Penarth keeps the pressure on to take the win

PENARTH Town under-16s were hosted by Sully Sports B under-16s last week, in a traditionally very competitive fixture.

In the previous season both teams had cancelled each other out by winning a game apiece, leaving this to be an eagerly anticipated game.

The intensity of the initial 30 minutes was extremely high with both teams putting a large amount of pressure on their opponents, not allowing anybody to have time on the ball. Although Penarth had the majority of possession, Sully were quick to break on the counter attack, however their pace was matched by the solid Penarth full backs Lewis Campbell and Tom Tunley.

They managed to break down attacks coming from the wide areas with a number of strong tackles.

Penarth started to play some pleasing football and began utilising the extra space on the wings through Matthew Pollock and Morgan Rees, who were continuously forcing the Sully defence to make errors.

With 15 minutes left of the first half, Sully couldn’t get out of their own half without being pressed by the midfield maestro Ray Vandyck who controlled everything in the centre of the park.

The continuous pressing of the midfield pair, Vandyck and Ryan Webber created a series of chances for Penarth on the break where Morgan Hayman terrifically turned his defender before smashing the ball against the crossbar.

This opportunity gave Penarth a boost of confidence to follow up with another attack.

This began with Penarth creating so much pressure Sully just couldn’t get out of their own half.

The ball broke away to Vandyck who picked out Hayman’s calculated run on the left wing. Hayman then turned his marker and slotted the ball in the right hand corner to put Penarth in the lead 10 minutes from half-time.

After the first goal, Penarth lost their focus and organisation of the initial 30 minutes and Sully started to cause problems.

Penarth’s defence remained composed however, and the duo of Matt Rogers and Dan Jennings put their bodies on the line to minimise any chance of Sully getting in behind the back four.

Once they had regained possession they played neatly out from the back to their midfielders. This composure ensured the Town’s lead was intact at the break.

Penarth made changes for the second half and Logan Nichol, Dominic Alstead and Cameron House replaced the workhorse spine of Rogers, Webber and Pollock to reignite the energy of the first half.

Penarth with the lead in their minds began slowly and Sully applied some early pressure, forcing a number of terrific saves in quick succession from Ieuan Hicks in the Penarth goal, which could have easily seen Sully back in the game.

The match had been end-to-end football with Penarth eagerly looking to double their lead, and Sully attempting to break on the counter attack to get themselves back into the game.

With both teams looking tired, Penarth made their final switch, taking off the attacking pair of Elias French and Hayman who caused havoc to Sully’s back line to be replaced by Callum Wincott and Joe Phillips respectively.

Penarth now really started to play football as they had in the first half, with some lovely one-touch passing.

Vandyck had been the catalyst to Penarth’s initial lead by dictating the midfield; now Wincott used his vision to break down the play there again and cleverly found Vandyck.

He took a touch which took the ball away from the closest defender and he found himself in acres of space just outside the box on the left side.

He then expertly lobbed the goalkeeper using his weaker foot, finishing in the top right corner of the net, doubling Penarth’s lead.

With the game almost over, Rees now the lone striker managed to keep up the pressure on Sully because Nichol and Vandyck were closing down every ball in the midfield and feeding the two wingers House and Phillips.

In turn they were providing excellent service for Rees while also going back to help out the tiring full backs Campbell and Tunley.

With five minutes left, Penarth had worn Sully ragged and kept on punishing their back line, Phillips then found himself with the ball on the right hand side of the midfield and played a one two with House which put him in behind the Sully defence.

Vandyck was there to support Phillips by playing another one two, before Phillips hit the ball with the inside of his boot, taking a small deflection which looped over the Sully goalkeeper and into the net, sending the Penarth side of the pitch into ruptures.

The final score was Penarth Town 3, Sully 0.

This was a terrific team performance from Penarth Town who knew their individual roles and at times played some lovely looking football.

This was a fantastic result for the boys who have worked hard in training to create results on the pitch.

Thanks for the support from the other players who unfortunately didn’t make the squad this time - Josh O’Sullivan and Josh Dixon and for all the parents who made this an unforgettable day.

Penarth Town: Ieaun Hicks, Tom Tunley, Matt Rogers, Dan Jennings, Lewis Campbell, Morgan Rees, Ray Vandyck, Ryan Webber, Elias French, Morgan Hayman and Matthew Pollock.

Subs: Dominic Alstead, Logan Nichol, Cameron House, Joe Phillips and Callum Wincott.