A goal in each half from debutantes Michael Waters and Steve Cox gave us a hard earned win of Ton Pentre.  This was Ton's first away defeat of the season.  Also included in a new look side was keeper Leon Cosker making his debut while there was a welcome return for Ian Jones. We won the ball off Ton's kick off and fed Steve Davies who made ground but his cross was just too far ahead of Michael Waters.  A poor cross stopped Ton's first attack and we had a period where neither side wanted to keep the ball.  Players on both sides were misdirecting passes and while it was perhaps understandable for us as we haven't played a competitive game in some weeks there was no excuse for the visitors but perhaps they were worried about our new team.

On six minutes we played Shaun Best in but he was tackled right on the edge of the area but in clearing Ton conceded a free kick 30 yards out.  Dan Williams took the free kick which was turned behind for a corner which was cleared to Andrew Pearson who fed Steve Davies but his shot was wide.  On the quarter hour mark Steve Davies carried the ball 70 yards but his cross went over the bar.  We then had a free kick on the edge of the centre circle taken by Dan Williams, it was too long and went through to the keeper but he spilled the ball but recovered before anyone made challenge.  But there were some encouraging signs of panic in the Ton defence which continued throughout the game.  Ton however should have taken the lead on 18 minutes when they beat the offside trap and with only Leon Cosker to beat their striker passed the ball wide to former Lido midfielder Nicky Jones but he shot so wide it went for a throw in.  We went down the other end and Andrew Pearson found Ian Jones with a long throw, however Ian's knock down wasn't picked up by us and the chance had gone. After 23 minutes Ton took a quick free kick which no-one picked up and they shot just over the bar.  Again we were open at the back and Ton failed to score however it wouldn't have counted as the flag was up for offside.   We were living dangerously at this point and a poor pass from Karl Roberts set up the visitors again.  They went forward but Leon Cosker tipped the shot over for a corner.  In their next attack they headed just wide and it looked a matter of time before they scored.  From the goal kick Karl Roberts fed Ian Jones who's shot was blocked and rebounded to Michael Waters but his shot went just wide.  Ton continued to be wasteful in front of goal and then we took the lead, Shaun Best chased a long ball and the keeper and defender collided, the keeper got back into position and Steve Davies picked up the loose ball and crossed to Ian Jones.  Ian's shot was brilliantly saved by Ellacott in goal but it fell kindly for Michael Waters to fire home his first goal for the club. 

Right on half time we had a free kick 25 yards out but Andrew Pearson's shot went just over the bar. In a repetition of the first half kick off Steve Davies sped down the right and was fouled Michael Waters took the free kick which was played back out to him.  He put in another cross which the keeper punched clear under pressure from Ian Jones.  We went two up on 51 minutes, Dan Williams took a free kick on the half way which found Ian Jones before Steve Cox on his debut lifted a left footed shot over the keeper and just under the bar. This now gave us some breathing space and we played with more confidence. Most of Ton's attacks now were being snuffed out before getting to the area. However on the hour mark they did shoot wide from a good position.  We had another free kick five minutes later which found Andrew Pearson in the area, he tried to get himself into a shooting position but eventually he was crowded out.  With 20 minutes to go we had a couple of scares, firstly a Ton header was straight at Leon Cosker before Leon and Karl Roberts collided inside the six yard box but Karl recovered and cleared the danger before a Ton player could take advantage.  With 15 minutes to go Ton knocked the ball into the area and appealed for a penalty for hand ball, the referee waved away their appeals. With minutes to go Ton had a corner which with great difficulty we cleared, we went down the other end and again the keeper saved well from Ian Jones.  In added on time he again had the better of Ianto when he made a good save to his right.

Lido side

Leon Cosker  Karl Roberts  Craig Martin  Dan Williams  Steve Cox  Shaun Best  Steve Davies  Kieran Howells Ian Jones  Andrew Pearson   Michael Waters.

Subs   12  Chris Latham
          14 Justin Williams
          15 Corey Thomas
          16 Carl Edwards for Shaun Best 77
          17 Rory McCreesh

Attendance:250

Report by Peter Reynolds.