PENARTH Wanderers Vets played their penultimate match against Exiles Casuals in the EVS South Wales Casual League in the hope of finishing the season in style.

With a few regulars missing manager Ronnie Rahman had do some reorganisation.

Experienced goalkeeper, Tim Skinner, made his debut behind a rearranged back four of Gary Ato, Dave Lewis, Mike Kean and Mike Bracey.

The midfield comprised of Lewis Williams, the returning Scott Muir, Scott Ato and Richard Bannister, with Darren Scanlan and Martin Chick up front. On the bench were Chris Rodd, Ray Wills, Cem Aydin, Nathan Turpitt, Alan Robinson and Shane Rodd.

The Wanderers started off positively, determines to get the result of their previous match out of their heads.

The defence looked solid enough with Bracey, playing left back for the first time, won some strong headers and Lewis making some timely interceptions.

Kean was able to get forward on occasions and one of his shots stung the opposition keeper’s fingertips. Keeper Skinner was rarly troubled.

The new “Scott-ish” centre midfield partnership (Scott Muir and Scott Ato) soon began to reap rewards when Chick was put through to place the ball neatly between the Exiles keeper and the near post.

Unfortunately, their old demon surfaced when some slack defending allowed the Exiles to equalise.

However, the Wanderers dug in and soon went ahead again when Chick got his second with a tidy finish.

Their defensive demon made its second, and thankfully last, appearance when the the back four momentarily lost its bearings enabling the Exiles to equalise again!

The Wanderers grabbed the lead back when, in a goalmouth scramble, Chick reacted first when he backheeled his third goal while on his hands and knees and facing the wrong way! This time Penarth were not going to let it slide.

The whistle for half-time enabled both teams to rethink and reorganise.

A couple of changes were made with Averies coming on alongside Lewis, Rodd wide right and Shane Rodd wide left.

Penarth were soon on the scoreboard again when Muir beat the Exiles keeper with a low drive that squirmed through his hands making it 4-2.

Mid-way through the half the game was halted for about five minutes when an Exiles midfielder fell awkwardly after being fairly tackled.

Thankfully, he seemed OK after the game but will have a very sore knee tomorrow.

Special praise should go to the Exiles goalkeeper who pulled off some outstanding saves to keep Penarth at bay but Williams managed finish off a decent day’s work when he scored Penarth’s fifth and final goal before pulling his hamstring.

Final score 5-2. The man-of-the-match for this game was Gary Ato – again!

The final match for Penarth in this inaugural season will be against Ford Fanatics (yet to be arranged) at the end of the month.

All efforts will then be concentrated on their involvement in the Wim Bode International Veterans Tournament in Amsterdam in May, followed by a well-earned rest or should I say more football!