Highadmit South Wales Alliance League

Clwb Cymric 3 - Cadoxton Barry FC 2

Sansome, Konten

THIS top three clash should have seen Cadoxton Barry FC coming away with at least a point but an ill-considered tactical response once they had equalised with just three minutes remaining meant that they actually came away empty handed.

Blocking an early pass across the Cymric rearguard, Oaten set himself a chase for a chance to score, but he didn't quite make it in time.

Then Harris-Reffel stooped low to head on to Oaten whose cross to Jackhontaw was just too far ahead for him to run on to.

And once more it was Oaten who trapped to turn and volley, seeing the shot go just over the bar.

But much of the game was being played in the middle of the Cwrt-Yr-Ala pitch with fewer than expected threats coming from either side.

That is until the 25th minute when a curling free kick from Weekley smote the bar to rebound nicely for Sansome to bury it in the net with a fine diving header.

But that seemed to be a cue for CB to switch off, particularly in the midfield where Cymric suddenly found acres of unchallenged space in which to consider their options.

An equaliser looked on the cards, though a few lucky escapes saw Carpenter's goal unbreached until just a couple of minutes before half-time - though CB might have conceded earlier when Carpenter redeemed himself with a quality penalty spot save after he had fouled in diving for the ball at the feet of an incoming Cymric player.

But back came Cymric to earn a free kick some 25 yards out and slightly to the right. And it was a pearler of a shot that drifted beyond Carpenter's reach to find the net off the inside of the left stanchion.

Then, directly from the re-start, a high ball forward saw Curran elect to chest the ball into the path of a colleague, but instead it went into the path of an incoming Cymric forward. And he gratefully took advantage of his good fortune to give the hosts a 2 - 1 lead to take into the break.

With Donnelly on for Dawson, the second half started promisingly for CB - a lot more aggression coming in moves focused down the right flank.

Then, following a second substitution in which Adamson replaced Harris-Reffel, CB were hemmed in their own half for a spell during which they did well to defend five consecutive corners.

And this was followed by a team passing move which saw Cymric slice through the middle of a semi-deserted CB midfield before the final shot was blasted well wide.

The final substitution of Berry for Walsh 15 minutes from time saw Cadoxton Barry back in the ascendency, though a Cymric break saw consecutive shots blocked on the CB line - one by the defence and one an excellent stop by 'keeper, Carpenter.

If anything, CB were now seeing marginally more of the ball than their hosts, excellent play by Sansome seeing him pass to Adamson whose long rang shot went only just wide of the far left post.

CB just about deserved their equaliser which came just two minutes from the end as a build up through the middle saw Berry force a pass out to the left where the ball eventually reached Konten very close to the bye line. But, threading through the proverbial eye of a needle he managed to fire an excellent shot home.

And that should have been a point retrieved. But, to their regret, CB decided to go for a winner.

During the game CB had operated for a very high line, successfully catching Cymric off side time and time again.

So taking the gambol of leaving this ploy as their only mode of defence, they threw everything forward in a quest for a winner. But shortly after, they paid the inevitable penalty.

A Cymric clearance towards the left looked to have been a close call for off side, but on this occasion the referee's whistle didn't blow.

With a yard start the nippy winger out ran two CB defenders to close in from the left before scoring a fine, if heart-breaking for CB, goal.

They say that hindsight is a wonderful thing, but on this occasion players will be wishing that they had simply seen the game out for the point by defending from deep for a few final seconds instead of going for broke.

Next Saturday Cadoxton Barry are home to another high riding side in the shape of Whitchurch. Kick-off 2pm.