Despite Rory McCreesh saving two penalties we still lost 3-2 at Cwmamman United. The first penalty given after 10 minutes seemed harsh as Cai Owens was only a couple of yards away from the  ball when a striker shot at goal. McCreesh guessed correctly and turned the ball away for a corner. We then played Noh Daley in but he was forced wide and found the supporting Jack Underwood but his goalbound  shot was cleared. A Lido throw caused problems in the Cwmamman defence and the ball was kicked against Sacha Walters and rebounded inches the wrong side (for us) of the post. We took the lead on 23 minutes when Chris Curtis failed to hold a free kick and Cai Owens netted. Disappointingly we failed to hang on to the lead for any length of time, Rory McCreesh made two diving saves to initially deny an equaliser but he was powerless to stop Ashley Curtis’ shot from the edge of the area which hit the underside of the bar before nestling in the net. As the half progressed McCreesh again made some quality saves while James Parry played a great cross into the Cwmamman area but no Lido player attacked the ball and the chance was lost.

We went behind two minutes into the second half, after Cwmamman attacked down their left, and played the ball in to Ashley Curtis who scored with a right footed shot.  Worse was to come when 6 minutes into the half it was 3-1. We should have pulled a goal back on the hour when Sacha Walters was played in on goal but his shot hit Chris Curtis and went out for a corner. Good defending on our part prevented a fourth goal, several players put their bodies on the line to block goalbound shots. Eventually the ball ran out for a corner, from that Cwmamman were awarded their second penalty but again McCreesh guessed correctly to push the ball away. We had a lifeline with 6 minutes to go, Curtis failed to hold a Chris Hartland shot and Noah Daley was on the spot to turn it in. In added on time he had a chance to level the scores but Curtis spread himself to prevent Noah’s shot going in.

Rory McCreesh  2 Kieran Parsons  3 James Parry  4 Cai Owens  5 Alex Gammond

6 Kieran Howells  7 Liam McCreesh  8 Jack Underwood  9 Noah Daley 10 Chris Hartland

11 Sacha Walters

Subs  12 Jamie Karnsang for Sacha Walters 77  – 14 Josh Webber for Jack Underwood 77

15 Taylor Evans – 16 Paul Evans

The youth beat Trefelin 3-0 to finish unbeaten in their home fixtures. Noah Daley gave us the lead on 6 minutes, both sides missed chances before Patrick Fineral doubled the lead on 75 minutes before wrapping up the scoring on 89 minutes.

Goytre this week signed a number of players in an effort to avoid the drop and their new look team took the game to the Lido in the early stages. They had the bulk of possession and position without troubling the Lido goal. It was this pressing that cost them the Lido goal, a Goytre attack broke down and the ball was played forward to Noah Daley on the halfway line. He was too strong for the defender and raced clear towards the goal. The Goytre keeper came out to narrow the angle but Noah confidently fired it past him from just outside the area to give the Lido a 14th minute lead. Encouraged by this goal Lido pressed forward and Jamie Karnsang played a square ball to Chris Hartland just outside the area but his first time shot went just over the crossbar. Sacha Walters on his return from injury also hit a first time shot over the bar as the Lido looked for a second goal. Again on the half hour Sacha from outside the area saw his shot go over the bar. Goytre looked for an equaliser before the interval and the returning Dan McDonald fired wide from the edge of the area.

Noah Daley won the ball in the early seconds of the second half and cut in from the touchline but lost the ball, it fell nicely for Alex Gammond who hit a first time shot straight at the keeper. Goytre had a great chance to equalise on 51 minutes when a corner flashed across the face of the goal but no-one was able to get a touch and the chance was lost. Lido responded with a couple of corners of their own but Alex Gammond was unable to direct his header on target and the ball flashed wide of the post. Jamie Karnsang had a great chance to double the lead on 65 minutes when he raced on to a square ball but as he went to hit it the ball bobbled and his effort went wide. On 68 minutes Rory McCreesh made a fine save diving high to his right to just tip away a header but Goytre looked as though they were getting back into the game and so it proved when they equalised on 73 minutes. Lido cleared a Goytre corner but Goytre skipper Kris Leek hit an unstoppable thirty yarder that flew into the top of the net. 3 minutes later Neil Thomas almost restored the Lido lead but his left footed shot went the wrong side of the post. Both sides looked for a winner in the final 10 minutes with the Lido tending to snatch at long shots rather than work the ball into the area. However with 2 minutes to go Alex Gammond got on the end of a Cai Owens throw and his goalbound effort was tipped around the post by Ben Fletcher in the Goytre goal to ensure a point for the visitors.

.Rory McCreesh  2 Kieran Parsons  3 Jack Fleming  4 James Parry  5 Jamie Karnsang  6 Neil Thomas  7 Chris Hartland  8 Alex Gammond  9 Noah Daley 10 Cai Owens 11 Sacha Walters

Subs  12 Jack Underwood  for Sacha Walters 85  – 15 Patrick Finneral for Neil Thomas 77 – 16 Lewis Clement  – 17 Paul Evans

A young Reserve side came back from a 2 goal deficit to win 3-2 at Swansea University on Saturday. Jamie Karnsang scored the first with an unstoppable shot and Noah Daley scored the other 2. Credit to the youngsters who battled hard and tackled everything in sight to protect their lead.

Two first half goals by Patrick Fineral was enough to beat Port Talbot at Victoria Road on Sunday. He scored after 35 and 40 minutes, both sides missed chances but the young Reds side picked up a deserved 3 points.

Debutant Neil Thomas gave us the lead on 6 minutes only for Luke Gullick to level on 10. Noah Daley restored the lead on 63 minutes and despite being without several first choice players we held on for another away win.

The youth led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a terrific shot from Noah Daley on 16 minutes. However we failed to capitalise with a strong wind at our backs. Pontardawe equalised on 70 minutes and both sides had chances to win the game. However once again we lacked a clinical finish in front of goal. The Pontardawe keeper made a couple of good saves but several chances went begging.