by Jack Riley (SW Guardian)
Drefach U14 3-1 Peniel U14
DREFACH welcomed to the Gwendraeth their toughest opponents this season with a mouth-watering game and real battle against a very good Peniel side. Drefach started the strongest with wingmen Morgan and Roberts having plenty of possession from the midfield supremo’s Davies, I Bull and L Thomas who looked strong in the engine block.
O Jones up front looked dangerous with the supply from Morgan and Roberts but for some great goal keeping from the visitors the sheet
was kept clean. Peniel looked organised and any 50/50 challenges early on, Peniel were winning. After 15 minutes and against the run of play Peniel took an early lead from poor communication at the back with an own goal finding its way into the home net. One-nil up, Peniel started to put some positive attacks against the hosts and the defence in the shape of S Rhys, C Thomas, T Bull and H Thomas had to dig in to support L Jones in goal.
The game then balanced out evenly and eventually O Jones caused chaos upfront and assisted Roberts who found the back of the net from a defensive mix up from the visitors. Spurred on by this, the hosts found their second wind and looked dangerous and within minutes T Bull assisted L Thomas who put an absolute screamer into the top bin making it 2-1 at half time. Drefach brought on fresh legs onto the second half with Davies in goal and AJ and J Thomas building the platform in defence. The second half seemed more settled for the hosts and attacks were plentiful with Morgan coming close on a couple of occasions but again it was the Peniel defence and keeper who kept them in the game.
Midway through the second half, Davies in the middle was finding more thread through balls and it was the ever-persistent Roberts who made the game safe with his second and making it 3-1. The latter part of the game was still a physical battle but played in great sportsmanship and respect.
