(Image: Mike James)
STM Sports AFC made a massive stride in their race for promotion after overcoming Caerau Ely in the Cardiff derby.
Dale Gardiner’s men move into third place in the table two points behind leaders Caldicot Town who have now completed their season.
Two goals apiece from Lamin Conteh and substitute Calum Bateman helped secure their fourth win in a row.
Andrew Smith had earlier on netted an equaliser for Caerau, canceling out Conteh’s fantastic free-kick before Tom Fry who came on as a substitute tapped in consolation.
After a great run from the halfway line, the former Barry player saw himself one on one with Elliot Matthews but a heavy touch allowed Matthews to make himself big and close the angle which led to the midfielder shot wide.
Josh Graham was fouled on the edge of the box. Conteh stepped up and curled the ball past Matthews and into the back of the net.
As Caerau Ely sought a quick reply, Andrew Smith replied. The former Pontypridd striker made no mistake as he leveled the scores. Smith burst through the back four, hitting a low and hard shot that goes across King and into the bottom left-hand corner.
Both sides had chances to take the lead before half time, Jones was the first to be denied by Matthews as he kept out the midfielders shot at his near post, while Joe Shepherd was superbly denied by King’s one-handed stop.
Seconds into the second half Smith looked to have got his sides and his second of the match after good work down the left from Hooper. His cross was met on the volley by the striker whose effort cannoned of the woodwork. Despite protests from Caerau saying that the ball had rebounded of King and crossed the line, the referee played on.
With both teams having chances and knowing that a win would be crucial in their promotion charge, it was Calum Bateman who got the goal midway through the second half having come on as a substitute for the injured Graham.
(Image: Mike James)
A lovely ball over the top from Jones found Conteh who bought down the ball down on the edge of the area using his strength and pace to get himself in the penalty area, fired his shot which Matthews could parry the ball into the path of Bateman who had the easy job of tapping home.
The same two would combine again moments later as Conteh unselfishly passed the ball across goal into the path of Bateman who had the simple task of poking it past Matthews.
Conteh, who put in another fine performance would get his second of the game minutes later when a ball over the top was latched onto by the striker who lifted the ball elegantly over Matthews before cheekily backheeling it on the line to seal the three points.
Caerau would have the final word though as they reduced the deficit with one of the last moves of the game. A wonderful run down the right from Jamal Roberts sends in a low cross that substitute Tom Fry who was in the right place at the right time tap home to make the score more respectful.
STM Sports: Nicky King, Herman Yohanes, Riccardo Mckenzie, David Biggs, Tom Burridge, Tom Rutherford, Joseph Evans (C), Marcus Jones, Josh Graham (Bateman, 54), Chris Worsley, Lamin Conteh (Andy Gardner, 85)
Caerau Ely: Elliot Matthews, Jerome Maynard, Jamal Roberts, (Josh Spencer, 82), Luke Bridgeman, Corey Spencer, (Karl Evans, 27) Dan Hooper, Huw Corne (C), (Tom Fry, 46), Joe Shepherd, Andrew Smith, Dylan Amin, Ramer Outlaw.
(Featured Image: Mike James)
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