Afan Lido Football Club

If the name of the game is to win, well we did it but our performance must have left our second division opponents wondering why we are fourth in division one. We played into a strong wind in the first half and despite playing poorly we could have scored three in the first half but we came in at the break one down.

From the kick off we won the ball and played it forward for Mark Jones to run on to, he only had the keeper to beat but he failed to make any connection with the ball and they cleared it. Shaun Galsworthy headed the ball forward to Nathan White wide left, why is our leading scorer playing wide left? Anyway Nathan made ground cut in and shot forcing the keeper to make a diving save to his left. We had a throw by the right corner flag which was played to Rhys Williams but his shot went over the bar. On 7 minutes Mark Jones was fouled 25 yards out, Craig Baker's kick found Nathan White whose shot was blocked and went behind for a corner. The corner was punched out by the keeper but we played it back into the box and several players had shots which were blocked before they finally cleared the danger. After this Quins finally had some possession and started to grow in confidence, we began hitting first time balls and ended up giving possession back to them. It was no surprise when they took lead on 16 minutes, one ball over the defence found their 9 Grant Thompson giving chase and with Mike Lewis 15 yards out he lobbed it over him into the net. We continued to look second best but on the half hour Nathan White was unlucky when he shot first time and hit the post from 15 yards, the ball rebounded to Carl Payne but his shot was turned behind for a corner. Rhys Williams did well on 35 minutes to cut out a cross ball into our area with two attackers behind him. 4 minutes before the break Carl Payne lost the ball in midfield, Quins played it wide right and in to Grant Thompson who should have made it two but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. We went down the other end and won a free kick in the box when the keeper regathered the ball after releasing it. Gavin Jones played it across the face of goal and Rhys Williams headed wide from a couple of yards. We started the second half with a couple of corners, the second found Carl Payne but his shot hit a defender and was cleared. Quins had a free kick on the half way which Scott Hillman headed out, they played it back in and Mike Lewis went down at the attacker's feet to turn the ball behind for a corner.

On the hour Scott McCoubrey replaced Craig Baker and he should have equalised with his first touch but from three yards he managed it hit the keeper and then put the rebound wide! Finally on 65 minutes we were level, Robert Cockings took a throw in ten yards out and found Mark Jones deep in the area, Mark turned and found Scott McCoubrey who shot from 7 yards to put us level. 4 minutes later we were ahead, we were awarded a corner on the right which was knocked beyond the far post and Mark Jones found himself space and turned the ball in from 5 yards. James McEvoy then played the ball the Carl Payne who found Mark Jones but this time he shot over the bar. Quins won a corner off Rhys Williams but Mike Lewis came out to hold the ball and clear. With a quarter of an hour to go we won a corner which Quins cleared and they broke quickly but Shaun Galsworthy was back to clear. It was a sign that we needed a third goal to put this game to bed. With 10 minutes to go the Quins attacked and we couldn't clear the ball from our area those that tried to kick it clear only seemed to hit another player to keep the ball in the danger area before it was finally cleared to Scott McCoubrey who took it level with their area but with Nathan White steaming up for a square ball and a run on goal Scott took it back towards the half way line to find support. With a minute to go Mark Jones played Scott McCoubrey in with only the keeper to beat, but once again Scott only hit the keeper. Somehow in added on time they lost the ball deep in their half, Scott this time drew the keeper and played the ball square for Mark Jones with all the time in the world to stroll forward and make it three

 

Lido side:
Mike Lewis, Scott Hillman, Robert Cockings, Rhys Williams, Shaun Galsworthy, Carl Payne, Craig Baker, James McEvoy, Mark Jones, Nathan White, Gavin Jones.

 

Subs:
12 Matt Beynon
14 Vince Lewis
15 Chris Latham for Nathan White 82
16 Scott McCoubrey for Craig Baker 59

 

Goals: Scott McCoubrey 65,  Mark Jones 69 and 90+2

 

Booking: Carl Payne 64

 

Match Report by Peter Reynolds