The Gaffer came off the bench to win the game with a first time shot from the edge of the box with only 4 minutes remaining. After all the fine weather we've had, the match was played in wet and windy conditions.  In the second half we played with an increasing wind at our backs which made life difficult for both sides. 

We could have taken the lead in the first minute, Greg Hurley beat the offside trap, went around the keeper but was forced wide. He crossed to the far post, the ball was headed out to Shaun O'Leary whose first time shot from 25 yards went just wide. Paul Evans then played Chris Latham through but the linesman's flag went up for offside, it was a very tight decision, the first of several given against us.

After 8 minutes Taffs forced the first corner of the game, they took an inswinging corner which hit the crossbar before being cleared.  After 22 minutes Taffs should have taken the lead, they were awarded a free kick 45 yards out, they played it forward and their 9 shot inches wide from the edge of the box with Brian beaten. 

We had a free kick which Dan Williams took, he found Karl Lewis and his header beat the keeper but went narrowly wide. Just before half time Paul Evans knocked the ball wide to the overlapping Carl Edwards, his cross into the box caused some confusion as one defender headed it against another but before we could take advantage it was cleared.

With the increasing wind Brian was able to gain some distance on his clearances.  Almost straight from the kick off Chris Latham got in behind the defence and tried his luck.  He mishit his shot which just eluded both Ian Jones and Chris Piper with an open goal begging. On the hour Greg  Hurley played the ball wide left to Ian Jones who made ground and crossed with the incoming Chris Latham just unable to reach it.  Minutes later Greg was in acres of space on the left and his cross once again was missed by the front players.  After 73 minutes Brian had to get down quickly to save at his right hand post and another of his booming clearances was knocked wide by Chris Piper.

Taffs should have taken the lead with 10 minutes to go when their 9 fired wide from well inside the box with only Brian to beat. We took advantage of that let off when Phil Holmes scored with only 4 minutes remaining.  We'd had a fee kick for a foul on Shaun O'Leary, it was half cleared but went straight to Phil on the edge of the area, his first time shot never left the ground and found it's way into the right hand corner of the net for his first league goal of the season.  We continued to press in the final minutes to gain our third win at home over difficult opponents.

Lido side  Brian Thomas  Carl Edwards  Karl Lewis Dan Williams  Chris Piper  Craig Martin  Chris Latham  Paul Evans Ian Jones  Shaun O'Leary  Greg Hurley

Subs:Steve Parry for Carl Edwards 66 Phil Holmes for Chris Piper 77 Matt Lavis for Chris Latham 77

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