BRITON FERRY  1 - 4  GARDEN VILLAGE

MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division Two
Wednesday August 22, 2007

Garden Village notched up their second win in the space of four days with an excellent display at neighbours Briton Ferry.

The visitors, who brushed aside Troedyrhiw by four goals to nil at the weekend, fielded the same side as Saturday and by the third minute were in front when Lee Rastatter flicked David Evans’ long throw past Ferry ‘keeper Steffan Rogers for the opening goal.

John Parry came close for the home side on eight minutes and Ashley Richards headed wide three minutes later, but it was the latter who extended Village’s lead with only 14 minutes. Gary Davies’ well-struck ball deep into the Ferry half was misjudged by the defence and, after taking an awkward bounce, Ashley Richards took advantage of the lacklustre defending to slide the ball past Rogers and into the bottom corner.

Briton Ferry came extremely close to halfing Village's advantage on 19 minutes when striker Chris Gardener met John Parry's cross with an acrobatic kick which rattled the crossbar, this proved to be a costly miss as Village's persistance brought a third goal on 32 minutes as Cameron Hopkins picked up a poor clearance and sweetly struck his shot from 18-yards past Rogers. The three-goal lead lasted barely a minute as Rob Webb's close-range header beat Matthew Martin to make it 3-1.

The Old Road side had the better of possession for the remainder of the first-half but as referee Garwyn Davies called time on the opening period Garden Village went in two goals to the good at the break.

Village started the second-half brightly and after much pressure restored their three-goal lead on 63 minutes. Sam Brown was grounded by Ferry defender Leon Dennis and from the resulting free-kick Anthony Wright curled his effort into the top corner past Steffan Rogers who did not move an inch.

Dennis almost cost his side a fifth goal 14 minutes before the end when he was disposessed by Cameron Hopkins but the youngster, who has just achieved a place at Swansea University, struck his shot over the top of the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Former Llanelli youth product Craig Connor shot over from Gavin Guy's cross and Cameron Hopkins had his shot cleared off the line by Dan McGrath but Bob Lloyd's side will be pleased with their overall performance and result which has lifted them to the dizzy heights of third spot in the Second Division.

Briton Ferry: Steffan Rogers; Paul Morgan (Johnny Evans, 67'), Dan McGrath, Leon Dennis, Glyn McQueen (Dean Morris, 46'), Mike Davies (Owain Williams, 70'), Rob Webb, Richard Howells, Chris Gardener, Dan Thomas, John Parry.

Not Used: Ross Howells, Rhys Jones (GK).

Village: Matthew Martin; David Rimmer, David Evans, Gary Davies; Gavin Guy, Sam Brown, Anthony Wright (Paul Bromage, 75'), Liam Soroka, Cameron Hopkins; Lee Rastatter (Craig Connor, 65'), Ashley Richards.

Not Used: Christian Richards, Mark Jones, Stuart Lloyd (GK).

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