Match Report: Rhondda Vets 5 V Llantrisant Vets 4

Date 16th November 2008

Llantrisant travelled to group neighbours Rhondda Vets for their first meeting in this newly established Local derby.
The match was played in a very competitive spirit with both sets of players having played one another in the local leagues over the years of their respective careers and both sides were determined not to finish at the bottom of the group.

The first half flowed with end to end attacking football in poor under foot conditions and both keepers were tested in the early exchanges, the Rhondda side went ahead from prolific Lee Brown when he fired home from 12 yards (1-0) and then Rhondda side endured a period of heavy pressure from stunned Llantrisant side who were thwarted on numerous occasions by their ex keeper Mark Mayes in goal, but Rhondda survived and then counter attacked and scored their second from Darren Hughes (2-0) firing home from close range.

At the 20 minute stage Llantrisant made 4 substitute changes and they were rewarded following a sustained period of pressure on the Rhondda goal when they were awarded with a penalty for deliberate handball and Peter Shilton scored on the rebound after Mayes had saved his first attempt, sadly Peter was injured in the process had to leave the pitch and required 4 stitches in the wound and missed the rest of the match. (2-1) The Rhondda team reacted straight away and scored on their next attack with Lee Brown Firing home from 12 yards out. (3-1).

Llantrisant’s never say die spirit was in full flow now and following numerous attacks on the Rhondda goal they scored when attacking midfielder Adrian James broke through the middle feeding Robbie Ryan out on the left wing, he jinked past the full back and then picked out Gwy Young breaking in from the right wing who fired his shot on target which Mayes in the home goal could only parry towards the on-running Adrian James who fired in from 8 yards. (3-2)

The Rhondda team reacted well and scored shortly afterwards with Gary Williams Firing home from an acute angle. (4-2) The Llantrisant team who are never one’s to give in, responded with yet another driving attack which resulted in Pepe Mele testing Mayes in the home goal from close range and his save rebound to Gwy Young 10 yards out and he coolly fired home to make it 4-3 just before the half time break.
Half Time 4-3 (phew! we all needed to stop to catch our breath)

Both teams came out refreshed after the break and continued to entertain the crowd with end to end football and after the high scoring first half the goals dried up a little, however the home side edged towards the 3 points when Stuart Green scored following a scuffed clearance from Dunn in the Llantrisant goal and he stroked the ball into an empty net with 15 minutes remaining (5-3). This game was now hanging in the balance and both teams were going all out for the win and the home team were now looking favourites.

Llantrisant true to form responded again and deservedly scored after a sustained period of pressure when they forced a corner on the right, Adrian James floated in the corner for Tyrone Pope to rise majestically to fire home a bullet header which left the inspirational Mayes flapping in the goal. (5-4 with five minutes remaining) Despite their best efforts in the last minutes of the game Llantrisant couldn’t find the equaliser their efforts fully deserved.

A special word of thanks to Wayne who gave up the chance to play in order to referee the game.