AFTER all the rain leading up to it, it was good for Penarth Wanderers Vets to get a game on the AstroTurf at Llanishen High School against Cooper FC in the EVS South Wales Casual League on Sunday 15th December.

With manager Ronnie Rahman recuperating after ankle surgery it fell on the creaking shoulders of Alan Robinson to dictate play or this game (“Get fit soon Ron, I’ll stick to the admin!”).

Going with a slightly different tack, it was decided to start with a 3-5-2 formation - don’t ask me if that has a name - to try to overload the midfield and stop the opposition using the wings. Mike Kean, Nathan Self and Dave Lewis played at the back with Rich Bannister, Mike Bracey, Scott Ato, Chris Rodd, Antonio Cersosimo across the middle and Darren Scanlan and Scott Muir up front with Nathan Turpitt, Gary Ato, Tyrone Phillips, Mike Roberts and the “manager” on the bench.

The Wanderers started assuredly and the new formation seemed to be working, after containing the Cooper attacks comfortably, restricting them to long range shots which Dave Gillingham in goal dealt with comfortably. The game was being switched from wing to wing well and it wasn't long, maybe against the run of play, that Muir finished cooly to put Penarth one-nil up!

Then, that frustrating part of the Penarth game materialised again when possession was given up far too easily, enabling Cooper to tuck away an easy chance to make it 1-1! And soon after a similar situation enabled them to take the lead for 2-1.

The Wanderers then started to play, a bit like Cardiff City, in as much as they need to be a goal down to kick them into life. Rolling substitutions are the order of the day and the first was made after fifteen minutes sending on Cersosimo and Gary Ato for Bracey and Bannister. Cersosimo threw himself into the game immediately chasing down everything and trying to get the ball moving forward faster. Ato G stuck to his task of preventing his opposing wingback from making any progress and soom the Wanderers got back on even terms when Scanlan scored - 2-2.

The next substitutions were made with Rodd and Phillips going on for Muir and Scanlan. Instant results when Phillips drilled his shot into the far corner, 3-2 to the Wanderers at half-time.

This match not so much ebbed and flowed but more high and low tide. It didn’t take long for Cooper to equalise and then go ahead - 3-4. Then again the Wanderers equalised when Scanlan scored his second - 4-4. Turpitt then took the place of Roberts in midfield.

As the half progressed the Wanderers pressed and scrapped for every loose ball, Cooper however managed to score twice to make it 6-4. It was at that point when Penarth could have scored their fifth, but, not having the luxury of VAR, the referee was not convinced that the ball had crossed the line when Phillips fired in off the crossbar. Then a possible equaliser was ruled out for offside whe the ball clearly came off a Cooper defender. Final score, 6-4 to Cooper FC! The Wanderers Man-of-the-Match was Mike Kean. Well done, great game!

How many times has it been said about fine margins - no matter what the competition. Penarth are definitely playing some good football but some avoidable mistakes seem to cost them every game. The losing streak continues, hopefully, in the new year and the second half of the season, things might change and luck or the rub of the astroturf might go their way.

Looking back over the year, Penarth have played more matches than in any previous season and have welcomed in many new players. Their participation in the Casual League has been both enjoyable and infuriating (at times)!

All the players wish you a merry Christmas and a injury free, successful 2020!