Glynneath Town 2--- Cimla United 2

S. Lupton

T. Oliver

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

The Cimla team looked lively from the start of this early morning kick off, earning a corner almost immediately from the start. The early exchanges saw a succession of chances fall to the Cimla side. Morgan in particular was unlucky as he saw efforts deflected wide and also well saved by the Glynneath keeper who had an outstanding match. However, Cimla needed to remain alert in defence and the back three of Dafydd, James, and Matthew all looked solid. Glynneath’s first goal attempt was well saved by Calim. The majority of chances continued to fall to Cimla but they were continually thwarted by some excellent defending and goalkeeping from a well organized Glynneath side. One good opportunity fell to Owen following an excellent clearance from Matthew in the middle of the pitch but this was well saved. The Cimla management ensured that the side remained fresh as the whole team were rotated through a succession of paired substitutions. This saw Sam and Ben both come onto the field and they were immediately involved in some good tackling to break-up Glynneath attacks. A spell of pressure from the home side just before half-time saw the Cimla defence unable to clear, and this resulted in a shot from close range which Calim almost managed to keep out, but gave Glynneath a 1-0 lead. As the first period drew to a close, a fine through ball from Cameron put Owen through on goal and his effort beat the keeper only to see it rebound off the post as the whistle went to signal half-time.

Tactical changes at half-time saw Luch replace Calim in goals, whose extra presence in defence was to allow Dafydd further freedom to push on in the second half. Also the team drew confidence from the previous week’s performance, where a tremendous second half had seen them overturn a deficit against Bryncoch.

The second half began with further chances falling to Cimla but again they could not convert this into an all important first goal. The traveling Cimla support probably felt that it wasn’t going to be their day when a good break from Glynneath lead to a shot which despite being well saved by Luch, fell to another attacker who tucked away from close range to make it 2-0 to the home side. The Cimla players refused to accept defeat and finished strongly. One chance came as Toby was put through following an excellent clearance from James, but this move was stopped as Toby was brought down, and Cimla were unable to convert the resulting free kick. A throw-in from Steffan was taken on by Owen but he was well marshaled and the ball went out for a Cimla corner. From the resulting corner Cameron produced a ball of real quality which found Steffan who had taken up an intelligent position on the far post. His powerful header found the back of the net to reduce the deficit to a single goal. Then, in a grandstand finish, the final action of the game saw Cimla force another corner, which, in a replica of the first Cimla goal, Steffan was to see his effort well saved, but the ball fell to Toby whose shot forced its way into the bottom of the Glynneath goal for 2-2. There was no time for the game to be restarted, and so Cimla went away with a well deserved draw.