SOUTH Wales Senior League Division Two

Cadoxton Barry FC 6 - 1 Ynyshir Albions

Weekley 2, Morgan Hughes

Oaten, Baker,

Thompson

Another excellent team performance saw Cadoxton Barry flag themselves up as serious title contenders. Although they have played a couple of games more than some in the chasing pack, CB are now up to second in the division, with a game against another contender, Cogan, on Saturday.

The game was only three minutes old when the first serious attack by either side saw Harker pull off a quality fingertip save from a vicious drive from mid distance. Then a fine diving save saw Harker push a mid distance drive around the right post.

CB was still struggling to mount their first serious attack when Harker was again called upon. As a forward raced into the box with no one near enough to challenge, Harker rushed forward to make back to back saves in the space of seconds. There was no doubt that Harker was responsible for keeping CB in the match as the 15 minute mark approached.

And the value of the keeper's heroics became clear to all when, a minute later, fine play from Baker saw him get the ball through to Weekley. Meanwhile Morgan had run diagonally to the far left side to receive Weekley's pass before scoring with an excellent long and low drive from a wide angle.

At last CB had now built up a head of steam - Oaten going close with a mid distance shot from the left. Dawson brought down the visiting number 11 to receive a yellow card, but the Ynys player was shown a red for the manner in which he retaliated.

At first, however, CB didn't find it any easier playing against 10 men than 11. And more than half an hour had gone before Weekley received the ball from a free kick to cross from the right to find Thompson whose scuffed shot deceived the keeper and creep home just inside the upright.

Though Ynyshir were two goals and one man down they continued to gain their fair share of possession and were very much in the game as the half time whistle blew.

But they were often stretched as CB broke forward. And this was the case when a long ball from Thompson found Oaten timing a run which beat the off side trap. A dummy drew the keeper to the right to create the space for a finish into an empty net.

Back came Ynys to find all their efforts thwarted by the likes of Curran, Beatty, Walsh et al. However, when Oaten got his marching orders when he was ruled off side, one might have wondered if, the now numerically matched visitors might start to dominate once more. But that didn't happen, for within 30 seconds of Oaten's departure Baker made it five when a goal mouth scramble saw the ball ping out to him before returning it with interest into the net with some venom.

With 15 minutes left Elliot Clissold and Rhys Hopkins replaced Beatty and Dawson respectively. And Steel came on for Morgan around the 80 minute mark. His first touch saw him cross towards Walsh at the far post, but the header ballooned over the unguarded net.

CB's 10 men were very much in control against the visiting 10 as an inch perfect lay off from Baker set Weekley up with a chance from just inside the box. He made no mistake.

It was deep into injury time when Ynyshir managed to earn themselves a series of corners. And the final one resulted in the second double handed goal that CB has conceded in three games.

The ball looked to be coming down beyond the far post but, with both arms stretched high, Hughes just managed to reach it and force it over the line. Unlike the Brecon game, the fact that the referee missed the deliberate double handing of the ball was not crucial.

As aforementioned, Cadoxton Barry's next game is a 2pm kick off at the Cogan Recreation Centre on December 27 - the day following Boxing Day. So if you're still in a sporting/festive mood by then, why not come along and enjoy the game?

Vale of Glamorgan League Division Two

Vale Utd 3 - 2 Cadoxton Barry 3rds

Smart 2

Christmas social commitments meant that Cadoxton Barry fielded a changed line up. But, if anything that made them more determined against a side that had become used to winning by the proverbial cricket score.

However, on this occasion it was not to be. In fact, only a slightly questionable decision that resulted in a home goal that prevented Cadoxton Barry from coming away with what would have been a well deserved point.

As it was, a brace from Smart and a quality display of goalkeeping from Rydian Hopkins took the final outcome down to the wire.