Afan Lido Football Club

For the first time since we've kept proper records we gained a first league win at Taffs Well on Wednesday and we did it again today at Ely Rangers. However the two performances were like chalk and cheese, as good as we were at Taffs Well we were poor today. The saving grace was we won the three points, exactly as we did for playing well on Wednesday. Disappointingly we also conceded 7 yellow cards, the final one a second yellow for Damon Thomas who now misses the cup match at Bala.

It was a scrappy start by both sides but it set the tone for our performance. As early as 6 minutes Damon Thomas fed namesake Corey who found Mark Jones in the box but he lost control and the ball was cleared. Ely attacked and Mike Lewis safely held a long range shot from Robert Greatrex. Ely attacked again and Mike did well to collect the ball under pressure from a couple of attackers, he threw the ball out to Mark Jones, he made ground but the ball went harmlessly through to the keeper. Gavin Jones made a 40 yard dash down the right, fed Nathan White who was fouled, Shaun Galsworthy was then penalised when the free kick was played into the box. Nathan White almost played Mark Jones in but for a despairing lunge at the ball by a defender, the ball went back to Nathan who shot from 35 yards straight at the keeper. Jonathan Hood then played a ball forward to Robbie Walters but his cross come shot was saved by the keeper. Damon Thomas was unlucky, he received the ball from a throw, cut inside and his left footed curling shot from the edge of the area went just wide of the post. Scott Hillman then played the ball wide to Gavin Jones who beat the defender and crossed to Robbie Walters, he headed the ball down but Mark Jones had run in too far, the ball was behind him and the chance lost. We took the lead on 20 minutes, from a right sided free kick we found Robbie Walters who made ground in the area and squared the ball in for Mark Jones to score from a couple of yards. Again sound handling from Mike Lewis tidied up an Ely free kick, he found Gavin Jones who went down the right played a great ball in to Nathan White who shot from the edge of the area to score, unfortunately he had strayed offside and the goal was knocked off. The Ely 4 James Mclaggon was booked for a foul on Corey Thomas, from the free kick Damon Thomas lost the ball and was then booked for his attempt to regain the ball. Ely's approach work was quite good as was their passing but they seemed to freeze when they got to the edge of the area. 5 minutes before the break we failed to take advantage of some poor Ely defending with Mark Jones again losing possession when well placed. 4 minutes before the break we should have made it two when Robbie Walters made ground down the left but despite us having a numeric advantage he played the ball behind both Nathan White and Mark Jones and yet another chance went begging.

From the second half kick off we won a throw level with the penalty area, Scott Hillman twice headed the ball forward and we were awarded a corner. The ball came to Nathan White but his shot went to Robbie Walters who was in an offside position. On 54 minutes Scott Hillman was strong at the back and won the ball he made ground and crossed it in to Nathan White who despite having time to bring the ball down headed it first time wide of the near post from 5 yards. Scott McCoubrey put us under pressure when instead of passing tried to beat a player and lost it allowing Ely to attack down the right before we headed clear the incoming cross. Nathan White then had a spell of getting himself into good positions but each time was called back for being offside. We should have gone two up on 62 minutes when Mark Jones found himself one on one with the keeper but he lost out. Then in the 63rd minute Robbie Walters went into the box and won a penalty, Mark Jones stepped up and shot straight at the keeper, Nathan White picked up the rebound and failed to shoot and yet another chance went begging. On 65 minutes Nathan played Robbie in and again in a one on one with the keeper we failed to score. We nearly paid the price when after several poor tackles from us an Ely player shot wide from a good position. Finally on 71 minutes we had the cushion of a second goal, Gavin Jones played a free kick in from 35 yards, Robbie Walters headed against the crossbar and the ball went in. Damon Thomas stupidly picked up a second yellow card and was off with 17 minutes to go and Ely pushed forward looking for something out of the game. With 10 minutes to go an Ely player tried his luck from the edge of the area but the ball went over the crossbar, they continued to push forward and again from a reasonable position shot wide. Mike Lewis did well to hold under pressure another Ely free kick and just when it looked as though we'd keep a clean sheet Ely scored from close range. There was enough time left for them to push forward but we cleared several attacks before the final whistle sounded

Lido side:
Mike Lewis (C), Jonathan Hood, Corey Thomas, Scott Hillman, Shaun Galsworthy, Damon Thomas, Gavin Jones, Robbie Walters, Mark Jones, Nathan White, Scott McCoubrey.

Subs: 
12 Vince Lewis
14 James McEvoy for Corey Thomas 84
15 Luke Borrelli for Scott McCoubrey 86
16 Chris Pridham

Bookings: Damon Thomas 33, Corey Thomas 40, Shaun Galsworthy 49, Robbie Walters 51, Scott McCoubrey 64 and Jonathan Hood 68.

Damon Thomas had a second yellow on 72 minutes and was sent off.

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Match Report by Peter Reynolds