Cardiff Draconians kept their stronghold of the second spot in the Premier Division as they came from behind to claim victory over fellow Cardiff side Grange Albion who were reduced to ten men.
The win kept the Draconians five-game unbeaten intact in the South Wales Alliance, with their last defeat being almost two months ago against Ynyshir Albions.
The Dracs also have yet to taste defeat in their battles with fellow Cardiff sides, after seeing off Canton Liberal and Grange Albion earlier in the season.
Twice, Liam Williams had the chance to score from a free-kick just outside the box, but his shot failed to test Gareth Nott.
Nile White fouled Brad Stubbs, allowing Williams to deliver the ball on the far side. Nott fumbled the shot into the net but the referee disallowed the goal due to a foul in the box.
Minutes later, Albion’s Liam Beattie played a searching ball over the top to Nathan White who took the ball round Andrew Pillar, but Jake Gammond was there to make a crucial goal-line clearance.
Churcher dragged the ball back and teed himself up for a curling shot but it sailed just over the crossbar.
Liam Beattie and Nathan White celebrate after Albion open the scoring.
(Image: Jordan Jones)
The Black & Whites had the ball in the net but Christian Churcher was judged to have fouled in the box as Nathan White tapped the ball in just before the half-time whistle.
In the 55th minute, Nathan White latched onto Beattie’s ball across goal and he was there to score from close range to open the scoring.
This prompted Draconians boss Layton Maxwell into an immediate substitute, as Isaac Morrison was replaced by Liam Creed.
Anthony Brockway put a searching cross into the box as Churcher tried to compose himself for a header but he couldn’t connect to the ball cleanly, White was unable to connect with the follow-up.
Dracs captain Liam Williams adjusts his armband as he composes himself following his free-kick. (Image: Jordan Jones)
With twenty minutes remaining, Liam Williams found the back of the net with a stunning free-kick which Nott was unable to deal with.
The experienced defender was then presented with the opportunity to double his tally as Albion conceded a penalty, undoing the work of their strong defensive display.
Williams slotted home into the left-hand corner for his eighth league goal of the season. Nott unable to keep it out, with the Draconians turning the game on its head after trailing initially.
As Nathan Alderman was fouled by Tom McLean, there was a coming together between the two sets of players as tensions flared in what was a competitive battle between the two sides.
Anthony Brockway and Albion would feel hard done-by as Brockway hit a sweetly struck shot which cannoned onto the crossbar before bouncing near the goal-line, with many Albion players appealing to the referee that it had crossed the line.
Albion’s search for at least a point was made harder as Liam Jeremy was given his second yellow card of the game, after disagreeing with the referee following the disallowed goal.
The home side had their final chance to claim a draw as Beattie delivered a free-kick on the right-hand side of the box.
Morelli though headed away as Liam Creed picked the ball up, he broke into the opposition box, squaring the ball to Brad Stubbs to slot home for an easy finish as Nott rushed out of his goal, securing all three points for the Dracs.
GRANGE ALBION
Nott, White(Scott 30), Jeremy, Brockway, Bevan, Alderman, Phillips (C), Beattie, White, Churcher(Abdillahi 68), Kane (Jones 84)
CARDIFF DRACONIANS
Pillar, Morelli, Gammond, Williams, Nippers (Morgan 70), Denner, McCarthy, McLean, Lewis, Morrison (Creed 65), Stubbs
(Featured Image: Jordan Jones)
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