W John Owen South Wales Alliance League Cup, Second Round

Cornelly Utd 2 - Duffy and J Jones

Cadoxton Barry FC 3 - Jachontaw and Thompson (2)

A RECENT poor run of just one win in seven games, followed by a pair of draws in Division One of the South Wales Alliance might have seen some sides wishing to get an away cup tie against a Premier Division title chasing side out of the way with as respectable a defeat as could be mustered. But not so for Cadoxton Barry.

They ripped into their illustrious opponents to replicate their lightning 60 second goal the previous week against Penrhiwceiber Cons. It started as Baker crossed from the middle of the park to Matthews out on the right wing. In turn, he crossed to find Thompson towards the right of the home goal from where he confidently finished from close range.

The second placed Premier Division side looked almost numbed as, less than a minute further on, they found themselves two down. Again it was Thompson finishing from a similar position, only on this occasion the cross was provided by Gannon.

But, believe it or not, that wasn't to be the end of the CB goal getting, because the game was only ten minutes old when good work from Baker in the middle of the park saw him release the ball forward to Jachontaw on the right wing. He made good ground towards the by line, but appeared to be running out of space as a challenge came in.

However, he was able to turn his man to check back before placing the ball into the net from a slightly less tight angle. At this stage it was all seeming a little too easy against a side bidding for Welsh League status.

Indeed, it proved to be that way for only a few minutes longer before United dusted themselves down and started to go forward in serious numbers for the first time, 'keeper Harker having to juggle with the ball on the ground before clutching it safely. Then a dipping free kick flew only just high of the CB bar.

But then a United foul saw Dean Beavis complaining about the resultant free kick in rather colourful terms. Having been warned about the language a second tirade earned the player a straight red card.

The man advantage saw CB gaining more of the ball for a short while, but as is often the case when a higher status side is at a numerical disadvantage, Cornelly dug in and began to build up the pressure with half-time approaching.

Play was once again paused for the referee to speak with United fans who had clustered outside the wire boundary fence, yet only two yards to the rear of Harker's net - the reason, to warn them for continued verbal abuse of the opposition goalkeeper.

The hosts continued to press into the second period, a free kick from the left being well cleared by Gannon. Then a Jones corner from the right saw Cornelly's star man, Duffy, rising at the far post to score with a quality header on the 53 minute mark.

Under pressure and having just conceded, CB were now looking a little fragile at the back. Just two minutes later the game looked to be potentially up when a dubious looking penalty award saw Cornelly captain Joe Jones converting from the spot.

CB were now truly on the back foot with only the occasional break away easing the pressure. United gained three corners in the space of 90 seconds.

The first from the left was blasted against the underside of the bar before bouncing up from the line to allow Weekley to head clear. The second, again from the left, also saw the connection find the bar's underside before being headed clear - this time by Walsh. The third, from the right, saw the incoming header graze the top side of the bar before going to safety. Three of the luckiest let offs you are likely to see in such a short space of time.

CB substitutes Williams and Barnet were now in the fray, and one of Barnett's first tastes of action saw him clatter the referee to the ground as he found himself in the vicinity of the ball. Even the mud in his whistle prevented him from blowing to halt play. But he did see the funny side of it and no foul was awarded.

However, back at the other end, danger man Duffy was with ball once more and a blistering shot from the right side of the box had goal written all over it. But somehow Harker conjured up a spectacular diving save from well over to the left side of his goal to push the ball wide of the right hand post. If ever there was a match winning save, then this was it.

There were more worrying times when, with third substitute, Fiddler, already on the field, Gannon had to leave for a short time with an injury - the equity in playing numbers adding even more to the pressure. But when Gannon returned to the action the anxiety and fear of conceding an equaliser seemed suddenly to disappear.

CB launched a series of attacks down the left where Dawson was suddenly found lurking. With home defenders caught out of position the temptation might easily have been to cross the ball. But not so, Dawson, at every opportunity taking the ball towards the corner flag where challenge after frustrated challenge came in to no avail as the minutes ticked down.

Indeed, the final minutes saw the ball, more often than not, down in the Cornelly left hand corner - that was, until the final whistle eventually blew to the cheers of players and supporters on the realisation that Cadoxton Barry had just completed, possibly the biggest upset in the short history of the South Wales Alliance League.

Further good news for Cadoxton Barry comes with the announcement that former favourites Jake Oaten and Rhodri Morgan will be returning to the club. There is also a new signing in the shape of Ethan Parks, a former Barry Town United youth team member.

Next Saturday it's back to league action for Cadoxton Barry when they visit Cogan Leisure Centre for a tough encounter with Cogan Coronation.

Cadoxton Barry won the corresponding fixture 4 - 2 last season - a win that launched them on a good run of results which culminated in winning the old South Wales Senior League Division Two title.