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An Afan Lido side starting with 7 youth players in the line up with another 3 on the bench were denied a famous victory when Ento equalised in the 91st minute. Overall we played some excellent football and but for some inexperience and a bumpy end of season pitch we deserved to score a few more. Matt Beynon having been a substitute against Bryntirion made his full debut at right back. As early as the third minute Corey and Damon Thomas combined and passed inside to Michael Waters who made ground but shot over the bar from a wide position in the area. Matt Beynon, Damon Thomas and Carl Payne combined well down the right but Ento were awarded a free kick on the edge of their penalty area. We won the ball back from the free kick and Matt Beynon found Damon Thomas who beat the defender but the linesman flagged and gave Ento another free kick. We weren't to be denied however and we won a corner left side, Luke Borrelli knocked the ball into the middle and the ball was only cleared to the edge of the area, we played it back in to Damon Thomas who turned and shot low to the keeper's left from 8 yards to score his first goal since Garw on August 31st. We continued to dictate matters but the ref gave a free kick against Shaun Morgan for handball when the ball was fired at him from two yards. Luckily for us the free kick was wasted, going out for a goal kick. Corey Thomas went down the left and cut inside and despite being fouled managed to get the ball to Damon Thomas who shot from the edge of the area but it went just wide. Ento won their first corner after 20 minutes and we couldn't get the ball out of the area until a shot came in and was chested off the line and finally cleared to safety. Our inexperience showed in a couple of attacks, Luke Borrelli played the ball in to Carl Payne and with Corey Thomas ready to come inside Carl played a poor pass and the chance was gone. Minutes later Corey Thomas headed the ball over the last defender but Luke Borrelli had strayed offside and another goalscoring opportunity went. We did get the ball in the net after 36 minutes but it was ruled out for a foul by Shaun Morgan. It followed us winning a corner after a 4 man move Shaun won the ball from the corner and fed Michael Waters but the ball bobbled away from him. Shaun then won the ball back and netted but the ref gave a free kick against him. Ento almost equalised 5 minutes before the interval, one of their strikers had the ball 30 yards out and his shot caught out Leon Cosker but went just wide of his left hand post. Ento had obviously had a half time roasting as they came out with all guns blazing. Dan Williams who was covering acres of ground in the back slipped just outside our area but regained his footing and got back to make a telling tackle just inside the area. We tended to put ourselves under pressure on times, Leon Cosker instead of booming the ball 60 yards down the field decided to throw it out to Remi Whitelock, it was poor throw and was picked up by an Ento player but his shot went over the bar. On the hour Ento were awarded yet another free kick, but we cleared the ball to Carl Payne who ran 60 yards beating off 2 illegal attempts to stop him got into the box and was again fouled, inexperience dictated he stayed on his feet instead of perhaps winning a penalty and when everyone expected him to shoot he tried to play the ball inside to Corey Thomas but unfortunately for us the only defender back managed to head the ball out for a corner. 5 minutes later Carl was again at the forefront when following good work down our left Michael Waters crossed at pace, Carl Payne running in headed the ball from the edge of the area and with the keeper beaten the ball just grazed the crossbar and went for a goal kick. Ento came back courtesy of several free kicks and corners but we held generally firm at the back. However the pressure was increasing and on times we did struggle to clear our lines, we weren't being helped by the officials as Ento had a free kick that seemed to go for a goal kick but was headed back towards goal, Leon got a touch on it and instead of a goal kick we faced another corner. With less than 10 minutes to go Ento were actually caught offside much to the amusement of our supporters, it was probably the first of the second half. In added on time we lost the ball in the centre circle Ento knocked the ball to the right and got down the wing to send a deep cross beyond the far post for Richard Jago to power home a header and save his side. The home side's celebrations were something you had to see to believe considering they were playing virtually our youth. 90 seconds later the final whistle went on what was a most encouraging performance from a young side. Lido side: Subs:
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