Last weekend saw our proposed away fixture at Llandarcy Park, re arranged for the Dingle due to problems with the Neath pitch.  Given our recent form at home, I was more than happy to accommodate this change and looked forward to an entertaining game.  The old cliché ‘a game of two halves’ certainly can be associated with this game!!!!!!!!!!

Once again the squad available forced us to change some vital areas but also allowed us to change slightly, our tactics of recent weeks. 

On the back of our recent good run of form, we started the game at a good tempo and worked extremely hard from mid field and up front where Dai Rowe was playing as a lone striker to close down the centre of the park and stop our opponents settling into their normal comfortable style.  Our tactics clearly worked, as we enjoyed the opening ½ hour, playing some of our best football of the season whilst going into a 2-0 lead with the scorers John ‘The Doc’ Williams and Stephen ‘Crouchy’ Rowe.  With the score @2-0, our opponents down to 10 men due to a sending off and us playing well, we had the opportunity to finish the game off before half time.  However with a few minutes of the half remaining we conceded a needless penalty when Ethan Churchill brought down a Neath striker in the box.  The resulting kick was almost saved by Damian Davies and we went in at half time with a 2-1 scoreline instead of the larger advantage that our football and superiority deserved.

Despite warnings about maintaining our dominance in the opening period of the 2^nd half, we started as if we had already won the game and quickly allowed the depleted Neath side to put us under pressure.  Whilst defending another Neath attack, a cross struck Karl Barfoot on the arm and after several seconds of deliberation and without any appeal from our opponents, the referee decided to award a 2^nd penalty, which was duly despatched into the roof of the net!!!!!!!!!!!!

Inspired by the equaliser, Neath continued to attack and ½ way through the half took the lead with a very well constructed goal.  The fact that the striker went through 5 players en-route to scoring without a meaningful challenge, showed how much our performance had dipped in the 2^nd period. 

In the last ¼ of an hour we did manage to pick our game up as our opponents began to tire but their greater experience seemed to be carrying them through as well as 2 very good saves by their keeper from Nicky Jones and Daniel ‘Matty’ Matthews.

What looked like a very good 3 points was quickly slipping away to ‘nil pointe’, when with virtually the last kick of the game, a well executed corner routine resulted in a header from Karl Barfoot, his first goal of the season and the equaliser.

Whilst the result continued our good form the result was synonymous with the rest of our season where our efforts have not been justified with the end results.  Whilst we were our own worst enemy in this match, we have not been fortunate with decisions or the luck in front of goal.  Our task for next season is to continue our progress as both a group and individuals and address the weaknesses that are leaving us in the bottom half of the season, when anyone who has watched us would agree, that we are not very far away from challenging for a top 6 place consistently. 

May I take this opportunity to thank John Williams, Dennis Hamlyn and Gary Pitson for assisting and supporting me over the course of this season, our loyal band of supporters who attend the games home and away and to all the other people, involved behind the scenes, during the week and on match days, that have allowed us to continue with Welsh league football at Morriston.  Finally my thanks go to my players who, once again, have given me their fullest support and commitment throughout the season, especially when the odds have been against us.

Enjoy the summer, next season will be around very soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Related Links:
Res. Team Results 06/07
Res Div West
Reserves v Ystradgynlais

Reply  Your Name:  Your E-mail:  Subject:  Image Text: