Caerau Ely 0 Afan Lido 2

Two new signings, Ben Symons at full back and the much travelled Kaid Mohamed up front. Caerau Ely lost 5-0 away at Haverfordwest on the opening day and have a relatively young side but they started on the attack with a shot from the edge of the area going just wide. Ben Symons headed a free kick clear but it was picked up by the Caerau midfield and played back into the box for a Caerau player to head the ball goalwards but it lacked power and was straight Steve Cann who easily gathered the ball. Noah Daley went on a run down the left wind but his cross was cut out and cleared. Caerau broke quickly but Lewis Holmes stood strong and held up the attack. Ben Symons played a good ball down the right touchline for Bradley Flay and he won a corner. From a planned move the ball was played into the area and a couple of players tried to turn the ball in but the successful one was Steve Morris for his first goal. Liam McCreesh then played a great ball into the box for Noah Daley to head in but he had drifted offside. Another McCreesh ball found Kaid Mohamed in the area, he rounded the keeper but again the offside flag was up. Caerau Ely were awarded a free kick 40 yards out, it was played into the box and we blocked a shot, the rebound went to another Caerau player but he hooked the ball over the crossbar from close range. On the half hour we coolly played the ball out of defence with several players involved but it ended with an overhit pass resulting in another Caerau attack which we again cleared. Ben Symons was combining well with Bradley Flay down the right wing and several dangerous crosses were cleared by the Caerau defence. Late in the first half Caerau played a free kick short went down the right but from a good position shot wide.

The early minutes of the second half was almost a repeat of the first. Caerau attacked and had plenty of possession. Steve Cann came out to punch a corner clear and a Caerau player tried his luck from distance but his shot went wide. Kaid Mohamed then got to the bye line and this time it was the Caerau keeper’s turn to punch away his cross. Just after the hour Kaid picked up the ball, made ground but was tackled on the edge of the area the ball went was played wide to Sacha Walters who crossed in for Liam McCreesh but his header went over the bar. At this point around 65 minutes play was end to end with neither side taking control of the game. Then Sean Hanbury found Bradley Flay wide, he cut inside and the ball went out for a Lido throw. We put in a couple of crosses but the Caerau defence held firm. Kaid Mohamed received the ball on the left, cut inside and looked dangerous but his touch let him down and the ball went through to the keeper. With 15 minutes to go Steve Cann saved a Caerau shot but the ball rebounded to another Caerau player, his goalbound shot was blocked by Ben Symons and cleared. Liam McCreesh picked up the clearance and played the ball in for Kaid Mohamed but the keeper was quickly out to save. With 9 minutes to go we scored the second to almost make the 3 points safe. A Caerau defender had the ball forty yards from goal with no-one behind him, he dwelt on the ball and Bradley Flay nipped in to steal it Kaid Mohamed then took the ball into the area and slotted it low to the keeper’s left.

With 5 minutes to go Liam McCreesh again found Kaid Mohamed wide left, he in turn crossed the ball in for Alex Gammond but his shot from a reasonable position went wide. Kaid was seeing a lot of the ball at this stage of the game and he hit the ball wide for Sacha Walters but he was flagged offside. In the closing stages the ball was crossed in for Bradley Flay but his first time effort went wide.