We drew our fifth away match on the bounce at Cwmbran, most would have settled for a point before the game but the way the match unfurled we have to be disappointed not to have had all three points. Andy Pearson had a goal disallowed for offside, what seemed a good shout for a penalty not given and had a toe poke cleared off the line. In a match where there was hardly a bad tackle the referee still managed to book 8 players and contributed to a poor quality match with so much needless whistle. The match started quietly with both sides checking each other out, there were numerous throws in in the first five minutes but little football to speak about. We were the first to make ground when Steve Davies crossed into the box but his cross was headed clear. Andrew Pearson although outnumbered battled to win and keep the ball in the Cwmbran area but eventually the extra numbers told but he won us a corner which Steve Davies took but it was too close to the keeper and he held it quite comfortably. The defence then started giving the ball away, numerous clearances found a Cwmbran player and came straight back at us. On the plus side, Cwmbran although playing some neat football didn't look particularly dangerous in front of goal. We were awarded a couple of free kicks between 35 yards and the half way but both were wasted, one went straight out for a goal kick the other went straight to the keeper. In a fifteen minutes spell the referee managed to book Dale Lambrick, Aaron Keefe, Steve Davies and Chris Latham from the Lido and Leonardo Martens Ferreira from Cwmbran. On twenty five minutes we were awarded a free kick in a central position 35 yards out. Andrew Pearson took it, the keeper saved it at the expense of a corner which was headed out by the defence to Carl Edwards who cut inside and his centre was headed in by Andrew Pearson but he was given offside. Ten minutes before half time a Cwmbran free kick was cleared to Steve Davies who raced 60 yards with the ball got into the penalty area but delayed shooting and the Cwmbran defence managed to close him down and clear. Their full back then raced into our area and crossed behind the forwards and we were able to clear. At last the game seemed to be warming up but with half time approaching neither side looked likely to break the deadlock.

Within two minutes of the second half the Cwmbran left back Lefty Blaise was booked but our free kick again went through to the keeper. He kicked the ball downfield, Wyn came out of the area but missed his kick, however the strikers shot went wide of the empty goal. Five minutes into the second half Kieran Howells played the ball wide to Chris Latham but his cross was cut out but we won the ball back and won a corner. There was a scramble inside the six yard box with Andrew Pearson not quite getting enough on the ball which was cleared virtually off the line. On the hour mark Andrew received the ball just outside the Cwmbran penalty area wide left, he cut inside and curled a right footed shot past the keeper but also just the wrong side of the far post. We gave away a couple of silly free kicks near the corner flag allowing Cwmbran an opportunity they wouldn't have had to put us under pressure. It was beginning to look as the only way Cwmbran would score was from a dead ball situation. We cleared our lines and broke via Steve Davies he crossed into Chris Latham and somehow the keeper saved his goalbound header. With just over a quarter of an hour to go Steve Davies broke again when he was held up he played it back to Craig Martin but his cross was too deep and went out for a goal kick. Those on the far side of the field felt we were robbed of a penalty with ten minutes to go, we had a free kick just outside the area which was nodded out to Andrew Pearson who made ground into the box and went down under the challenge. The linesman who was nearest to the incident gave us a corner which was cleared. Cwmbran broke from the corner but we managed to close them down, Cwmbran actually had a shot which Wyn saved quite comfortably. The match finished with us again having a free kick which we played into the box and was again cleared.

Lido side  Wyn Walters  Chris Latham  Craig Martin  Dan Williams  Paul Evans Steve Davies  Kieran Howells  Dale Lambrick  Carl Edwards  Andrew Pearson Aaron Keefe

Subs   12  Carl Payne
          14  Corey Thomas for Carl Edwards 89
          15  Mitch Patton
          16  Josh Cockings
          17  Gareth Scantlebury

Bookings  Dale Lambrick 18  Aaron Keefe 19  Steve Davies 24  Chris Latham 34
Andrew Pearson 90

Report by Peter Reynolds.