Vale of Glamorgan Men's League

Premier Division

Barry Athletic 4 - Dinas Powys Athletic 4

ON A cold November afternoon the Athletic 1st team hosted a Dinas team who had only three months earlier put seven past the home team.

Looking to bounce back from the defeat against champions Airport in the last game it was the home team who unfortunately started the slower and found themselves two down after only 15 minutes from two set plays, first from a long throw and then a corner both of which were not dealt with.

That seemed to finally wake the Athletic up though and good work from Kyle Caton and Jake Oaten up top found Jay Hammill with the ball at his feet and he made no mistake in placing the ball past the 'keeper to half the deficit. Then only a couple of minutes later a penalty was awarded to the home side when a cross from Oaten was handled by the Dinas defender. Nathan Gratton made no mistake in slotting the penalty away to make it 2-2.

The home side now had their confidence back with Josh Leach, Marc Williams and Chris Leach controlling the middle of the park and playing some lovely football. Dinas almost took the lead again on 40 minutes when the striker played the offside trap expertly but was denied by a wonderful reaction save from Huw Davies in the Athletic goal to keep the score line level.

This wasn't the first time this season that Davies had produced heroics in goal and the defence can have a lot to thank him for. With both sides looking happy to go in level at half-time Dinas were awarded a penalty on 45 minutes when again a corner wasn't dealt with and was eventually hand balled by the Athletic defender. The Dinas striker made no mistake from the penalty spot putting the away side up 3-2 at the break.

The second half begun and with only 20 seconds on the clock Kyle Caton raced away down the left, produced some lovely skill with a fantastic cut back to Marc Williams to again level the game up.

With Caton and Oaten in fine form up front the home side could now taste victory and were unlucky on numerous occasions by the Dinas 'keeper.

Unbelievably, the away side once again took the lead through another penalty. The changes were made with TeeJay Caton and Lee Stradling coming on to find another equaliser and with the home side now having four strikers on the pitch it was the ever persistent Jake Oaten who raced on to a ball to place it past the 'keeper to make it 4-4 and complete the scoring.

The home side were unlucky not to find a winner in the final few minutes of the game but can take positives from the never say die attitude that saw them come back three times in the game when previously this wouldn't have been the case.

The club would like to thank referee Paul Bright for a fair game and wish Dinas Athletic all the best for the rest of the season.

Division 2

Master Mariner 1 - Barry Athletic 5

In classic winter footballing conditions Athletic maintained their good form with a convincing win against The Mariner.

Manager Jeff Howells shuffled his pack with numerous players missing through injury and work commitments. It took a while for Athletic to get the breakthrough but it came from a father to son partnership with Ady Gratton whipping in a trademark cross onto the head of Billy Gratton to leave the 'keeper stranded with a glancing header.

It was another precise header at the back post from the energetic Danny Morgan that put the Athletic 2-0 up and in control after half an hour.

The second half saw Athletic continue to dominate the game and push for more goals. It was Danny Morgan that grabbed his second with a fantastic finish from out wide that made it 3-0 and a stunning 25 yard drive from Izaac Farrag put the game out of reach for the Mariner. Billy Gratton then nipped in to get his second of the game and make it 5-0.

Athletic’s defence of 'keeper Sam Rees-Davies, Jamie Deguara, Eddie Roe, Farrag and Ady Gratton were left disappointed when the ever running Jordan Yeoman grabbed a late consolation goal for Mariner.

Veteran 'keeper Dave Stringer was outstanding in the Mariner goal thwarting the Athletic on numerous occasions.

Thanks to Nick Silva, who refereed a game played in a great spirit in difficult conditions.