BETTWS 1-1 AFAN LIDO

Bettws have lost four times at home this season - Cardiff Corries, Pontardawe, West End and of the top teams only Caldicot have come away with three points. On that basis this was a point gained not two lost. Shaun Galsworthy became a father on the morning of the match so pulled out, congratulations Shaun but terrible timing and Robbie Walters was unavailable. Damon Thomas moved back to the back four, Gavin Jones and Scott McCoubrey came into the starting line up.
Bettws for much of the first half out muscled us but after the half time talk we looked a shade more comfortable. We went behind on 7 minutes, Nathan White was caught offside deep in the Bettws half, a long free kick landed just short of our penalty area and Jonathan Hood seemed to slip allowing Shane Greenhall space to move into the box and shoot past Mike Lewis. This wasn't the start we needed as obviously this lifted the home side and it took us some time to get any sort of foothold in the game. On 20 minutes we did get through the back four and Mark Jones played the ball to Scott McCoubrey just inside the Bettws half, he struck a left footed shot well enough but Mark Elliott in the Bettws goal dived to his left to turn the ball away for a corner. Three minutes later we almost went two down, from a Bettws free kick on half way Gavin Jones cleared it but then Chris Pridham was adjudged to have committed another foul, Mike Lewis came out to claim the ball but didn't make it. The ball was lobbed over our defence only for Gavin Jones to head it off the line. On the half hour Mark Jones picked up a loose ball, beat the last man but shot just wide.
Just before half time Mark Jones and Nathan White combined and we won a corner but Scott McCoubrey wasted it by knocking the ball into the side netting. 
We started the second half in a more positive mood and Carl Payne played the ball wide for Nathan White but it was just too long and went for a goal kick. Similarly Nathan played the ball through the middle for Mark Jones but again it was a shade too strong and Mark Elliott just beat Jonah to the ball. Corey Thomas took a 49th minute free kick which a defender cleared over the bar for a corner. From the corner and subsequent scramble it looked as though it was Bettws' turn to clear from the goal line. On 55 minutes we equalised, Nathan White stayed onside and gathered a ball over the top of the back four, he ran on and shot past Mark Elliott for his 29th goal of the season.
On 64 minutes it looked as though we'd conceded a penalty, however the assistant flagged, it seemed as though the Bettws player had actually been felled by one of his own. The referee changed his decision and gave a drop ball in the area, the danger wasn't over as we then conceded a free kick on the edge of the box before we finally cleared our lines. A number of times we played the ball forward but our passes were overhit and ran either to the keeper or out for a goal kick. With 10 minutes to go Bettws had a free kick 25 yards out, the ball was played into the box and we managed to scramble the ball away for a corner, the pressure was relieved when we were awarded a free kick. In the final minutes we were awarded numerous free kicks but couldn't make any count and had to settle for a point which puts us back on top with Goytre away tonight to Bryntirion. 
 
Lido side:
Mike Lewis Jonathan Hood Corey Thomas Scott Hillman Damon Thomas Mark Jones Carl Payne Chris Pridham Scott McCoubrey Nathan White Gavin Jones 
 
Subs: 12 Robert Cockings 14 Daniel Thomas 15 Andrew Collins 16 James McEvoy 
 
Goal Nathan White 55

Match Report by Peter Reynolds