Pontardawe who were joint bottom of the league belied their position and had much the better of the opening 15 minutes. We were second best and struggling to put anything together. In fact our first meaningful attack was around 22 minutes when their keeper Dean Morgan saved low to his right from Chris Pridham. At least Ryan Frankcom had won the ball and found Nathan White who laid the ball off for Chris so there was some combination. Within two minutes we were ahead, firstly a mistake in the Pontardawe defence allowed Nathan White a shot at goal, the ball was turned behind for a corner which the keeper punched out and Craig Baker picked it up and hit it low into the goalmouth, it rebounded off the keeper to Nathan White who slotted it to the keeper's right to put us ahead.

From the kick off Nathan won a corner which was headed clear, Matt Beynon picked it up and fed Daniel Lancey but his shot went over the bar. Pontardawe had the wind advantage and were getting the ball forward as quickly as they could but Carl Evans and Shaun Galsworthy were defending well. We should have gone two up on 32 minutes when Carl Evans played the ball forward to Nathan White, he pushed the ball past the keeper and was brought down. The keeper was sent off, Nathan took the penalty but it was a good height for the replacement keeper to save. Pontardawe continually attacked down their right and were causing us problems but generally their shooting wasn't too good.

With the advantage of the wind in the second half I expected us to dominate the game and from the kick off it looked as though we'd go two up when Nathan White played in Chris Pridham but his shot was blocked. but rebounded to Ryan Frankcom but he shot wide. After 49 minutes it was hard to see how we weren't two up, we had won a corner which the keeper turned over for a second. The second came in and in the scramble that followed the ball hit both the crossbar and the post, Carl Evans headed it goalwards and somehow it was cleared. On the hour their 10, Carl Owen drifted past several would be tacklers and got in a shot, luckily for us it was over the bar. On 65 minutes Pontardawe did equalise, they were awarded a free kick 40 yards out near the left touchline, the ball was knocked into the area and Mike Lewis came out to gather. Somehow he lost the ball and it was crossed in for Jonathan Coates to head in.

Chris Pridham played a ball wide for Craig Baker but with time and space he hurried his cross and it went behind for a goal kick. Rhys Williams picked up the goal kick and found Craig Baker he played Carl Payne in but he shot wide from the edge of the area.  On 72 minutes we were back in front, Pontardawe were awarded a free kick which they took quickly and lost the ball, it was played forward to Nathan White who despite having a defender on his shoulder for 20 yards got into the box and shot past the keeper. We continued to push forward but we couldn't get a third which would have killed off the game. On 77 minutes Corey Thomas shot straight at the keeper, then Chris Pridham found Nathan White who played it wide to Daniel Lancey but his cross was too long.  Craig Baker then lost the ball in midfield and from a powerful run and cross Pontardawe should have again been level but Mike Lewis flung himself to his left to make a great save and atone for his earlier error.

We had several half chances that on another day we would have followed in to score. With 4 minutes to go Carl Evans did well to head clear from under the crossbar when a shot came in from the right. In added on time Luke Borrelli's cross was cut out for a corner we played it short and kept it in the corner to play the clock down then Nathan White cut in from the left and with two unmarked in the box shot at the keeper.

Lido side: Mike Lewis, Corey Thomas, Rhys Williams, Carl Evans, Shaun Galsworthy, Craig Baker, Ryan Frankcom, Chris Pridham, Matt Beynon, Nathan White, Daniel Lancey.

Subs:
12 James McEvoy
15 Luke Borrelli for Daniel Lancey 78
16 Laurent Fodderie for Matt Beynon 85
17 Carl Payne for Ryan Frankcom 64

Goals: Nathan White 24 & 72.

Attendance: 95.

Match Report by Peter Reynolds

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