In the first half we probably played our best football of the season to date. The running off the ball and passing was a joy to watch and a more sympathetic referee might have given us a couple of first half penalties. In the first minute we won a corner right side, Michael Waters took it and Kieran Howells header was going just inside the post, the defender on the line appeared to clear the ball with his arm but the officials didn't give anything. Again two minutes later we had a free kick near the half way which was cleared for a throw, Steve Parry took the throw and Justin Williams made ground in the area and again from where we were he appeared to be pushed off the ball. Again the officials chose to ignore our appeals for a penalty. 

Just after 10 minutes Shaun Morgan missed a pass and Taffs Well attacked but luckily for us the ball was deflected back to Leon Cosker and the danger was cleared. On the quarter hour, Steve Parry fed Corey Thomas who flicked it on to Michael Waters, his cross found Steve Davies, he tried to chip the keeper from just inside the area but the ball just cleared the crossbar. We then played some lovely stuff, the passing and movement was excellent, Michael Waters had the ball 25 yards out in a central position and he shot. The keeper dived to his left to keep it out but he failed to hold it. Corey Thomas was on it in a flash to score but sadly the linesman this time made a decision against us and flagged giving Corey offside when the ball was played. 

After 22 minutes we again had several players involved in the build up and we played Karl Lewis in, he seemed to be pushed and again the officials ignored the challenge. Steve Davies was having a field day on the right, he was causing the Taffs Well full back no end of problems, he again beat the defender and sent in a great cross but everyone had gone in on goal, no one held pack for what would have been a tap in. Just before the half hour, Kieran Howells picked up the ball and beat his marker, we were awarded a free kick which Michael Waters played in but it was cleared for a throw in. Steve Davies received the ball, beat a couple of defenders and was fouled but he kept the ball with the ref playing advantage. Steve crossed and somehow Shaun Morgan headed wide from 5 yards. Taffs Well then attacked and Leon Cosker made a point blank save, the ball hung around the area and from my position I thought Taffs Well should have had a penalty but again nothing was given. Just after the half hour the breakthrough eventually came, Steve Parry made 40 yards down the left, played a 1-2 with Michael Waters cut into the box and crossed, Corey Thomas just got in front of the keeper to flick the ball home. 

10 minutes before the interval we went two up, Michael Waters picked up a loose ball in midfield and made ground before feeding Steve Davies, Steve again beat his man and cut into the area and shot. His shot was deflected into goal giving the keeper no chance. Taffs attacked and won a corner but again it came to nothing, Steve Davies picked up the loose ball beat a couple of defenders and shot across the keeper but just wide of the far post. From the goalkick we were awarded a free kick on half way, Dan Williams played it to Steve Parry who passed to Karl Lewis, Karl's cross was knocked wide by Ian Jones from 6 yards. The second half for us was an anti climax, to expect us to play at the same level was perhaps unfair but Taffs came out after their half time roasting and made a fist of it. We were under the cosh for long spells and failed to get our passing game going. The defence started panicking, trying to clear the ball first time when on several occasions they had time to create something from the back. 

Just before the hour Justin Williams conceded a penalty when the forward was going nowhere. For the second home game running the opposition missed their penalty, this time Simon Oyler hit the outside of the post. Despite this wake up call we still couldn't put anything together, Steve Cox replaced Shaun Morgan on 66 minutes after Shaun picked up an injury. We had a few spasmodic attacks, with just under twenty minutes to go, Karl Lewis and Michael Waters combined and Michael crossed for Ian Jones but Ian's header lacked power and was saved by the keeper. We played out the last minutes with Taffs having played all their subs realising they weren't going to get two goals back and the match petered out.

Lido side  Leon Cosker  Justin Williams  Steve Parry  Dan Williams  Shaun Morgan  Kieran Howells Steve Davies  Karl Lewis (c)  Corey Thomas  Ian Jones Michael Waters

Subs    12  Craig Martin
          14  Steve Cox for Shaun Morgan 66
          15  Damon Thomas for Ian Jones 82
          16  Shaun Best for Corey Thomas 82
          17  Rory McCreesh

Bookings  Michael Waters 60  Dan Williams  60  Kieran Howells 81

Attendance:156

Report by Peter Reynolds.