Reigning champions AFC Colcot maintain 100% start to season (From Barry And District News)

Reigning champions AFC Colcot maintain 100% start to season

8:50am Thursday 20th September 2012 in Sport

CASTLE FC 1 AFC COLCOT 4

REIGNING Vale of Glamorgan Soccer League (Premier Division) champions AFC Colcot maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a comfortable victory over Castle FC.

Colcot went into the game full of confidence, having won their first two league games against Cowbridge and Mason's Moving Group as well as a 7-2 thrashing of Rhymney Valley-based outfit Cascade YC in the preliminary round of the SWFA Intermediate Cup at the beginning of the month.

Castle FC, however, were equally buoyant as they were looking to protect their own 100 per cent record, having won all of their first three league games against Glenbrook, Penarth and Cowbridge. Both teams, therefore, were looking to maintain their early form and so the game promised to be a closely-fought encounter.

Of the two sides, Wenvoe-based Castle started the brighter as they went close to taking the lead on several occasions, with some good inter linking play between their midfield and strikers culminating in a host of missed opportunities. Castle continued to press and, in the 20th minute, took a deserved lead.

Stirred into life, Colcot immediately started to press and, within five minutes, were level as the ball fell kindly to Daniel Lawlor inside the penalty area, and he tucked it neatly into the corner from close range.

The game had suddenly burst into life, with both sides now intent on taking the lead. Again, Castle pressed but were unable to find a way past the Colcot defence, which held firm under the influence of eventual man-of-the-match Connor Caton. Caton, who had the unenvious responsibility of marking his brother, Kyle, was imperious throughout, displaying a level of maturity beyond his years to spur his team on from the back.

The game was at deadlock when, on the stroke of half time, Colcot took the lead through a moment of excellent creativity from summer signing Darren Townsend – who took advantage of some sloppy defending with a tight-angled bicycle kick which looped perfectly over the keeper to nestle in the top corner.

At the restart, Castle looked deflated having conceded the lead in the first half despite their best efforts. As a result, Colcot really asserted their authority in the second half and were by far the better side as they pressed forward in search of a third.

And, in the 65th minute, Colcot’s efforts were rewarded when some pressing play from Teejay Caton, who worked tirelessly up front throughout the match, saw the ball fall to midfielder Anthony Jones who finished with aplomb from the edge of the area with a superlative half volley into the top corner.

Jones’ effort appeared to be the nail in the coffin for Castle, who now had a mountain to climb if they were going to get anything from the game. Indeed, they continued to test their opponent’s resolve but their efforts were in vein as Colcot’s defence held firm, with ‘keeper Matty Evans an inspired figure as he commanded his penalty area with authority in the later stages.

At 3-1, the game appeared all but over as it trundled towards the final whistle. However, man-of-the-match Connor Caton decided he wanted the final say of the afternoon as he tucked away a looped Andrew Townsend cross in the 85th minute.

It was a fitting end to an excellent day at the office for Caton, who chose to celebrate his goal with great enthusiasm as he made his way back into position for the restart!

Man of the Match: Connor Caton.