BRECON CORRIES 3

SULLY SPORTS 2

DESPITE starting brightly in Saturday's South Wales Senior Soccer League clash, Sully Sports' First Division championship hopes took a setback with this narrow defeat.

The Rich Field pitch was in poor condition - very soft with lots of holes - after recent rains, but Sports applied plenty of early pressure leading to their opening goal. Following an excellent through ball, Alex Long outpaced his marker and beat the 'keeper from just inside the box. Within minutes, Sports went close to notching a second when Dan Lowlor just missed out after great work by Long.

With Sully doing most of the attacking, it was a surprise when Brecon equalised, with a slow reacting Sports' defence looking for an offside decision.

With Sully back on the attack, a goalmouth scramble ended when Gareth Hemmens, seemingly set to score from a yard, was beaten by a superb cover tackle.

Still sensing a victory despite their missed chances, Sports suffered a huge setback early in the second half, when, following a free kick from 20 yards out, a Brecon player was quickest to react to a loose ball to net from close range.

Suffering a series of bad tackles, Sports suffered further misery when, pushing upfield, they were caught on the break by the home side's speedy winger.

Sports introduced three substitutes and altered the formation as they sought to find a way back into the game but were denied by some superb defending and a home goalkeeper who produced outstanding saves from Lawlor and Garon Davies.

Sports eventually grabbed a lifeline when Ed Jones netted from close range after a corner, but with Dan James a virtual passenger in the last 10 minutes after suffering an ankle injury, they suffered a big setback to their championship hopes.

This Saturday Sully entertain Fochriw at Swanbridge; players to meet at club for 12.15pm.

Sully Sports: K Sharratt, T Harding, C McInery, Ed Jones, Liam Beddard, A Ferguson, M Brown, A Lewis, G Hemmens, D Lawlor, and A Long. Subs: G Davies, D James, A Townsend and J Halford.

In an exciting Supporters' Cup quarter-final clash, Sports' Vale League side edged through 4-3 on penalties after the match finished 2-2 after extra-time

Wenvoe twice took the lead in ordinary time, with Sports responding with equalisers from Anthony Jones and Arran Longomo.

With no further goals in extra-time, Sports moved into the semi-finals following successful spot kicks from Longomo, Hywel Arkontopoulos, Ryan Warden and David Kavanagh.

Sports' man of the match: Ashley Cottle.

Sports now meet Cogan Coronation in the semis at Bryn y Don on Saturday, March 15.

This Saturday Sports meet Wenvoe again in a league match at Wenvoe.

In a South Wales Women's League match, Sully Sports, managed by Mark Brown, beat local rivals Vale 3-1 with goals from Thea Howells, Jess Cogbill and Stevie Cook.

This Sunday Sully face a difficult away trip to Cwmbran Celtic; kick-off 2pm.