Winning streak goes on for the men from the Murch (From Barry And District News)

Winning streak goes on for the men from the Murch

DINAS POWYS, currently league leaders in the Second Division of the Welsh League, entertained Blaenrhondda at the Murch last Saturday.

The visitors were in a mid-table position but were in a rich vein of form and had achieved some notable victories in recent weeks so the Villagers knew they were in for a tough encounter.

Injuries again played their part in selection. Nathan Hosgood and Neil Jeremy were unavailable due to knocks picked up in the previous week's excellent victory at Bridgend. Hosgood with a hamstring whilst Jeremy had finished the game complaining of a sore elbow. It was subsequently diagnosed as a hairline fracture, no wonder it was sore!

So manager Paul Giles had to do some re-shuffling, skipper Danny Street made a welcome return at the back, Robert King moved into midfeld and Spencer Lamb came in up front to partner Jamie Dix.

Giles's selection problems were nothing compared to the referee's. He turned up and found he was one assistant short, but regular supporter Spencer Warman, who works for the Welsh FA, stepped into the breach.

The one thing you can't say about the Villagers at the moment is they are not well prepared and motivated. Against Bridgend they were two up inside 20 minutes. This week they had taken the sting out of Blaenrhondda and scored two in just 10 minutes.

The first came when Matthew Higgenson put over a long diagonal cross and Dix rose superbly to head home. The next came when the visitors were caught napping.

A Blaenrhondda free-kick seemed to have caused Dinas some consternation in the penalty area, but a Geoff Poole "have it" clearance found Lamb in space in the visitors half. He latched onto the ball, made progress, rounded the onrushing keeper and fired home from an oblique angle into the bottom corner.

When you're two down, the only way to go is forward and the visitors came back at the Villagers with some well constructed attacks but they found keeper Duncan Smith on top of his game. Blaenrhondda were particularly adept at set plays, putting over some well flighted corners but Smith was always first with a well-timed punch to clear the danger.

It was going too well for the Villagers. On the half hour the injury jinx struck again. This time it was midfielder Lee Street who was the unlucky victim with a pulled muscle in his buttock. With Jeremy's elbow and now this you begin to wonder! Player/manager Giles came on as the replacement.

One area the coaching staff have worked hard on this season is to improve the Villagers discipline. With three officials in every game there isn't any hiding place on the pitch and just before the break one of the visitors defenders used his elbow (there's that joint again) too vigorously and the referee deemed it violent conduct for which there is only one punishment, an early bath.

Good attempts

Two up against 10 men, Dinas came out firing on all cylinders and went close to extending their lead with a couple of good attempts by Dix and Lamb.

It was only a matter of time before they scored a third and what a strange affair it was. A hopeful cross to the far post found Giles contesting the high ball with a defender who must have been a foot taller.

But his persistence paid off when the defender made a complete hash of the clearance and the ball bobbled for what seemed an eternity a yard from the goal line. Everyone then reacted at once and in the ensuing scramble, in it went.

Was it the keeper, defender or Giles who had the touch? After the game Paul was honest enough to admit it was him! You can't keep a good professional down.

Fine game

If the third was a bit lucky there was nothing fortuitous about the next. Higgenson, who was having a fine game in the middle of the park, went on a solo run and slotted home from 20 yards in off the post for an excellent goal.

Another clean sheet, another three points to keep the Villagers sitting proudly at the top of the division, two points and a game in hand over their nearest rivals.

Plenty of celebrations at the Star after the match with the Alan and Maureen Giles award for Man of the Match going to Robert King.

The team's only defeat in the league was way back in August, a dozen games ago against AFC Llwydcoed. This Saturday it's the corresponding away fixture, kick off 2.15pm. It won't be easy.