Bryncoch Blacks 2--- Cimla United 3

O.Evans(2)

C. Underwood

Match-day Squad: Calim Bowen, Dafydd Davies, James Edwards, Owen Evans, Lucianna Linchano, Steffan Lupton, Toby Oliver, Morgan Pemberton, Matthew Phipps, Sam Rowe, Cameron Underwood, Ben Wyatt,

The Cimla team signaled their intention to battle for every ball as Morgan produced an excellent tackle to give Cimla possession in the opening seconds. However the first half was to see the excellent Bryncoch side be able to settle quickly into a pattern of play which brought them early success when a controlled run through the midfield ended with a well struck effort that saw the ball nestle into the Cimla net. Cimla’s response was immediate and they were unlucky not to be back on level terms as Steffan was put through but his shot went agonizingly wide. Tactical changes by the Cimla management saw Owen come on from the bench and this was to prove crucial as Cimla mounted a good attack which resulted in a well struck effort being deflected wide. The Bryncoch defence were unable to deal with the resulting corner which was expertly fired in by Owen and this returned the scores to level. There followed a well contested period where Toby and Calim were magnificent in breaking up some promising midfield moves from Bryncoch. Ben, James and Matthew were also involved in breaking down the Bryncoch goal threat as they were interchanged by the Cimla team management. The deadlock was broken by Bryncoch when a throw-in was expertly struck on the turn from distance and rifled into the top right hand corner of the Cimla net. The Cimla response was immediate as Steffan was put through on goal from the restart only to see his excellent effort deflected wide for a corner. An even first period ended with the Cimla side trailing by 2 goals to1.

A master tactical stroke at half-time saw Dafydd move into goals and the second period saw him make a succession of outstanding saves both from distance and also bravely at the feet of Bryncoch attackers. This move also allowed Cameron to link up with Owen in attack.

An excellent clearance from James found Lucianna in space who played a perfect through ball to Cameron whose fierce shot leveled the scores once again at 2-2. Cimla grew in confidence from this and further substitutions saw excellent work in breaking up play from both Sam and Lucianna on debut. The Bryncoch second goal was almost matched when Cameron saw his looping effort from a throw-in well saved by the Bryncoch keeper. The level scoreline lead to some end to end play where Cameron was again put through when a Bryncoch attack was broken up by an excellent tackle from Matthew, but the resulting effort was again well saved. The decisive moment came when a further Bryncoch attack was foiled by some excellent defending and Cameron found himself in space, and after controlling the ball he laid it forward to Owen, whose superb control on the turn took him away from the final defender to finish expertly over the Bryncoch keeper. Bryncoch pressed hard in the dying moments of the game but the Cimla defence stood firm to earn a hard fought but well deserved victory, which was greeted with delight by both the Cimla players and also their traveling supporters.