Win takes Villagers up to fifth spot in league (From Barry And District News)

Win takes Villagers up to fifth spot in league

AFTER a good home win against Neath the previous week, Dinas Powys AFC went on their travels last Saturday and continued their winning ways with an impressive 3-1 victory at Garw.

Garw who have a long tradition in Welsh football, they were formed just after the Second World War, have a picturesque ground in a valley north of Bridgend. The weather was overcast and it was certainly an overcoat colder than Dinas Powys, but the squad was in buoyant mood.

Manager Gavin Price was away on holiday, so second team boss Mick Spray stepped up to take charge ably assisted by Phil Dwyer, the ex-Cardiff City player, who has joined the management team of the club. Garw's ground has steep banking on the one side with a small stand perched at its top.

The management plan was for Spray to prowl the technical area at ground level whilst Dwyer would use his experience to have an aerial view of the overall game. The mode of communication between the two was to be mobile phone, but the plan fell apart when it was discovered there was no signal!

The first 15 minutes were end to end and it was the Villagers who took the upper hand and opened the scoring. An innocuous long ball from skipper Danny Street fell in no man's land behind the Garw defence and in front of the keeper. The centre back left it for the keeper and vice versa. Up stepped midfielder Leanne Jeanne, who had chased more in hope than expectation, to pass the ball into the empty net.

Five minutes later the visitors made it two. This time there was a little bit more style about it. But only just. An in-swinging corner from the right by Anthony Ferguson caused consternation in the home side's defence. It reached the foot of centre-back Kurt Bettles on the far post and he was able to poke the ball into the net. Two goals, both were nothing to write home about, but they all count and to be fair Dinas were good value for their lead.

Moments later the Villagers almost made it three. Bettles was involved again. This time striker Gareth Hemmens fractionally headed his pinpoint cross over the bar.

On the half-hour, with Dinas in the ascendancy, they slipped up and allowed the hosts back into the match. It was almost a replica of the first goal. Keeper Billy Clarke and Street got in a tangle and the Garw striker had an easy tap-in. From being in total control the Villagers were now hanging on as Garw pushed for the equaliser. It almost came courtesy of the Dinas defence again. Bettles played a back pass to Clarke. Unfortunately he wasn't there and it was a mad scramble by the centre-back to retrieve his own pass before it crossed the line.

On the hour Dinas made their first substitution with Chris Harry coming on for the tiring Jeanne. Dinas then almost made the game safe. Lloyd Davies, who was playing in a hole in front of the back three, made one of many fine tackles and laid the ball off to striker Ali Kiyaga who made progress before firing an angled shot past the keeper. Unfortunately it struck the bottom of the upright and bounced harmlessly away. A lucky let-off for Garw.

With ten minutes to go the Villagers eventually made the game safe. Spencer Lamb and new signing Kyle Le Bon had replaced the strike force of Hemmens and Kiyaga. It was Le Bon who made an immediate impact when he threaded an exquisite ball through to Leigh Vick. Vick, who has been a revelation since he moved into centre midfield from his customary wing back role, took the pass in his stride and hit the ball into the far corner for a fine goal.

The victory puts the team into fifth place in the first division of the Motorquote Insurance Welsh League.

On Saturday the squad have a week off from league duty and they entertain Porthcawl in the cup at the Murch. Note the revised kick off - 12.30pm. This is due to Wales playing Russia later in the day. If you want an aperitif before you watch Wales take the first three steps to Portugal, the place to be is the Murch.

With manager Mike Spray on first team duty, Shaun Driscoll and Mike Hill were in charge of the seconds. They played a youthful UWIC team who are near the top of the Reserve Welsh League, but Dinas earned a good win with an emphatic 5-0 victory. Andrew Salvidge scored a brace with the others coming from Lee Pietroski, Gareth Shaw and Rhodri Foote. The win keeps the team on top of the division.

Dinas Powys AFC would like to thank army regular and long-standing player Matthew Kettelty, who donned his uniform and placed a poppy tribute at the cenotaph in the village on remembrance Sunday on behalf of the club. Well done Matt.