Afan Lido Football Club

With strikers Scott McCoubrey and Nathan White suspended the management team surprised everyone by leaving Mark Jones, Carl Payne and Jonathan Hood on the bench. The only other surprise was that despite not playing particularly well it took us until 2 minutes from the end of extra time to finally win this game.

Disappointed Bluebirds supporters believed they were the better side but a look at the statistics prove otherwise.  Too often our passing and delivery from crosses wasn't up to standard but when it counted at the end Mark Jones found Jonathan Hood who only had to tap into the empty net, Tom Indge in the Bluebirds goal was all that stopped the Bluebirds losing more heavily as he made several fine and last ditch saves. We should have gone ahead after 3 minutes when from a free kick Corey Thomas shot, the keeper spilled the shot but Carl Evans wasn't able to turn the ball into the unguarded net. Carl had another chance on 8 minutes but headed wide from a Gavin Jones free kick. Another Corey Thomas free kick hit the wall, he played it back in but this time Carl Evans headed the ball tamely to the keeper.

On 23 minutes Abertillery finally had a shot on goal, it was from 30 yards out on the touchline and sailed harmlessly wide. They then played the ball into the box, Scott Hillman lost the attacker but recovered to clear amid shouts of penalty from the visiting support. The Bluebirds continued to attack and Rhys Williams needlessly gave away a corner with no one telling him he had time to clear. Corey Thomas then played Gavin Jones in, he beat a couple of players but his final pass went straight to a Bluebird defender and the danger was cleared. On 38 minutes another Lido free kick 30 yards out was played to Dan Lancey who struck his shot well but it was straight at the keeper who this time held it. We again could have taken the lead with 2 minutes of the half left, Dan Lancey played the ball down the left to Craig Baker who crossed to Corey Thomas, Corey laid the ball into Chris Latham's path but from 15 yards he shot over the bar. In the closing minutes of the half both Chris Pridham and Damon Thomas tried snap shots which went just wide.

Three minutes into the second half Abertillery took the lead, they won a corner on the left and played it short to change the angle, the ball was crossed in and it went off a forward onto the post, we tried to clear it and it seemed to ricochet off Rhys Hodges and just over the line, the linesman indicating that all the ball had crossed the line. Within two minutes we were level, Gavin Jones wriggled free just inside the area and his left footed shot eluded the keeper, hit the inside of the post and went in. From the kick off Gavin made ground down the right, his cross was headed out to Corey Thomas but from 25 yards he shot over the bar. A poor clearance from Carl Evans almost cost us but Rhys Williams got back to clear the danger. On 68 minutes Mark Jones and Jonathan Hood replaced Craig Baker and Chris Latham and within seconds Mark turned and shot but it hit a defender and went over the crossbar. With a quarter of an hour to go Jonathan Hood made space in the box, turned and shot but it was straight at the keeper. From his clearance the ball came straight back downfield and Mark Jones turned his defender and shot, this time Indge in the Bluebirds goal went full length to turn the ball behind for a corner.

As we pushed forward looking for the winner we were going to leave ourselves more open in the back and we conceded a free kick in a favourable position but their delivery was wrong and the ball went for a goal kick. With 2 minutes to go Chris Pridham played the ball wide to Jonathan Hood, he got to the byeline and crossed low but Carl Payne's shot went over the bar. In added on time Damon Thomas lost the ball and it was played into the area, Scott Hillman failed to cut it out but Mike Lewis dived to make the save and take the game to extra time. In the second minute of extra time Gavin Jones went down the line, cut inside and shot, again the keeper saved but this time he stuck out his leg to deflect the ball away. Four minutes and Corey Thomas fed Mark Jones his shot was at the keeper who cleared it. Jonathan Hood then ran 60 yards with the ball got to the byeline and crossed the ball straight to a defender with players in support waiting for a good cross.

Abertillery then won a corner which Carl Evans headed clear while a couple of Gavin Jones efforts were also cleared. Mike Lewis then turned provider when he cleared the ball downfield for Jonathan Hood, his shot hit a defender and went behind for yet another corner. Carl Payne crossed the ball to Mark Jones but his header was blocked by a now overworked defence and Damon Thomas shot wide from the edge of the area. It was now a question if we would score or could the Bluebirds take it to penalties.

In the second period of extra time Scott Hillman again went down the touchline but his cross from near the byeline went to the keeper. Jonathan Hood crossed to Mark Jones but from a good position he headed wide. Chris Pridham shot a forced the keeper to make yet another save and Carl Payne played a 1-2 to make space in the box but again shot wide of the far post with no-one up to turn the ball in. With two minutes to go we finally unlocked the door, the ball was played forward to Mark Jones just inside the area, he turned his defender and played the ball into the path of Jonathan Hood who from two yards tapped the ball into the unguarded net.

Lido side:
Mike Lewis Scott Hillman Chris Latham Carl Evans Rhys Williams Corey Thomas Craig Baker Chris Pridham Gavin Jones Damon Thomas Dan Lancey.

Subs:
12 Carl Payne for Dan Lancey 81
14 Mark Jones for Craig Baker 68
16 Jonathan Hood for Chris Latham 68
17 James McEvoy

Booking: Craig Baker 52    

Goals: Gavin Jones 50 and Jonathan Hood 118

Match Report by Peter Reynolds