PENARTH Wanderers Vets played host to Cardiff Northern OB in the latest round of the EVS South Wales Casual League.

It’s an easy and often used cliche that Penarth were unlucky not to have come away with more than a draw.

Reverting to the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation, the starting line up of Mark Lewis in goal, Gary Ato, Joe Taylor, Dave Lewis and Mike Kean in defence, a midfield of Richard Bannister, Scott Ato, Wayne Herbert and Richard Yarr, Martin Chick and Nathan Self in attack (Mark Ato, Alan Robinson, Antonio Cersosimo, Mike Roberts, Nathan Turpitt, Chris Rodd and Lewis Williams making up the bench), set about stemming the tide of a fast paced Northern team.

At times it became a little feisty with a few somewhat late tackles going in and some digs and niggles, but Penarth kept to their game manfully, particularly Gary Ato who had to contend a lightning quick winger. Someone said he had lost 5 stone and it showed.

The Wanderers had to be content with any chances that would come on the break.

First Chick and then Herbert each had an opportunity to score but it was Northern who drew first blood when the usual indecision handed one of the quicker Northern forwards to outpace the defence and slot the ball home cooly.

The Wanderers dug in and took the sting out of the game for another twenty minutes or so but a weak clearance, followed by a scramble, enabled Northern to double their lead just before half-time.

Far from being dejected, the Wanderers kept their heads up and believed that if they got a break early in the second half then they would be back in it. Manager Ronnie Rahman was not happy with some of the treatment his players were on the receiving end of and mentioned it to the referee who, to be fair, was more alert to it from then on.

The second half got under way with a more determined attitude from Penarth.

It wasn’t long before they drew some excellent saves from the Cardiff keeper and were managing to pull the opposition defence about creating space for the midfield to exploit.

Cardiff conceded a free kick just outside the area - Kean was told to have a go, knowing how hard he could pass, I mean strike, the ball. Expecting a thunderbolt, both sides were deceived when he stroked a sublime freekick over the wall and into the top corner. Game on!

Substitutions were now coming regularly with Roberts having his chance alongside Scott Ato. Wide players were swapped for Rodd and Turpitt, Herbert was given his chance up front when Chick turned his ankle and had to leave the field temporarily. Cersosimo came on and showed his usual dynamic style.

Kean, now playing a more advanced role, sent over a cross for Chick to deftly guide a header past the flat-footed Northern keeper. 2-2!

Sensing that the Cardiff side were starting to wobble Penarth piled forward and in the ensuing scramble Chick grabbed his second of the game.

With Penarth now 3-2 up it was just a moment of indiscipline when Self got sin-binned for ten minutes. Unfortunately, there were only ten minutes to go!

There were only a couple of minutes left when Northern were awarded a corner and, being a man down, Penarth failed to mark a Northern player at the back post who managed to scuff the ball in to make the final score 3-3.

Although ultimately disappointing, Penarth should take heart that they fought (not literally) every inch of the way and could have come away with more, but the important thing was, they didn’t lose! The Man-of-the Match for this game was Gary Ato who had a very impressive game at left-back.

The Wanderers next match is against Barry Athletic at the Dome, Leckwith on Sunday, 2nd February.