We played our second high scoring home draw and in both cases scored a last minute equaliser to salvage a point. Both sides had numerous chances but once we got our second the Bettws defence seemed to become more vulnerable and an equaliser looked likely. 

We could have taken a fifth minute lead when Ian Turner played in a free kick to Mark Jones who headed on to the far post where Shaun Morgan couldn't direct a header on goal. Bettws cleared their lines and from the break out they scored, they played the ball wide left and their 11 (Paul Jones) attacked the defence at speed, cut inside and fired a low shot across Leon Cosker and inside the right hand post. We spurned a golden opportunity to level matters from the kick off, Ian Turner crossed the ball into the box and one of the Bettws players was taking a piggy back on the back of Michael Waters. Darren Griffiths in his first game back since his appendix operation took the penalty, the keeper guessed correctly and easily saved the spot kick. 

After 9 minutes a Michael Waters 25 yard shot was deflected for a corner, Tomos Wellington knocked it to the far post for Shaun Morgan to beat the keeper with his header but it was headed off the line. To show it wasn't our day we were again caught on the break and Karl Lewis conceded a penalty. Leon Cosker made a brilliant save but no-one challenged the penalty taker Doug Wile who followed up to net the rebound and put Bettws two up after 11 minutes. Despite being stung by these reverses we continued to push forward looking to reduce the arrears and from a right wing corner Darren Griffiths just mistimed a header and the ball was cleared. Then from another Lido free kick he headed on just ahead of Shaun Morgan with the ball running out for a goal kick. 

5 minutes before the interval it looked as though we'd pull a goal back when Mark Jones went around the keeper but took too long to get in his shot and the defence got back to block the ball. We had yet another free kick which Michael Waters played in to new signing Mika Chunuonsee but his header went just wide. We took a free kick in the centre circle quickly but lost the ball and it needed Leon Cosker to make a save conceding a corner. We ended the half with a series of corners but just couldn't turn our pressure into goals. To get anything out of the game we needed to score quickly and that's just what we did. We kicked off and played the ball back to Leon Cosker who knocked it wide to Michael Waters, he made ground down the left and shot from just inside the area to score. I timed it at 54 seconds and no Bettws players touched the ball. In pushing forward looking for an equaliser we were going to be vulnerable to the quick break and Bettws had profited twice from this in the first half. Shaun Morgan carried the ball forward but misplaced his pass and Karl Lewis got back to knock it back to Leon Cosker with a Bettws forward closing him down. We were pushing forward but a number of our attacks petered out around the edge of the area. We went 3-1 down on the back of yet another Lido attack, Mika Chunuonsee had knocked a cross to Michael Waters who beat a defender and crossed in but it was too long, Carl Payne who had replaced Darren Griffiths retrieved the ball but when it was lost Bettws broke and had 3 on 3 at the back. Paul Jones netted his second when he calmly rolled the ball wide of Leon Cosker. 

On 76 minutes we were back in the game when Carl Payne made ground through the middle and his cross was knocked behind for a corner. Michael Waters crossed into a packed goalmouth and the ball ended up in the back of the net with Justin Williams claiming his first goal since Caerleon in April 2006. Two minutes later we had another corner and the ball hit the post, it was played back in and the keeper punched it clear. Corey Thomas played it back in and from a good position Mark Jones headed over the bar. Bettws almost made it four but they shot against the crossbar and we cleared the danger. 

With 5 minutes to go Carl Payne played the ball through to Mark Jones but he shot into the side netting. Carl Payne was again involved and a cross from the right was headed goalwards by Corey Thomas but straight at the keeper. At last in the 90th minute Mica Chunuonsee crossed in from the right for Corey Thomas to volley the equaliser. Bettws kicked off and surprisingly there was little added on time with the final whistle ending a pulsating finish by us.

Lido team:
Leon Cosker, Justin Williams, Ian Turner, Mika Chunuonsee, Shaun Morgan, Darren Griffiths, Tomos Wellington, Karl Lewis, Mark Jones, Scott McCourbrey, Michael Waters.

Subs:
12 Carl Payne for Darren Griffiths 59 
14 Corey Thomas for Scott McCourbrey 70 
15 David Kingdom for Tomos Wellington 64 
17 Rory McCreesh 

Bookings: Tomos Wellington 62, Carl Payne 80.

Attendance: 100

Bookings: 

Match Report by Peter Reynolds

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