Students hit back against South Pembs.
UW CARDIFF 2
SOUTH PEMBS. 2
This weekend saw South Pembs., without influential midfielder Tim Lounds, travel to Cardiff to face a strong student outfit in South Wales Division One; the students had not lost at home all season.
The game began at a very fast pace, with South Pembs. dominating the majority of possession. The Cardiff 'keeper was sprung into action after only a couple of minutes when a pin-point pass from captain Bernie Wheeler found the end of Jamie Smith's stick. The front man drew the 'keeper out well and was unlucky to see his shot deviate slightly away from the goalmouth.
The away side had this match firmly in their grasp, but the students always looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
After 10 minutes, a simple interchange of passes between Robbie Woods and Steve Kendrick allowed Woods to spring past several defenders, before cutting into the D. Unfortunately for Woods, he was impeded by a defender just as he intended to pass to Freddy Fordham at the back post. The umpire had little choice but to award a penalty corner, which allowed Wheeler to find Smith who dispatched his shot with venom and see the ball nestle nicely in the back of the goal.
The game restarted with South Pembs. dominating in all areas. However, it was Cardiff who came closest to equalising. South Pembs. had Dave Miller to thank after the veteran 'keeper dived low to his left-hand side to parry a shot onto the post, with Nigel Thomas on hand to clear the danger.
After the break, Cardiff came out firing on all cylinders. Dave Miller and his established back line of Irving, Moseley, Stear and Thomas had several clearances to make and had to be on their guard at all times.
It was a great relief to South Pembs. when substitute Brian Minney won the ball in midfield and guided his pass to Hannaford who in turn found Fordham who delivered an accurate aerial ball to Kendrick in the far right-hand corner. Kendrick squared the ball back to Woods, who raced into the circle, before being impeded yet again. This allowed Pembroke to carry out a training ground routine, with Wheeler feeding Fordham, who then cleverly lifted the ball into the roof of the net.
This sucker punch turned the game on its head. South Pembs. became starved of possession and had to repel attack after attack and despite the valiant efforts of the defence, Cardiff got their just reward after a goalmouth scramble.
Their second goal was almost a carbon copy of the first, which Miller could do nothing to prevent.
South Pembs. are of course very disappointed to have lost a two-goal lead, but intend to pick their heads up in time for a crunch match away at UWIC next weekend. This match will also signify the halfway point of the season and all involved hope that the team can remain at the top of the league over the festive season.
Once again, thanks go to Jane Wheeler for her umpiring services and the university team for their sportsmanlike attitude.
Team: D. Miller, N. Thomas, S. Irving, S. Moseley, A. Stear, B. Wheeler, R. Woods, H. Hannaford, S. Kendrick, I. Fordham, J. Smith, B. Minney. Match sponsors: W. P. Lewis Garage (Nissan), Neyland.