Draw takes off immense pressure says STM boss Dale Gardiner
STM Sports manager Dale Gardiner says his sides ability to get a draw has avoided immense run in for their run in for the league title.
Lamin Conteh’s 96th minute header earned a draw for STM Sports, despite having lead Caerau Ely both 3-1 and 4-2 in the opening hour.
The Cardiff club have already secured a top three spot which could earn them promotion on appeal but are now chasing the Division Two title.
STM snatched a draw at the death at Cwrt-yr-Ala Road and Gardiner will now gear his troops for the final two games against Aberbargoed Buds and Pontardawe Town, knowing only a point is needed.
Speaking after the full-time whistle, the STM boss commented: “Had we lost this game, I think we would be under immense pressure to win one of our last two games but now a draw will do.
“When Lamin smashed it in the corner to make it 4-2 I was very confident however it’s a funny old game. They’ve nearly beat us at the end. We’ve got similar opposition in the Buds and Pontardawe, who are fighting for their lives.
“I’ll always have confidence in my team. I think we’re up for a reason, we’ve been one of the better teams throughout the year, we play good football and I think all in all we deserve something at the end of the season.”
The reliable Lamin Conteh scored an incredible four goals as he got his side out of jail with a late equaliser.
Conteh has been one of the leading goalscorers in Division Two, contributing to STM’s 100+ league goals this season.
Two of his goals came in the first half, before netting early on in the second half and in the dying embers of the game.
His manager Gardiner said: “He’s flying at the moment. In honesty, I thought the second half was one of his quietest halves of football. He comes off the pitch and scores four goals.
“You can’t ask for much more. First half he was explosive, in the second half he went off the boil a bit and he comes up the end to take the pressure off us really trying to get hold of this title.”
Having possessed a two-goal lead on two instances, STM Sports were unable to assert their dominance.
Wet conditions met STM Sports had to sacrifice their smooth passing play for a more industrial method.
They adapted well though in the first half, having taken a commanding lead.
In the second half though, opposition manager Dale Gardiner believes Caerau Ely were the better side in the second half.
“It’s a game of two halves. I thought we should have put it out of sight at half time.
Our game plan and our team talk went out of the window. We talked about managing the game and they did everything but.
“I thought Caerau were by far the better side. We were lucky to get away with a point at the end after dominating the game for 45 minutes so well.”
(Featured Image: Mike James)
