ABC return to action with a win (From Barry And District News)

ABC return to action with a win

7:50am Thursday 10th January 2013 in Sport

ABC LEASING 5 AIRPORT 2

AFTER a long break from football this was always going to be a potential banana skin against a youthful Airport side.

With a pretty full squad to pick from and people eager to get back into the fold, a good game was on the cards. The pitches were surprisingly good considering the weather and it was ABC who started the better of the early exchanges with the newly formed central midfield partnership of Jez Millard and Jordan Ross pulling the strings in the heart of the pitch.

They in turn had great options out wide with the returning Russell Ware and Dafydd Gibbs providing great outlets to get the balls in to the front pairing of Coxon and The Hulk.

However despite dominating the early exchanges it was ABC who found themselves on the end of a harsh penalty decision with Jez controlling the ball on his chest only to be pulled up for handball.

Luckily with Christian Harding in goal, aka Keeper, he produced a great save to keep the scores level. After this early scare the next thirty minutes would have been a pleasure to watch for any supporter, with total football coming from the defence of Dowling, Menzies, Elston and Paget providing the quick balls out to the wings and midfield to provide for the front two, in particular Simon Colston who was giving a master class of bullying front play, leaving the Airport defence in tatters.

The first of the goals came from a long shot from Jez Millard that the keeper fumbled and let go underneath him into the net. The second goal was a well worked move out to Rusell Ware who again, with the quick surface in his favour, tried an attempt from long range which again squirmed under the keeper.

By now ABC Leasing were dominating the attacking play and with the defence solid and some fantastic saves being made by Harding it was difficult to see any other outcome but an ABC win. Another good move slid Coxon in to cut back inside the last defender and slide the ball in to the bottom corner.

However the goal of the half has to go to Dafydd Gibbs who had listened to his manager about keeping formation and found himself in the striker position, even though he was playing left wing!

He latched on to a 40 yard pinpoint pass from Dave Menzies to rifle home from 25 yards and make the half time score 4-0.

The second half was always going to be Airport's, who came out and played some excellent football especially from their number 7 in midfield as well as their number 11 who was a constant threat all game. Airport scored two goals without reply and had ABC not gone up the other end and scored their fifth through Dominic Jones who had come on as a second half sub, things might have been different.

Further substitutions were made with Lee Galloway making his much awaited return to the side as did Daniel Stokes who along with Dom Jones ensured ABC left with all 3 points.

This was a massive team performance which proves that ABC are a team to be reckoned with this season and will be fighting for the 2nd Division title this season.

Man of the match performance by Christian Harding closely followed by Simon Colston who worked tirelessly for the side.

Thanks go to Cwm Talwg pub for after match food and ABC Leasing for continued support.