TYNEWYDD B 2 AFC GALAXY 4

THE FIXTURES computer had handed struggling Galaxy the easiest of run-ins - 2nd top Tynny last Saturday, champions-elect Park Villa on Tuesday and Caddy Imps to close the season this Saturday. Imps had whitewashed Galaxy Reserves 6-0 the same Saturday Cardiff City had been run over by the Tractor Boys.

Tynny had been helped by two penalties when pipping Galaxy 3-2 a month ago. This time, they had only one ‘free gift’, when a defensive mix-up handed them a much needed lifeline in the second half. Their keeper was much the busier in the first quarter hour seeing shots from ‘Iggy’ and ‘Dead-Eye’ Dawkins blocked and moving quickly to prevent an own goal.

For a team on a losing run of 5 games, Galaxy looked surprisingly confident, with some decent passing movements underpinned by the dominance of ‘Basher’ and Dave Walters in midfield.

Full-back Frankie Small found time to lend his strikers a helping hand. When a Dawkins corner rebounded to him off a post, Frankie took careful aim from 45 inches and blasted in his first goal of the season. This goal arrived in the 18th minute and, as the Villa and Imps scouts were making their notes, they heard a cry ‘go on Shaggy’. There was the irrepressible ‘Shaggy’ Williams latching onto a Dawkins flick outside the area.

He demonstrated the benefit of hours of training-ground practice by perfectly hitting his left foot drive neatly into the bottom corner.

Galaxy were in dreamland; Tynny were like a boxer shocked to find himself on the canvas. They charged forward and had two attempts hit the bar inside a minute. Galaxy’s regular keeper ‘Spanner’ was unimpressed but was beaten from ten yards soon after. His back four were annoyed at losing an ‘avoidable’ goal and made sure there were no more free shots until half time. At the other end Dawkins shot wide when a cut-back might have paid dividends, and centre-back Louis Saunders sent a header looping on to the roof of the net. Set up by Small, Dawkins made it 3-1 for Galaxy early in the second half, but Tynny cut the deficit soon after when ‘Spanner’ and Saunders allowed ‘Claude’ to go first.

Galaxy were in no mood to let the points slip, however, and the Small-Dawkins alliance soon gave an encore. Neither keeper was tested in the following 20 minutes although ‘Spanner’ gave his team-mates a scare, almost beaten when he was caught watching the action in a neighbouring match.

Williams sent a volley whizzing just past, and a Tynny forward did likewise from a free-kick, but most of the action was in midfield. The final five minutes saw some real excitement. Spanner came out of his box to dribble contemptuously past a bemused opponent, then the powerful figure of Jodie Shepherd surged past the defence and let fly.

The shot looked destined for the bottom corner but the young keeper brought off a cracking save. Tynny were disappointed, referee Rhys Williams did a fine job, Frankie Small was voted MOTM and Galaxy’s full line up was Spanner, Small, Saunders (own-goals leader), Greg Webber (almost MOTM) and Dave ‘Divvy’ Davies (best-ever performance as a defender) Shaggy, Walters, Basher, Chris Lawday, Iggy and Dawkins.

No regular subs were available… Tuesday? Villa. Watch this space. Galaxy did lead 2-0 against them in the Cup. Saturday? Come see the action at the Butts, umbrellas provided.

AFC Galaxy are hosting a quiz night on May 23. All are welcome to bring your sports quizzing brains, 6.30pm start straight after the Galaxy presentations.