Afan Lido Football Club

Mark Jones with his tenth league goal of the season meant we won the three points but for long periods of the game especially in the first half Ton Pentre put us under a great deal of pressure. We welcomed Shaun Galsworthy back on the bench for his first game since the Bala cup tie.

Jonathan Hood threw the ball into Robbie Walters in the box, he spun and shot but a defender blocked it, Ton played the ball forward and from a good position Lloyd Toghill should have scored. We attacked down the right with Carl Payne involved 3 times, it ended with Corey Thomas being fouled 25 yards out, Robbie Walters hit the free kick into the wall and once again Ton cleared. The ball reached Damon Thomas who with one attacker in front of him tried to play it back to Mike Lewis but he underhit the pass and then conceded a free kick some 35 yards out which Scott Hillman cleared to Scott McCoubrey who then found Nathan White, the move broke down with Robbie Walters offside. We should have gone behind in 13 minutes, Corey Thomas lost the ball 30 yards out, Ton made ground into the area and Mike Lewis saved the shot, it went back to a Ton player who shot and again Mike saved. They then had a third attempt and once again Mike was more than equal to the task and saved a third effort, this time we managed to clear the ball. Ton were keeping the ball and knocking it around to great effect and when we did get it we seemed to be giving it back to then again. On 18 minutes we won a corner which Mark Jones headed goalwards but straight at the keeper. Again Ton attacked, Mike Lewis was again positive and came out and punched the ball away. We still struggled to get into the game and Corey Thomas tried a shot from 30 yards which went wide. Carl Payne again beat a couple of defenders but was fouled just outside the area, Scott Hillman beyond the far post headed it back to Robbie Walters who headed it goalwards but again it was at the keeper. Just before the half hour Mark Jones played it forward for Robbie Walters in the area but a defender got back to ease Robbie off the ball and the chance was lost. Ton attacked again with plenty of one touch football but once in the box Andrew Hughes shot over the bar when well placed. On 39 minutes Jonathan Hood took a free kick in our half and seemed to go over on his ankle, the ball went straight to a Ton player who played it forward and with only Mike Lewis to beat Chris Jones put the ball wide. Hopefully these missed chances would come back to haunt Ton in the second half.

Shaun Galsworthy replaced Damon Thomas at half time as Damon picked up a knock. Again Ton made the better start but on 49 minutes Nathan White picked up a loose ball made ground and passed to Mark Jones in the area, Mark shot but Leighton James in the Ton goal made a fine save. We took the lead on 55 minutes, Jonathan Hood played a diagonal ball left to Nathan White, he crossed to Robbie Walters who headed the ball towards the far post where Mark Jones reacted quickest to score from a couple of yards. This lifted the team and Scott Hillman was unlucky when he headed a Corey Thomas corner behind. Mike Lewis knocked the ball long for Mark Jones, he cut in from the right and shot left footed forcing a diving save from James. From the resultant corner the ball hit the crossbar before being cleared. Ton now pushed forward looking for an equaliser and Jonathan Hood did well to head clear a free kick. With 10 minutes to go Scott McCoubrey set up Nathan White who got into the box and crossed but with the keeper beaten no-one was up in support to knock the ball in. Chris Pridham then found Nathan White whose shot again forced a diving save from the keeper. With 7 minutes to go we found Mark Jones in the box, he held up the ball well and won a corner which Scott Hillman met perfectly only for a defender to head the ball off the line. With minutes to go Ton won a series of free kicks which they kept pumping into our box, Mark Jones headed one clear but then we conceded a free kick just outside the area in a central position. The kick hit the wall and looped up over the crossbar for a corner which we cleared. Ton continued to press but we held our nerve and saw out time for three vital points from a pretty ordinary performance.

Lido side:
Mike Lewis, Jonathan Hood, Corey Thomas, Scott Hillman, Damon Thomas, Mark Jones, Carl Payne, Chris Pridham, Robbie Walters, Nathan White, Scott McCoubrey.

Subs:
12 Shaun Galsworthy for Damon Thomas 46
14 Shaun Morgan for Robbie Walters 90
15 Robert Cockings for Scott McCoubrey 86 
16 Gavin Jones

Goal Mark Jones 55

Booking Carl Payne 75

Match Report by Peter Reynolds