AFAN LIDO 2-0 Aberaman athletic

It's now 10 matches unbeaten in league and cup with 9 wins and a draw and again today we had to battle hard to beat a determined Aberaman side. It took us 25 minutes to get into today's game but in the second half we were the dominant side.
Aberaman worked a striker in but his shot was poor and it failed to trouble Mike Lewis, Aberaman were then awarded a free kick 40 yards out from goal, Mike Lewis did well to command his area and come out 15 yards to punch the ball clear. On 8 minutes they had another free kick thirty yards out but this time a header landed on the top of the net. Scott Hillman then fed Scott McCoubrey whose cross was headed out to Gavin Jones some 25 yards out, he shot first time but wide of the target. After 14 minutes we were awarded a free kick in our half, it was headed clear and Aberaman broke quickly, we managed to knock the ball out for a throw which when it came into the 6 yard box a forward turned and shot but Mike Lewis dived to his left to smother the ball virtually on the goal line. After 22 minutes we were awarded a free kick on the half way, Mark Jones found Nathan White but he was flagged offside. From the kick out Gavin Jones picked up a loose ball and made 30 yards down the right, he played a great diagonal cross into the area but it was just ahead of a diving Nathan White. On 25 minutes Aberaman again attacked and their movement off the ball was first class, once again Mike Lewis came to our rescue diving to his left to turn the ball away for a corner. Two minutes later from another corner Chris Ashley the Aberaman 5 was completely unmarked at the far post but from 4 yards he headed wide. On the half hour Scott Hillman played the ball forward to Robbie Walters he headed the ball over the keeper's head as he came out but the ball went just wide of the post. Now we were getting into the game and Scott McCoubrey set up Mark Jones but the keeper saved his shot, then Robert Cockings made ground, fed Robbie Walters but as he went to shoot he was crowded out. 5 minutes before the break Liam Beattie the Aberaman 11 tried his luck from inside the area but once again Mike Lewis dived to save. He threw the ball out to Gavin Jones who again made ground down the right, the defence failed to cut out his cross and both Robbie Walters and Nathan White from a couple of yards failed to score. Mark Jones then shot wide after he picked up a Robert Cockings through ball. Just before the break Aberaman's defence was all over the place again but we had a couple of poor attempts at goal and allowed them to get to the interval on level terms.
We took control in the second half and began to look like a side that's on a good run. Four minutes into the second half Robbie Walters headed a Gavin Jones free kick wide, then Scott Hillman broke up an Aberaman attack, made 50 yards and played the ball to Mark Jones who flicked it into the area but the front runners hadn't anticipated and the chance went. Again Robert Cockings took a long throw which Mark Jones headed for Robbie Walters but again he was off the pace and the chance went. Just short of the hour, Nathan White picked up a loose ball and won a corner which was headed out to Mark Jones but his volley went wide of the post. On the hour Mark Jones flicked the ball on for Robbie Walters but with only the keeper to beat he shot wide of the far post. Scott McCoubrey then played Mark Jones in but again Mark was off target. We were building up the pressure but we weren't able to take advantage then on 70 minutes Aberaman attacked but their 14 Alan Hughes made ground but had no support but he won a throw to relieve the pressure. From a Lido free on 71 minutes Nathan White turned in the area to shoot but it was blocked and rebounded to Corey Thomas but again their defence cleared. We took the lead on 73 minutes, a defender in clearing the ball hit it against another defender and the ball rebounded to an unmarked Nathan White who made ground and rolled it past the keeper. The assistant flagged for offside but after consulting with him, referee Wayne Stephens of Llanelli awarded the goal. Aberaman should have levelled matters on 76 minutes after Mark Jones lost the ball on half way, they made ground down the left and crossed into the middle where there were two unmarked players but with time and space they shot wide from the edge of the area. A minute later we were again caught out but this time Mike Lewis dived to save. He thumped the ball forward and Robbie Walters headed the ball on to Nathan White who got the better of a defender and the keeper to flick it past the keeper for his second. Jonathan Hood replaced Robbie Walters and he combined with Mark Jones to set up Nathan White but his shot was saved by the keeper.With a minute to go Corey Thomas played a great ball to Nathan White who tried to chip the keeper but he got a hand on it to clear.

Lido side: Mike Lewis Robert Cockings Corey Thomas Scott Hillman  Shaun Galsworthy  Mark Jones  Gavin Jones  Chris Pridham (C)  Robbie Walters Nathan White  Scott McCoubrey

Subs: 12 Jonathan Hood for Robbie Walters 82  14 James McEvoy for Chris Pridham 90 + 2  Luke Borrelli for Nathan White 90  Vince Lewis

Aberaman: Gareth Williams  Anthony Taylor  Tarrant Watkins  Simon Truman Chris Ashley  Sam Jacobson  Samir Misbah  Jonathan Kift (C)  Greg Palmer Nathan Cadette  Liam Beattie

Subs: 12 Mark Greedy for Samir Misbah 78  14 Alan Hughes for Simon Truman 65 15 Aaron Elias for Nathan Cadette 78

Referee Wayne Stephens  Llanelli

Supporters man of the match Corey Thomas

Match Report by Peter Reynolds