STM Sports 2-1 Undy: Bateman bags second-half brace as STM battle from behind
STM Sports battled from behind to claim a hard-fought victory over Undy Athletic.
Paul Clayton opened the scoring for the visitors with a header, but Calum Bateman scored twice to give the Mellons their second league victory of the season.
Hermon Yohanes was shown a late red card, following a second yellow but STM Sports were able to hold on.
Undy were unfortunate to lose given their battling performance but were made to rue not making leeway in the first-half, given their pressure.
The away side started the brighter of the two as Oliver Smith’s speculative effort almost caught Dimonekene out.
Andy Beattie’s side continued to impose themselves on the game as they used their physical threat to battle with a STM side, who looked short of confidence.
Hermon Yohanes went closest for STM, rifling a shot just past the post with James Smallcombe stretching to reach it.
Undy continued to pressure. Oliver Smith lined up another shot from distance and it glazed the post before going behind.
The visitors went ahead on the stroke of half-time. A free-kick was whipped into the box and defender Paul Clayton slid his shot past Exauce Dimonekene to strike.
Clayton’s goal was the last action of the half with Undy content with the proceedings of the first forty-five.
It was an even start to the second half, but STM Sports came out with the attacking intent given the position they found themselves in.
The hosts found themselves level five minutes in. Sam Cawley cut apart the Undy defence as he threaded a ball into the path of Calum Bateman who slid it past James Smallcombe.
Daniel Jarman forced Dimonekene into action as he palmed Jarman’s tight-angled shot into the side netting.
Ben Ahmun showed great work down the line, beating off the challenge of Luke Verren, to square to Calum Bateman who scooped his second goal into the net from the floor, having slipped on the first attempt.
Moving into the final quarter, substitute Alex Jarman played a searching cross-ball to Gareth Cullimore, who saw his diving header saved by Dimonekene.
Undy continued to put pressure on the STM goal, as each winger kept swinging in crosses, trying to find the aerial threat of Gareth Cullimore.
STM Sports were reduced to ten after Hermon Yohanes was shown a second yellow card for a late foul.
From the resulting free-kick, Paul Clayton squandered a good chance as his free-header sailed over the bar from a well-delivered set piece from Daniel Morgan.
The win takes STM up to fifth in the table as they bounced back from their defeat to Llantwit Major.
STM Sports: Exauce Dimonekene, Hermon Yohanes, Riccardo Mackenzie, Thomas Burridge, David Biggs, Tomas Rutherford (Christopher Hajgato 58) Joseph Evans (C), Calum Bateman (Andy Gardner 81), Benjamin Ahmun, Christopher Worsley, Sam Cawley (Marcus Jones 58)
Undy Athletic: James Smallcombe, Luke Verren, Daniel Morgan, Thomas Wright (Sam Broadribb 73), Christopher Parry (C), Paul Clayton, Oliver Smith (Daniel Tozer 81), James Barnes, Rhys Thomas (Alex Jarman 61), Gareth Cullimore, Daniel Jarman
(Featured Image: Mike James)
