Win for FC Pumas

Jenner Park awaits - that is the prize for reaching the final of the Barry cup and although they are not in the top division of the Vale of Glamorgan AFL, both sides in this tie were very confident of progressing to the next round and hopefully down the line in latter rounds, maybe reach the final and even win the main competition for local senior football in the Vale.

FC Pumas who had come into the game losing both their first team and development side games the previous week, decided on mixing up the side and give the chance not only to their first team players from division one but also some of the young guns who have been playing for the development side in division two.

Barry Rovers where on a high from some great form in division two of late and fancied their chances in this one.

A tense start to the game, both sides tested each other's defences and it was the Pumas who had two early chances through forwards Jamie Randall and Gwyn Good, both just shooting wide.

Rovers also went close and with a back line of Lewis Froud, Anthony Powell, Davey Allen and returnee from an appendicitis, assistant player manager Richard Starr, the Pumas held firm with also keeper Paul Fisher having to be alert and off his line a couple of times.

Numerous free kicks and corners from Rovers gave the Pumas plenty to defend but it was the Pumas who took the lead when Good sent his fellow forward Randall through and he smashed it past the oncoming Rovers keeper Scott Thomas.

Not to sit back on the lead, the Pumas kept pushing and after a break away from a Rovers attack, Randall was fouled 25 yards out and he picked himself up and curled a low free kick, via a small deflection, in to the bottom corner and gave the Pumas a 2-0 lead.

Rovers woke up after this and with a mistake at the back for the Pumas scored their first of the game with Ryan Mondo Hales getting the goal.

The Pumas were rattled and shortly after, they were exposed in midfield and in defence with Graham Sumsion cutting in from the right wing to hit an unstoppable shot past Fisher in the Pumas goal.

With a rollicking from the Gaffer, the Pumas came out for the second half and were a different team from the one that finished the first half.

Gabriel Cleary was winning the midfield battle with team mates Trev Webb and Pickett Willams, with Cleary setting up Randall for a chance that went just wide, also Curtis Bennett shooting straight at the Rovers keeper Thomas.

Rovers had quite a few chances in a short space of time but could not capitalise on this.

Williams came off injured for Stephen Clements who slotted straight in to the midfield.

It didn't take Clements long before he was passing the ball through for Randall to score and get his hat trick.

3-2 up and seemingly coasting, the Pumas sat back and looked comfortable even though Hales and Lyndon Magrin where causing a lot of trouble for the Pumas Defence.

Brandon Froud replaced stalwart Starr and also Jason Collard came on for Bennett.

A high ball in the Pumas box caused problems and after a tackle from the Pumas defence, a penalty was awarded.

Mondo stepped up and made the score 3-3 with not long left and it rattled the Pumas.

Players were pushed up and it was obvious that getting rattled wasn't going to hamper the Pumas attack and sub Collard proved this with a through ball to Randall who skipped past his marker and made the score 4-3.

Rovers attacked quickly from kick off and were unlucky a few times before the final whistle went in what was a cracking cup tie.

Well done to both sides and good luck to Barry Rovers for the rest of the season. Thanks to Johnny Miller for Refereeing and to the Tadross Hotel for the hospitality and food shown to the Pumas after the game.

FC Pumas squad: Fisher, L.Froud, Starr, Allen, Powell, Webb, Williams, Cleary, Bennett, Good, Randall, Clements, Collard, B.Froud, Page, Face, Ashley.