MATCH REPORT: Red Valley 2-4 Sarn

Sarn consolidated their lead at the top of the Bridgend and District Premier Division with a 4-2 victory at Hendreforgan this evening.

After an even opening 5 minutes the first chance of the game fell to the home side, Liam Jones playing a superb cross field ball from the right wing to find Paul Gregory. As the ball bounced the striker finished with aplomb, volleying left-footed, low into the corner of the Sarn net.

This stung the visitors into action although despite their dominance, they were unable to find a way through the stubborn home defence.  As the corner count rose Valley continued to defend manfully, repelling attack after attack with some resolute defending.

Despite Sarn having the lion’s share of possession, Valley always looked dangerous on the break and had chances to  double their lead. The pace of Jones engineered a couple of half chances just before the break but the solitary Gregory goal separated the teams as the referee blew for half time.

Sarn continued to press for the equaliser after the break and came within inches of restoring parity following an excellent cross from Josh Davies. Neil Watson headed goal wards but was denied by a superb save from the home custodian, Dan Price.

From the resulting corner the pressure finally told, with Keenan Chick heading in to the Red Valley net following a goal line clearance to make it 1-1.

The equaliser proved just the catalyst the league leaders needed and they took the lead in the 56th minute, Joel Joseph running onto a long ball to despatch the ball low into the net from 12 yards.

Sarn pressed forward looking for a third goal to guarantee all 3 points and when Christopher Hopkins broke into the penalty area with 15 minutes remaining, only sterling defensive work from centre-back Dan Morris denied the league leaders the opportunity to seal the 3 points.

To their credit the hosts rallied and following the award of a corner, got their reward on 84 minutes, grabbing an unlikely equaliser when substitute Corey Hughes headed home from a Steve Hardwidge delivery.

Just when it looked like the home side had performed the perfect smash and grad raid, a minute later the visitors regained the lead, Joseph bagging his second of the game firing low into the corner of the net from 12 yards following good work from Royston Larkin.

Far from being the end of the scoring, there was still time for the visitors to put further gloss on the score line and with the game becoming more open, a tiring home defence failed to clear allowing Larkin to get his name on the scoresheet, rounding the keeper and tapping into and empty net with a minute to go.