Dinas Powys 1-2 Pontardawe Town: Swansea side survive late charge to secure victory at the Murch

Pontardawe Town survived secured a narrow victory at The Murch over lowly Dinas Powys in their final away game of the year.

First-half goals from Dan Briggs and Garry Taylor provided Pontardawe Town with a two-goal lead. Gareth Emanuel scored from the spot for Dinas Powys but was unable to find a route back in the game.

Andrew Stokes’ side survived a late push from Dinas Powys who have seen a majority of their wins come at their home.

Pontardawe Town made it six games unbeaten as they claimed a narrow victory over Dinas Powys. Dinas Powys arrived at The Murch in good form, picking up six points from their last nine but the away side looked comfortable throughout the game but it was the first half where the game was won.

Having started the game brightly, Andrew Stokes’s men took a well-deserved lead on nineteen minutes through Dan Briggs. Goalkeeper Steven Reeves kicked the ball upfield before the ball was flicked into the path of Briggs just after the halfway line who ran into the penalty box before unleashing a low shot which arrowed past Callum Richardson and into the right-hand corner.

Pontardawe almost doubled their lead shortly after. Briggs’s pass across goal found Liam Griffiths and with the goal gaping, sent his shot wide of the right-hand post.

This only delayed the inevitable as Pontardawe struck again. Declan Evans and Briggs, who had chased problems all afternoon on the left-hand side, with the latter delivering a fantastic ball to Gary Taylor who deliciously dinked the ball over Reeves to double the Swansea side’s advantage.

It was nothing more than the opponents deserved with Dinas Powys finding chances hard to come by and each time they came forward they were outwitted by the back line. It was only two minutes before halftime before Dinas could muster their first shot on target. Good work down the left found Vincent Wattleworth in space and his header inside the box was comfortably saved by Reeves.

Rhodri Foote’s team talk had some impact as his side won a penalty in the early stages of the second half. Wattleworth was adjudged to have been bought down by captain Craig Davies. Gareth Emmanuel stroked the ball home straight down the middle and into the roof of the net sending the keeper the wrong way.

This goal seemed to inject new life into the home side and began to get into the game and Reuben Bryl struck a twenty-five-yard effort that went straight into the hands of Reeves.

It was now the turn of Pontardawe who asked for a penalty as substitute Oli Schofield was adjudged to have been bought down. From the resulting passage of play, Andrew Townsend‘s pass found Wattleworth leaving him one on one with Reeves. The striker managed to get round Reeves and with the goal, gaping saw his shot from a tight angle go wide.

With time running out the home side chased for an equaliser, Emmanuel and Townsend’s long-range efforts went off target when it seemed the pass was the best option.

Two more chances came and went as substitute Benjamin Stewart could only see his shot go agonising wide after a well-taken free-kick.

James Marr hooked his volley goalwards but his effort went over the bar leaving Pontardawe returning to the Swansea Valley with a valuable three points.

Dinas Powys 

Callum Richardson, Kieran McCarthy, Gareth Emmanuel, James Marr, James Bloxham (C), Andrew Townsend, (Blatchford, 84) Rory Price, Reuben Bryl, Vincent Wattleworth, Aiden Perrett, (Lewis, 81) Rhys Palmer (Harrold, 78)

Pontardawe Town

Steven Reeves, Tim Georgievsky, Declan Evans, Gary Taylor, (Webb, 84) Tom Grey, Craig Davies, Tom Blizzard, (Schofield, 63) Kurtis Rees, Liam Griffiths, Christian Evans, Dan Briggs.

(Featured Image: Will Cheshire)