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Bryntirion 2-6 Afan Lido

This match was played in torrential rain and it was to the credit of all that it was completed. The ref must have enjoyed it as the first half lasted 52 minutes and the second 54.

We took the lead in 3 minutes when a ball through the Bryntirion back four was picked up by Sam Wade just inside the Bryntirion half. He sped goalwards and shot from the edge of the area, the keeper saved but the ball rebounded to Sam who made space and shot into the empty net.

After 6 minutes an identical ball through the back four found Carl Payne in on goal, he shot from the edge of the area but he hit the post, the ball being cleared. We then had a free kick on half way, Remi Whitelock over hit it and it went through to the keeper but he fumbled it. In the scramble for possession Bryntirion managed to clear for a corner which was cleared but played back in to Carl Payne who fed Sam Wade on the edge of the area but this time the keeper saved his shot.

Despite us controlling the game Bryntirion equalised on the half hour, two defenders went for the same ball in the centre circle and lost it, to compound the error Remi Whitelock slid in to tackle the attacker but missed, the ball was played into the area and the attacker shot wide of Rory McCreesh to level the scores. From the kick off the ball was played forward to Carl Payne who headed goalwards, this time he hit the opposite post to his first effort. We continued to take the game to Bryntirion with Carl Payne and Sam Wade combining well, Carl again found space on the edge of the area to receive the ball from Sam but he shot straight at the keeper.

5 minutes before the break Bryntirion had a chance to take the lead but Rory McCreesh got down well to make a diving save. On 45 + 6 we took the lead, another through ball found Sam Wade and in a repeat of his first goal he made ground and fired past the keeper. As expected Bryntirion came out and put us under pressure but didn't quite have the cutting edge, we managed to break clear and Sean Sullivan switched play to find Luke Borrelli unmarked wide in the penalty area. Luke took a couple of touches before shooting against the crossbar, the third time we'd hit the woodwork. It was an expensive miss as within two minutes poor defending allowed the Bryntirion attack time and space to bury an equaliser. From the kick off we again found the target but Carl Payne was adjudged offside, Bryntirion then had a player sent off for a remark to the referee.

On 59 minutes Corey Thomas replaced Luke Borrelli and within a minute we were back in front. The ball was played wide to Corey, he beat the defender and crossed to the far post where Jonathan Hood headed in from 6 yards. Two minutes later a strong run down the left by a Bryntirion attacker found him getting into the area but his powerful shot hit the outside of the post. If we didn't know it this was the signal for us that we needed a fourth to kill off the game. We had a free kick just outside the area in a central position but Carl Payne's shot went over the bar. We continued to put Bryntirion under pressure and Sean Sullivan shot through a crowd of players but straight at the keeper.

With 6 minutes to go Rory McCreesh was again called on to deny Bryntirion and we certainly needed the fourth goal. We finally got it with 3 minutes to go when Matthew Doyle played the ball wide to Joel Kabia, he crossed in to Carl Payne who shot across the keeper and just inside the far post. We scored the fifth on 90 + 6 when a corner was knocked out to Damon Thomas 25 yards out, he played it wide to Sam Wade who shot and scored.

There was still time for Damon Thomas to hit the post from 25 yards and Sam Wade to net his fourth after Sean Sullivan picked up a loose ball in midfield and found Sam who shot past the keeper.

Lido side
Rory McCreesh  Andrew Collins  Jonathan Hood  Josh Cockings  Luke Evans Sean Sullivan  Luke Borrelli  Damon Thomas  Carl Payne  Sam Wade  Remi Whitelock

Subs
12  Corey Thomas for Luke Borrelli 59
15 Joel Kabia for Remi Whitelock 83
16 Matthew Doyle for Jonathan Hood 75

Bookings:  Jonathan Hood 36 - Remi Whitelock 50 - Matthew Doyle 88

Report by Peter Reynolds