7:40am Thursday 12th November 2009
PUMAS 5 SW DOCKERS 3
THE PREMIER League champions and Barry Cup title holders were welcomed to the Pumas' lair last Saturday, for their last 16 clash in the Barry Cup – with both teams in scintillating form.
Division 1 Pumas have only lost 1 game all season and were scoring goals-a-plenty, whilst SW Dockers hadn't lost a game all season and only conceded 2 goals in the Premier League, so a cracking match was expected – and it didn't disappoint.
The Pumas named a strong team with Chris Woodward called up from the Reserves following some good performances, to take his place in midfield along with Captain Marcus Jones and the ever-young Clive Riley, with goal scoring machine Gwyn Good named on the left, Anthony Partridge on the right and the in-form Jamie Randall up front.
The back four consisted of Ian Weavers, Anthony Powell, Tom Baldwin and Davey Allen with Michael Webb in goals, tasked with the job of trying to stifle the dangerous Dockers attacking force.
Also Mark and Scott Ato, Nick Good, Adam Evans and Anthony Curtis were the substitutes.
The game kicked off in slippery conditions following the week's rain, and the first goal game in the second minute courtesy of the mud when the ball stopped then slid along fooling everyone except Gareth Griffiths who picked up the ball, rounded Webb and finished easily to shock the Pumas.
From the kick off, the Pumas steadied the ship and started to knock the ball around, both sides playing good football in difficult conditions. Gwyn Good was getting a lot of joy on the left flank and was looking very dangerous and the Pumas started to press forward.
The equaliser came from nothing when Randall picked up the ball about 25 yards out, stepped inside and buried an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner bringing the Pumas crowd to their feet.
Webb was in commanding form when called upon, while Jones and Riley were starting to dominate the midfield.
Good ran through the Dockers defence only to be felled for the third time in as many games. Jones stepped up and smashed in the penalty to make it 2-1 to the Pumas with the Dockers in shock.
The Dockers' experience allowed them to slow the game down and make chances in this wide open encounter, Webb making two vital one-on-one saves and the Pumas defending for their lives at times.
Good was forced off due to injury, allowing Scott into the fray, whose quick feet immediately caused problems.
With not long to half time, a fierce shot from the edge of the area was saved low down by Webb, but it was followed up to make it 2-2 going into half time.
Scott managed a 25 yard effort which was well parried and it was game on following a tremendous first half.
Pumas' manager Andy Parfitt's half time instructions were simple – keep knocking the ball around and chances will come.
The second half kicked off and the play again was shared, both teams going at it hammer and tongs to gain the advantage but neither able to break the deadlock with a mixture of good defending and bad finishing.
The game was still wide open as the Pumas once again took the lead, some great play from Scott and Randall allowing Woodward a clean break on goal and he finished emphatically in the top corner to make it 3-2 and make the Pumas wonder if they were going to cause a major upset.
The Dockers again pushed and with Griffiths guilty of missing a few chances, the equaliser just would not come for them. However, following some sloppy defending from a Dockers in-swinging free kick, the ball was bundled over the line for 3-3 with 25 minutes left in this enthralling game.
With seconds gone from the restart Randall, who had been a constant menace, muscled his way through the Dockers defence to allow himself a shooting opportunity and he lofted his shot over the advancing keeper Daniel Mote and into the far corner for a wonderful goal – making it 4-3 to the Pumas and not allowing the spectators to catch their breath.
Chances were still coming and going, but the game was buried with ten minutes left when substitute Anthony Curtis turned smartly and passed the ball across the keeper and into the bottom corner for 5-3, sending the Pumas support into raptures.
The Dockers pressed but the damage was done, and the game finished with both sides shattered after giving everything for 90 minutes.
The Pumas would like to thank referee Graham Harry and SW Dockers for being part of a marvellous spectacle.
Well done the Pumas and bring on the next round – either Cadoxton Athletic or Master Mariner could be the next victims!
FC Pumas: Michael Webb, Davey Allen, Ian Weavers, Anthony Powell, Tom Baldwin, Anthony Partridge, Gwyn Good, Marcus Jones, Clive Riley, Chris Woodward, Jamie Randall, Scott Chritoforato, Anthony Curtis, Mark Chritoforato, Adam Evans, Nick Good.
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