Steely resolve sees Colts U14s through (From Barry And District News)

Steely resolve sees Colts U14s through

SULLY COLTS U14S 5 LLANTWIT MAJOR 1

ALTHOUGH Sully had lost the previous league encounter 3-4, they entered the game full of confidence.

They had virtually a full-strength team, whereas for the earlier game they were forced to play with three first team regulars missing, including both central defenders, and lost the game to a bizarre injury time own-goal.

Both teams were guilty of over-eagerness in the first five minutes, but once the game settled down it was clear Sully possessed the better midfield, with Haidn Dibble - the league's outstanding player - and Peter Fordham - who has recently been called up to the Welsh national squad for assessment - pulling all the strings.

With Matthew Green and Nathaniel Taylor-Moore providing the width, a formidable unit was on display.

Green in particular was seeing plenty of ball from full back Rob Gill and Dibble and it was only a matter of time before Sully took the lead from one of his crosses.

The goal came after Dibble's first time effort was superbly saved by keeper Matthew Jackson, but the ball fell to striker Tim Dunne to head expertly home.

Sully continued to create chances which in truth should have been put away. Fortunately for the Colts, Dibble was in great form and a quick turn in the box left his marker stranded and the inevitable left foot drive gave Jackson no chance.

The Colts were desperately unlucky not to go three up from a corner which saw shots from Taylor-Moore and Lewis May cleared off the line.

Sully were soon reminded that they were still in a game when a speculative long ball was misjudged by the defence, which allowed Matthew Wilcox in on Lewis Hocking.

The keeper expertly forced Wilson wide and from the narrowest of angles the striker did well to hit the post.

Sully responded superbly and constantly probed the Llantwit defence out wide. The mounting pressure produced a free kick, which Dibble thumped home from fully 25 metres to make it 3-0.

At half-time, the Sully coaches stressed upon the team the importance of the opening minutes. However, to the amazement of the Sully supporters, they nearly conceded the softest of goals from the kick-off.

Sully lost the ball and then watched Llantwit move forwards unchallenged, before the post saved them from conceding within 20 seconds of the restart.

This gave Llantwit renewed hope and they enjoyed their best spell of the game, with Jordan Phillips in particular enjoying a fine game.

Llantwit were perhaps guilty of overdoing the long ball, which Max Wootton and Sam Wooster at the heart of the defence found to their liking.

Although Sully were back in control, a rare defensive error out wide allowed Luke James to pull a goal back.

Unlike the first game when Colts let a 3-1 lead slip away, there was a steely resolve throughout the team and they responded superbly and soon restored their three-goal buffer when Nathan Whitehead, Fordham and Taylor-Moore combined to put Dunne into space.

The striker beat the full back and his cross was met by Green to slot home.

The best move of the game should have extended the Colts' lead, but after a superb run and pass from Rhys Howells, Dunne's shot clipped the post.

Dunne made amends when he scored Sully's fifth for a well-deserved 5-1 win.

Both teams were congratulated for producing an excellent game, which was superbly refereed by Graham Chesterton.