Cadoxton Barry 3 - 3 Rhoose Social

CADOXTON Barry should really have been more than three goals up and well out of sight by half time - such was the difference in the quality of the two sides during the first half.

That they weren't was only down to their inability to finish more of the abundant chances that they created for themselves.

If they had, the two questionable penalties that the referee awarded against them in the second half would have been irrelevant.

But, as it was, their inability to convert those chances cost them dearly.

Evenly balanced early sparing was book marked by a sudden Cadoxton Barry scoring spree which looked as though it would totally blow the Social challenge away.

It started when Des Evans took control of the ball from a long throw in on the left.

Running towards the by line, it looked as though he was trying to find space for the cross, but instead, he jinxed past two defenders before cutting back to finish a fine solo goal. And almost straight from the re-start the same player received yet another throw which set him off on a run at goal which ended with a shot that found home via the 'keeper's legs.

But this 90 second Des Evans double wasn't quite the end of the Cadoxton Barry blitz as, only a further two minutes on, Cummins took control of the ball on the wing before cutting inside his marker to fire home a third for Cadoxton Barry on the 25 minute mark.

Cadoxton Barry continued to press, but by now had seemingly entered a phase that saw them continually take the wrong option when well placed. So, despite being three down, plucky Social resolved not to surrender this early.

And a bit of help was not to be turned away when a long and high bouncing ball saw CB 'keeper Burboyne come forward to gather as a visiting forward bore down upon him. Arriving first, he comfortably palmed the ball away.

However, the forward had come in with such momentum that, with the ball well on its way to safety, he continued to plough into Burboyne's still outstretched arms.

Surprisingly, although the momentum was in the direction of the 'keeper, the referee insisted on seeing it as a push from the 'keeper rather than a barging into the 'keeper which it actually was.

The resultant penalty was confidently converted by Social. And so this unexpected boost saw the visitors lift their game to see them, for a short spell, matching their hosts in the possession stakes.

And an attack down the right saw the winger get away from his marker to be brought down about eighteen inches outside the right corner of the box. Maybe it was a trick of the light that made the referee point to the penalty spot, but point he did.

And so, with a second penalty converted Social found that, thanks to a little help from the referee, they had something to battle for. And battle they did, as a couple of late CB substitutions saw them go slightly off kilter momentarily.

At this time there were a couple of moments of hilarity as a dog arrived on the pitch to perform directly in front of the Social 'keeper. Following the clean up operation Cadoxton Barry began to regain the upper hand as they pressed once more.

But it was to no avail as a now solid Social defence dug in to frustrate all CB's efforts. Among them was a golden opportunity spurned by Evo Evans who, following a run in from the right, had only the 'keeper to beat at close range. But somehow the shot went wide of the far post instead of into the net.

And it was a miss that CB came to regret as a break forward saw Social score the goal of the game. CB seemingly thwarted the attack and tried to play the ball out from the back as they often do. But the casual approach saw them robbed of the ball which bounced nicely for the right winger to sweetly volley home for Social's only engineered goal of the match.

Although CB went back on the offensive for the remainder of the game, Social were not about to let their hard work in squaring things up go to waste. And despite the late pressure on them they never looked like conceding again.

Next Saturday Cadoxton Barry take the short trip to Burnham Avenue in Sully to take on Vale Madrid in a 2pm kick off - though, why a side whose name suggests that it comes from further afield plays it's home games in Sully, I'm yet to understand.