinas cross-bar.

The game flowed from end to end but the two Dinas centre backs James Bloxham and Nathan Donnelly were the busier most of the time and Sadler made an excellent save from the impressive Baugh with 22 minutes gone.

The Dinas defence did well to force a goal kick after an excellent corner taken by Rhys Williams looked dangerous, and this was followed on 25 minutes when Jamie Arnold latched onto a cross at the far post but his shot was wide of Sadler's left upright.

Dinas then got their noses in front on the half hour mark when their hard-working striker Adam Johns was upended in the box, the referee pointing straight to the penalty spot. Johns dusted himself down and took the kick giving Tom Chorley no chance to save for 1-0 to the visitors, somewhat against the run of play.

Almost straight from the resumption of play Croesyceiliog were awarded a somewhat dubious penalty taken by Lee Mason, Sadler made a fantastic save but the referee deemed he had come off his line and adjudged the kick be taken again, Mason hit it well enough but Sadler saved again and the defence cleared the ball.

The hosts continued to press for the last few minutes of the half but Dinas hung on to their lead as the half-time whistle went.

Dinas started the second period well with Johns, Myles Case and Rhys Palmer combining well without threatening the Croesyceiliog goal and the hosts began to get on top again, forcing two corners and from the second one Nathan Williams got a shot away which was weak and wide.

At the other end Palmer made a determined run down the left wing, cut inside the full back and got a powerful shot away which was just over the bar.

Croesyceiliog were then awarded a free kick just outside the Dinas 18 yard box and close to the goal line, this was headed goalward by Baugh the ball clipping the top of the bar and going over for a goal kick.

Sadler was again called into action when a goalmouth scramble ensued and he got down smartly to smother the ball which was heading for the corner of the net.

The hard-working Johns was unlucky on the 15 minute mark when he was forced wide but got a shot away which was close to the far post and had it been on target would have beaten Chorley.

However, disaster struck for Dinas when Croesyceiliog were awarded what everyone seemed to think was a very dubious penalty when Donnelly was adjudged to have tripped a Croesyceiliog forward who didn't even go down and just lost his footing slightly.

Baugh took the kick to level the scores at one apiece with 20 minutes of the half gone.

Dinas then rang the changes, bringing on Tom Edwards for Myles Case and a couple of minutes later Palmer was chopped down and couldn't continue with an ankle injury, Ryan Garland replacing him.

Dinas almost took the lead again when a Garland free kick found the head of James Marr who's effort was on target just under the bar but Chorley managed to take the ball at full stretch with 15 minutes remaining.

However, it was the hosts who got the winning goal with 10 minutes remaining when, after a free kick from the right was bundled in after another goalmouth scramble, Baugh getting the final touch for 2-1.

At the other end a determined run and shot by Marr brought a good save from Chorley. Dinas then made their final substitution with five minutes remaining, when Adamson was replaced by Gavin Lewis.

The final five minutes was marred as tempers flared and a player from both sides were given their marching orders after an altercation, James Marr for Dinas and Aaron Harris for Croesyceiliog.

Croesyceiliog deserved the win and Dinas know they can play a lot better than this, and did not achieve the instructions given at half-time.

Dinas: 1 Liam Sadler, 2 Luke Swaffield, 3 Rhys Harlin, 4 James Bloxham, 5 Nathan Donnelly, 6 Keiron James, 7 James Marr (C), 8 Sam Adamson, 9 Adam Johns (1), 10 Myles Case, 11 Rhys Palmer, 12 Tom Edwards, 14 Ryan Garland, 15 Gavin Lewis, 16 Macauley Wadsworth.

Next Saturday Dinas entertain Pontardawe Town at The Murch with a 2pm kick off.

Peter King