BETTWS  3 - 3  GARDEN VILLAGE

MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division Two
Saturday August 25, 2007

A touch of brilliance from Village striker Ashley Richards helped rescue a precious point after twice coming from behind at Bettws.

Last seasons top-scorer, who had also scored the first of Village’s three goals, struck a sweet volley into the top corner with three minutes left on the clock to extend the visitors’ unbeaten run to four matches.

Bob Lloyd named the same squad of 16 which came away from Briton Ferry in midweek with all three points and it was Richards, who notched one of the four goals at Old Road, who came close to opening the scoring after just two minutes when he headed Gary Davies’ flick-on wide of the post.

Village continued to dominate early proceedings as Liam Soroka volleyed wide after running on to the end of a pin-point Lee Rastatter cross deep into the area.

Richard Llewellyn did give the visiting defence a scare when he lobbed a long Mark Stonehouse clearance over the bar on 14 minutes, but Bettws were in front three minutes later against the run of play. Christian Burge’s lay-off to Richard Llewellyn was struck first time by the midfielder who hit the crossbar and fortunately for him the ball bounced off Matthew Martin and into the net.

Shaun Nash towered above Gary Davies to head Gareth Sage’s cross over the bar on 25 minutes, Ashley Richards was unlucky not to get a foot to Lee Rastatter’s knock-down at the back post shortly before the break but Bettws, after a spell of dominance, increased their lead a minute before half-time.

The linesman flagged against David Evans who was tugging at the shirt of Robbie Hugglestone inside the area and the referee awarded a penalty, up-stepped Shaun Nash to convert the spot-kick and send his team in at half-time two goals to the good.

Village started the second-half brightly and, like the first period, came close to scoring just two minutes in as Liam Soroka sent his volley over the top but the Swansea side eventually reduced the deficit on 54 minutes when Ashley Richards headed home from Gary Davies’ ball into the box.

The visitors were also able to get back on level terms with a headed effort, this time from Lee Rastatter after 73 minutes while Sam Brown came very close to putting his side into the lead with a shot-come-cross which had to be tipped over the bar by Stonehouse.

But after all of the hard work to come from two goals down Bettws went back in front with nine minutes remaining, Paul Evans’ deflected free-kick finding its way through the wall to squeeze its way past Martin into the bottom corner.

Village pressed for the equaliser and with five minutes left Ashley Richards struck the foot of the post with a diving header but, two minutes later, Bob Lloyd’s side were back on level terms and it was thanks to a well taken goal by Richards whose turn and volley past Stonehouse into the top-corner made it 3-3.

David Evans and Gary Davies both had excellent headed chances in the 89th minute and injury-time respectively to snatch a dramatic late winner but in the end a draw was a fair result for both sides.

Bettws: Mark Stonehouse; Jason Bird, Gareth Sage (Karl Miller, 57’), Darren Robinson, Owen Atkinson, Paul Evans, Paul Jones, Richard Llewellyn, Shaun Nash, Christian Burge, Robbie Hugglestone.

Not Used: Scott Williams, Derek James, Gareth Morgan, Jack Thomas.

Village: Matthew Martin; David Rimmer (Paul Bromage, 54’), Gary Davies, David Evans; Gavin Guy, Sam Brown, Anthony Wright, Liam Soroka, Cameron Hopkins (Craig Connor, 66’); Lee Rastatter, Ashley Richards.

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

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