South Wales Senior League Division Two

Cadoxton Barry FC 4 (Beatty, Morgan, Thompson and Williams) Penrhiwceiber Cons 1 (Bennett)

IT IS unusual for a small community to possess more than one football team. But that is the case in the small Cynon Valley former mining village of Penrhiwceiber where Penrhiwceiber Rangers, Penrhiwceiber Cons and Tynte Rovers are equally successful at the levels at which they play.

Indeed all three home grounds are only a stone's throw apart. But last Saturday wasn't quite such a good day in the friendly little village with Rangers and Cons probably wishing that they had never heard of the town of Barry.

For whilst Barry Town United were earning a fine away victory at the Rangers' ground, Cadoxton Barry, were seeing off one of their most serious rivals for the South Wales Senior League Division Two title – Penrhiwceiber Cons.

Though Penrhiwceiber earned a corner straight from the kick off, Cadoxton Barry took the early initiative, a move started by Dawson with a fine forward pass to Oaten eventually reaching Morgan whose shot was only just wide of the right side post.

But it wasn't long before CB were in the lead as, with 10 minutes on the clock, Penrhiwceiber cleared a corner with the ball coming out to Oaten who spotted full back Beatty making a forward run through the middle.

And the slide rule cross turned out to be just perfect for Beatty to finish from just inside the box.

The second goal came when a ballooned cross field clearance fell to Morgan who set out on a diagonal left to right run, at the end of which he spotted the 'keeper coming forward.

So Morgan's high dipping shot was just what was called for to ensure that the ball came down to nestle in the far right of the net.

That 17th minute goal was the cue for CB to sit back on their laurels as Penrhiwceiber came at them with everything they had right up to the half time whistle.

The pressure was intense as only wayward finishing and fine goalkeeping from Harker kept CB's lead intact, a loose ball on the right inviting a vicious low shot that had Harker making a fine save at the foot of the right post.

Relentlessly, Penrhiwceiber pressed forward on the CB goal. So it was no surprise when CB eventually conceded a penalty, the referee ruling a Walsh tackle to be foul play.

The spot kick came in low and powerful, but Harker was down on it in an instant.

The danger wasn't over, however, as Penrhiwceiber players bore down on the loose ball, but not fast enough to prevent Adams and Beatty clearing in a joint venture.

But no sooner had CB finished sighing at that let off, than Curran was called upon to make a goal line clearance.

Shots were now raining in at the CB goal from all distances and all angles.

It has to said that the visitors had enough chances to have nullified CB's lead and taken the lead themselves well before half time.

That they didn't was, in part, down to some woeful finishing - a header across the face of an open CB goal being blasted high and wide when it would have been easier to score.

Penrhiwceiber continued to press into the early stages of the second half to eventually gain their just desserts when an attack down the left evolved into a quality series of passing triangles before Bennett passed the ball home on the left side from close range - a goal of the highest quality.

With their heads up, it now seemed that it would be only a matter of time before CB succumbed. But that didn't happen as CB started to show a little more resistance.

By the time that Scott Williams replaced Baker in the 55th minute CB were back in some kind of shape.

A Scott Williams free kick from 25 yards then heralded what was to become a total reversal as it fizzed just wide from a deflection.

Thompson came on for the limping Oaten in the 60th minute and it wasn't long before he made his mark in the game.

A Beatty header forward set him up, but with the boggy part of the penalty box ahead of him, he still had it all to do.

He ploughed on through the mire to the firmer ground before firing home from 12 yards.

Roles were now completely reversed, but Penrhiwceiber weren't completely spent, Harker making another fine save as he dropped to smother a powerful shot.

But back came CB as a Walsh forward ball set Thompson up once more. However, the shot curled just wide of the right hand post.

Penrhiwceiber were now struggling to get the ball over the half way line and only two marginal offside calls prevented CB from chalking up two more possible goals.

However, with Sam Williams replacing Steel late on, there was still just time to wrap up a vital victory with a goal of real quality.

Walsh fed forward to Thompson who set off on a devastating run down the left. He had an option to shoot but saw Scott Williams on a run through the middle and so opted for the cross.

Williams gratefully accepted to finish with compliments. There was hardly time for the re-start before the referee blew to end an intriguing see-saw of a game.

With no further title contenders to face before the close of the season, this win makes CB favourites by a nose. But nothing can be taken for granted in a division where lowly sides often surprise the pacemakers.

Cadoxton Barry will have to remain on their toes when they travel to Port Talbot next Saturday to take on lowly Margam YC. Kick off at 2pm.