GARDEN VILLAGE  1 - 2  WEST END

Welsh Football League Division 2
Saturday October 14th, 2006

A large crowd was present as West End edged this Swansea derby clash at Stafford Common on Saturday.

The Prideri Park side struck twice in the space of 8 second-half minutes through Carl Smitham and Neil Phillips, while Steve Devonald scored the home side’s only goal with 20 minutes remaining.

Garden Village included goalkeeper Simon Cole in the side for the first time since last December and Scott Evans, a recent acquisition from Dafen Welfare, slotted in at right wing-back. Former West End forward Rob Shannon partnered Ashley Richards up-front while Michael Harvey, another old West End player, was on the bench.

The first-half contained little thrill as both sides found it difficult to create chances.

Steven Evans shot wide for the home side on 2 minutes and Neil Phillips did the same for West End two minutes later after cutting inside. Lee Morgan forced a save out of Simon Cole on the line while former Swansea and Southampton youngster Richard Jones shot wide soon afterwards.

On the half-hour mark Rob Shannon’s attempted overhead-kick soared over the top of Alex Davies’ crossbar, and that was the last notable chance that occured during this opening half of play.

The second-half was a completely different story with the two sides managing to chalk up a fair amount of chances.

Neil Phillips forced Simon Cole into making a fine save low to his right on 50 minutes after cannoning his strike through a crowded area, but he was to be beaten three minutes later by Carl Smitham. The manager’s son took the ball to the right-hand side of the area and, after seeing the on-rushing Cole surge off his line, cooly lobbed the ball over the ‘keeper’s head and into the far corner.

West End’s lead was doubled soon afterwards after a mistake from Simon Cole whose clearance went straight to the feet of a West End player. The ball was then crossed over to the back-post where Neil Phillips was waiting to strike into an empty net.

The match should have been well and truly over by the 68th minute when former Morriston striker Dean Rosselli, who only came on as a substitute 3 minutes earlier, headed over from a few yards out.

By this point the home side began to get themselves back into the game and started to create some chances. Rob Shannon saw his audacious effort from near to 30-yards dip inches over the bar, but West End’s lead was cut in half on 70 minutes as Village battled back to realistically claim a point.

The goal was scored by Steve Devonald, an impressive figure for Garden Village all afternoon, as he struck a ferocious shot into the top-corner which left Alex Davies without any chance.

Rory Smitham had a chance to restore West End’s two-goal advantage with 14 minutes to go but he could only find the side-netting but Village still battled hard looking for that all-important second goal.

It could easily have finished 2-2 if Rob Shannon’s effort a minute before the end had been placed anywhere across the goal except straight at Alex Davies, but that is where he placed his well-struck shot.

The three points returned to Mayhill but Garden Village have the perfect opportunity to pick themselves back up again next weekend as they travel to a struggling Bettws side who were relegated to this division last term.

Village: Simon Cole; David Evans, Jamie Mansell, David Rimmer (Phil Myles, 66’); Scott Evans, Derek James (Phil John, 66’), Steven Evans, Steve Devonald, Marc Lloyd; Rob Shannon, Ashley Richards (Michael Harvey, 86’).

West End: Alex Davies; Marc Otten, Anthony Wright, Gary Davies, Rory Smitham; Richard Jones, Lee Morgan, Carl Mainwaring (Dean Rosselli, 66’), Carl Smitham (Chris Hole, 69’); Neil Phillips, Wayne Jones (Daniel Kavanagh, 83’).

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