Vale of Glamorgan League Division One

Cadoxton Barry 2nds 0 Rhoose Athletic 2nds 1

Rhys Morgan (penalty)

PLAYERS and coaching staff alike will know that this was a defeat that could well have been a victory.

For discarding a penalty which was dubious for more than one reason, they did not display the determination and off the ball running which has been a signature part of Cadoxton Barry 2nds recent winning run.

There was little difference in the sides during the early stages though the swirling diagonal wind saw CB 'keeper Rhydian Hopkins, juggling to hold on to shots on a few occasions.

But by the 15 minute mark Athletic were beginning to make deep inroads in and around the CB box. It could be argued that although the pressure might have deserved a goal, perhaps it should not have come in the manner that it did.

Following Ryan Morgan's confident conversion of the spot kick, a lackluster CB continued to live dangerously, clearing a shot off the line before a disastrous strike at an open goal from the visitors almost went for a corner. However, it was just the questionable penalty that separated the sides at the break.

CB continued to struggle at the start of the second half as a combination of luck and poor Athletic finishing kept the home side in with a shout.

Fortunes began to change however as the substitutions began - the first of which saw Taylor come on to replace Coles. Taylor's short controlled passing had an immediate impact with CB taking control in the possession stakes for the first time in the match and that became even more pronounced when the 1st team management duo of Harvey and Barnet joined the fray.

But it was a solo run at goal from Rhys Hopkins that ended with a shot that went only six inches wide that actually sounded CB intentions out to Athletic. Then Hopkins battled well to win a ball before crossing to Barnet whose dipper was only just the wrong side of the upright.

An intricate passing move ended with Taylor feeding through to Hopkins who let rip from 20 yards with a dipper that smote the cross bar and finally a Thompson corner saw Barnet go close yet again - this time with a header.

But try as they may, CB's late awakening proved unable to nick the goal it deserved to cancel out that doubly dubious penalty conceded early on.