PONTYPRIDD 3-0 AFAN LIDO
Match report by Peter Reynolds

We lost of first game of the year at Pontypridd, we weren't helped by the unavailability of two players and especially
in the first half some indifferent refereeing.  An example of the referees performance could be seen in two incidents.
Greg Hurley just managed to get out of the way of a dangerous two footed lunge, we didn't get a free kick and Chris
Latham was booked for protesting. 

Yet right on half time in what seemed a less rash challenge Liam had a straight red.
We met a different animal on the night, on numerous occasions we were nobbled off the ball, needless to say, the
officials failed to pick up these incidents, only the retaliation, as they say.

We didn't defend particularly well most of the evening and their 9 caused us problems all night.  After only two minutes a long ball into our box wasn't dealt with and the ball fell kindly to Chris Summers who scored with ease.  We responded positively with a corner which was headed over by Chris Latham.  We took the game to Ponty and had several corners before Ponty broke down the left and an unmarked Chris Summers made it 2-0 on 26 minutes.  On 45 minutes + 2 poor defending on our right allowed their winger to make ground into the box and cross for Summers to net his third with a left foot shot.  

There was no way back for us on 45 + 4 when Liam was sent off.
In the second period we battled well and had a good spell of possession in the first 15 minutes of the half but we
weren't able to provide a telling ball into the box.  Brian made a couple of saves during the half but we failed to make
their keeper work throughout the game.  All in all a disappointing result and performance, we now lose Liam for at least three matches.  Credit the players for a battling second half performance where we didn't cave in against a side chasing for the title.         

Lido Side  Brian Thomas  Chris Latham  Steve Parry  Dan Williams   Justin Williams   Craig Martin   Liam McCreesh
               Paul Evans   Ian Jones   Craig Jones   Greg Hurley
   
  Subs  Matt Lavis for Chris Latham 78
               Rory McCreesh not used 
               Phil Holmes for Justin Williams 78

    Bookings  Steve Parry 24
                   Chris Latham 33
                   Paul Evans 40

 Red Card  Liam McCreesh 45 + 4