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.
On a blustery day @ Graig Campus Drefach Under 14s maintained their 100% record putting them back on top of the table with a ground-out win against a well drilled Evans & Williams side. With the wind behind their backs Drefach kept knocking on the door of the hosts with O Jones. S Rhys, D Morris and E Morgan looking sharp and dangerous but the defence was just too good. With constant attacks being defused this usually ended up with a goal kick and credit must be given to the hosts on the way they played out from the back with ease and confidence. With the strength of the wind one long ball always had a chance of creating something. Siencen was the player to grab this chance with a terrific set piece from the engine man J Davies who put a perfect free kick for Siencen to meet with the head burying it into the net.
Drefach kept on attacking but knew they needed more as they would have to defend the wind in the second half. The second half started as predicted and the visitors had to dig in from the start with the home side on the attack and looking dangerous. D Davies in goal was brought into action straight away and his gloves would be kept warm for the whole half. However, Drefach had periods where where they passed the ball on the floor and out of trouble. It was one of these periods that saw the ball find Roberts who found E Morgan and broke from the half way line out pacing the defence and put a low corner shot into the goal only to be flicked out with a terrific save but the little sniper D Morris who was everywhere upfront got hold of the ball and planted it into the goal making it 2 nil.
Still not happy with the 2 goals due to the wind Evans & Williams threw everything at the visitors and very often denied by the outstanding AJ, Roberts, J Thomas and Siencen at the back. Drefach had 4 Thomas boys playing in the shape of James Charlie, Lewis and Harri and all four played their hearts out leaving everything on the pitch. With 3 minutes left the home side managed to break through with a untimed bounce that saw them come back with a deserved goal. It needed everyone to dig in for the rest of the game to be seen out and within a minute the attackers were awarded a penalty. With a strong wind behind his back the strike was sweet but Davies in goal fully stretched and put a text book save keeping them in front. With seconds remaining the corner was a real tester landing in a goal mouth scramble only to be cleared by the gutsy Drefach defence.
With the ball cleared the whistle went and the Drefach boys fell to the floor in relief and enjoyment. An absolute belter of a game that could have gone either way. Thank you to a well drilled Evans & Williams and an entertaining match from both sets of players. A credit to the game of football.
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