Blaenrhondda 1 Dinas Powys AFC 2

IT WAS cup duty last Saturday for Dinas Powys AFC when they travelled to the top end of the Valleys to play Blaenrhondda in the third round of the league cup. The team broke their sequence of draws and came away with a close but deserved 2-1 victory.

The opposition are in a division lower to the Villagers and were determined to add another scalp to their belt in the quest for giant killing glory.

With Leonne Jeanne unavailable due to illness, manager Gavin Price included youngster David Mwasigallah from the second team in the starting XI.

Dinas were on the offensive straight away and a series of in-swinging corners from Anthony Ferguson had the hosts in all sorts of trouble. It was no surprise when the Villagers took the lead after only ten minutes of play.

A short pass from striker Ali Kiyaga found Jason Cowans surging forward from midfield. He took it in his stride and found the corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.

One of the team's failings this season has been their inability to make sides pay when they are on top and sure enough they allowed the hosts back into the game and the equaliser was chalked up after 20 minutes. A free kick on the left was driven in and hammered into the net from close range.

In an effort to boost the team's goal tally, Price had moved midfielder Leigh Vick up front to partner Kiyaga and this almost paid dividends just before the break. AFter an excellent through ball from Ferguson, Vick beat the offside trap but the keeper denied him with a good save.

Just after the break, Vick played his part in the Villagers' second. He challenged the keeper in a 50-50 and Kiyaga was on hand to tap in the loose ball. On the hour, Vick was again denied when his curling free kick struck the crossbar. Ferguson almost made it safe with a third but was ruled marginally offside.

The home side threw everything forward in the last few minutes in a frantic effort to take the game into extra time but Dinas held out. A last ditch tackle from Lloyd Davies and a couple of classy saves from Billy Clarke were the highlights.

The victory takes the team into the quarter-finals but this Saturday it's back to league duty when they travel to Maesteg Park. The opposition are a place below Dinas with two games in hand.

The seconds maintained their impressive form with a 3-0 victory against Llwydcoed. Gareth Hemmens with a brace and Gareth Shaw were the scorers.