Mamadi Mane Sanha’s magic helps gives Cardiff Corries sublime win over Cardiff Dracs
Sam Roberts of Cardiff Cowries celebrates scoring his sides first goal. Cardiff Corries v Cefn Cribwr in the Ardal South West at Cwrt-yr-Ala on the 15th August 2023.
Cardiff Corries claimed the bragging rights over Cardiff Dracs as they won 4-1 at Llydstep Park in a brilliant display at Llydstep Park.
Mamadi Mane Sanha gave the men from Cardiff West the lead inside a minute, and then in the second half, Aron Davies and Sam Roberts scored twice in a two-minute salvo, before Sanha doubled his tally.
Yacub Ahmed did score a consolation goal for the Dracs, but Grant Thompson’s men had a comprehensive victory in the north of the capital on Tuesday night.
Despite the slightly delayed kick-off, Corries raced out of the blocks and opened the scoring in fine fashion from the first attack. Aron Davies played a delightful diagonal ball to Mane Sanha, and he was able to curl his shot past the rooted Tomos Bodger.
Dracs pushed for an immediate response, and the ball was peppered around the penalty box, but Corries could hold firm. The hosts then went on the attack down the flanks but Chris Golton did well to stop Andrew Smith’s shot after cutting inside.
Both sides had a breather before pushing for a goal. Myles Corson went on a mazy run but Dominic Dwyer did well as the last line of defence. Up the other end, Corries’ Davies then on the edge of the box curled a shot just over the bar whilst Dylan Amin had the same fortune in an attack for the home team.
In a strong attacking spell for the Dracs, only the post denied them getting back on level terms. Sama Jawo’s tackle on Corson resulted in a corner kick, and after the ball was played back into the box after a slight penalty appeal, Luke Bridgeman’s header bounced off the woodwork and out into Golton’s arms.
Mane Sanha proved to be a thorn in Dracs’ side when he attacked down the left flank and brought a save out of Bodger after evading the challenge of the home defence who couldn’t take the ball off him until his rebounded shot was blocked by Efu Kazadi. Neither side in the final 15 minutes could muster up a notable opportunity with the visitors doing well to defend their early lead.
Early in the second half, Corries were dealt a blow as Ashraf Boulaiche had to be helped off the pitch with an injury, and he was replaced by Will Higgs. Nana Baah used the bench to make a tactical change, bringing on Rameer Outlaw and Yacub Ahmed for Andrew Smith and Dylan Amin, in the hope of changing their fortunes. Outlaw and Ahmed nearly made an immediate impact, as Ahmed’s shot was blocked, and on the follow-up, Graham forced Golton into action with a shot through a sea of bodies.
Corries were wary of the Dracs counter-attack and hoped to sting the hosts with an effort from Sam Roberts but his shot went over. Dracs full-back Graham meanwhile had begun to find spaces just outside the box and another effort of his went near.
All of Dracs’ efforts for an equaliser were in vain, as their defence got caught napping, and allowed the always dangerous Davies to score. A corner kick from Chris Worsley came in, and there was the completely unmarked Davies who nodded home.
Seconds after falling a second goal behind, a third shortly followed as Drac completely lost their defensive structure. Roberts was able to direct a low shot home past Bodger to wrap up the win with 15 minutes to go.
Corries didn’t let up, and Mane Sanha who had caused problems in the first half found his feet again to get his brace. He was found in space inside the box and his low-struck effort bounced in to make it a second-half slaughtering.
Dracs did pull one pack, and it was an effort that was arguably better than Sanha’s. Yacub Ahmed picked the ball up and curled a shot destined for the top right-hand corner with Golton helpless to reach it. Fellow substitute Outlaw was denied a goal too as Will Higgs did well to block on the line as the last line of defence after dribbling past the goalkeeper.
Cardiff Draconians: Tomos Bodger, Connor Graham, Efu Kazadi (Callum Gunstone, 73), Luke Bridgeman (C), Jordan Fofana (Matthew Hibbs, 66), Marinho Manga, Myles Corson, Callum Beckett, Andrew Smith (Rameer Outlaw, 55), Dylan Amin (Yacub Ahmed, 55), Sam Cawley.
Goals: Yacub Ahmed 90+1
Yellow Cards: 45+1
Cardiff Corinthians: Christopher Golton, Hermon Yohanes (Ben Thomas, 83) Sanna Jawo (Cory Hallett, 79), Dominic Dwyer, David Biggs, Abubacarr Sama, Mamadi Mane Sanha, Aron Davies, Samuel Roberts (Will Summers, 75), Christopher Worsley, Ashraf Boulaiche (Will Higgs, 48)
Goals: Mamadi Mane Sanha 2, 81, Aron Davies 70, Samuel Roberts 71′
