Draw is cold comfort for Dinas

7:20am Thursday 4th December 2008

TAFFS WELL 1

DINAS POWYS 1

DINAS POWYS didn't do much to keep the travelling support warm on a cold and foggy evening at undulating Rhiwdda park with a lacklustre Welsh League Division One display that failed to reach the heights of recent performances.

Dinas started well and for the first 20 minutes threatened to overwhelm their opponents but failed to score the vital opener.

A David Brooks cross ran just beyond the Dinas forwards and when the same player gave Liam Beattie the opportunity to advance into the area his shot ran across goal and just wide of the far post.

When the home side did attack, the defence dealt with the danger and quickly transferred the ball to the other end giving Beattie another opportunity but his shot was comfortably taken by keeper John Howe.

Taffs Well started to work their way back into the game and when they were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal Dinas keeper Chris Golton managed to get a touch on Warren Jones effort to push it on to the bar and over for a corner.

Defender Liam Palmer did well to clear a 20 yard shot off his goal-line with Golton beaten.

Dinas had the chance to take the lead when Nathan Hosgood was tripped in the corner of the penalty area only for the normally reliable Geza Hajgato's spot-kick to be save by John Howe in the home goal.

Taffs Well almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time when substitute Mathew James should have done better with a far-post header.

Dinas took the lead five minutes into the second-half.

A Liam Palmer throw fell kindly for Liam Beattie who crossed to Nathan Hosgood, and he showed great composure to beat his defender and place the ball past the keeper from ten yards.

Ebony Dixon turned well and shot wide and a minute later forced the keeper to dive at his feet with the home defence appealing for offside.

With Geza Hajgato having one of his least effective games Dinas were struggling to put together any meaningful attacks and the home side started to apply pressure to a defence not looking as strong as in the previous couple of games.

Eventually the pressure told and in the last minute Dinas conceded a sloppy goal when Taffs Well's most effective player Leigh Ashman's free-kick was allowed to run across goal and Jamal Roberts effort just managed to cross the line to give the home side a deserved equaliser.

Manager Mark Jones was not happy with the display and will hope for a marked improvement in the next game against Bridgend Town in the third round of the Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup.

FIXTURES

Saturday, December 6, Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup Round 3, Bridgend Town v Dinas Powys, ko 1.30pm.

For a full list of fixtures see the club's web site: www.dinaspowysfc.co.uk