Afan Lido Football Club

Having won 9 successive home matches we have in the space of 5 days failed to win a further two. With Goytre only picking up one point from their last two games then two wins would have reduced the points gap at the top. Our response to not beating Cambrian on Saturday was to leave leading scorer Nathan White on the bench and move sweeper Jonathan Hood into a midfield position. This was Bryntirion's first win at the Marston's Stadium in 5 attempts and the 4 ex Lido players all made excellent contributions to the cause. For the second match running we failed from the penalty spot, this time it was Robbie Walters, this is the third successive penalty that the opposition keeper has saved and it's the fourth this season.
Within 45 seconds of the kick off Doug Mallen was on the field to attend to Mike Lewis who dived on the ball and injured his hand. Our first chance came after 9 minutes when Gavin Jones shot from inside the box but Rory McCreesh had closed him down and blocked the shot. Robbie Walters then played us into trouble when he passed the ball back to the edge of our area straight to a Bryntirion attacker. He was fouled just outside the area, leading scorer Anthony Rowlands took the free kick which hit the wall before hitting the crossbar and going for a corner. We cleared the corner but the ball came back in and was played to the unmarked Shaun Williams at the far post but with plenty of time he shot wide from a couple of yards. We got the ball in the net on 15 minutes following a long Jonathan Hood throw which Robbie Walters touched on to Mark Jones who netted but unfortunately he was offside. Carl Payne picked up a loose ball in midfield and was fouled in the centre circle, Damon Thomas knocked the ball wide to Carl Payne who headed the ball across the face of the goal to Robbie Walters who headed over the crossbar from 8 yards. On 21 minutes we should have taken the lead, Mark Jones chased a long through ball and found himself one on one with Rory McCreesh who stood his ground, instead of going around Rory, Mark shot straight at him and Rory cleared the ball. That proved costly as 5 minutes later we were behind and it came from our free kick, we took a short one on half way, lost possession and Bryntirion attacked and won a corner right side. A header from the corner was blocked on the line but instead of clearing the ball we tried to dribble it out, lost it to Paul Evans who shot and scored. We should have been level on 29 minutes when a Mark Jones shot hit the post and rebounded to Jonathan Hood inside the 6 yard box but instead of side footing the ball into the net he tried to break the net and only succeeded in hitting the crossbar. Corey Thomas cleared a Bryntirion free kick from the edge of the area and just before half time Robbie Walters squared the ball to Chris Pridham whose shot from 20 yards went over the bar.
We started the second half in a positive fashion and won a free kick just outside the area in a central position but Robbie Walters hit the wall and the subsequent corner was cleared. Jonathan Hood then threw the ball into the box, it was headed on under the crossbar but again the Bryntirion defence cleared the ball. Mark Jones then set up Carl Payne but he shot over the bar from the edge of the area, from the goal kick Mark then set up Jonathan Hood but he shot at the keeper. On 55 minutes Bryntirion were awarded a free kick left side just outside the area, somehow they headed wide from a couple of yards. We finally equalised on 59 minutes, we were awarded a free kick 25 yards out on the touchline. Jonathan Hood played the ball into the area, Scott Hillman attacked the ball and scored his first Lido goal heading in from 6 yards. Two minutes later we had a goal disallowed, Gavin Jones had done really well just outside the area and found Mark Jones, his shot hit a defender and went for a corner. Carl Payne scored off the corner but the referee ruled that Rory McCreesh had been fouled. We continued to pressure the Bryntirion defence and were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, Gavin Jones played a short one but underhit it and it was cleared. The ball came back into the box and Mark Jones was pushed in the back, Robbie Walters took the penalty, Rory McCreesh guessed correctly and saved. With 20 minutes to go Mark Jones lost the ball in the area with a unmarked Robbie Walters waiting for the ball. With 12 minutes to go we paid the price for not taking our chances, we lost the ball on half way, Paul Evans made ground into our half with Jonathan Hood giving up the chase leaving Paul to shoot to Mike Lewis' left. Mike did well to save the shot but their leading scorer Anthony Rowlands reacted quickest to knock the ball into the empty net. We continued to attack but the frustration was obvious and everyone wanted to score the goal instead of playing in someone who was better placed as a result Bryntirion weathered the storm to gain the three points.

Lido side:
Mike Lewis, Robert Cockings, Corey Thomas, Scott Hillman, Damon Thomas, Carl Payne, Gavin Jones, Chris Pridham, Robbie Walters, Mark Jones,Jonathan Hood.

Subs:
12 Scott McCoubrey for Chris Pridham 82
14 Luke Borrelli for Jonathan Hood 88
15 James McEvoy
16 Remi Whitelock
17 Nathan White for Gavin Jones 70

Goals Scott Hillman 59

Bookings Damon Thomas 11 and Scott McCoubrey 91
MOTM: Scott Hillman
Attendance: 60

Match Report by Peter Reynolds