Goytre side get valuable points (From Free Press Series)

Goytre side get valuable points

THE ISSUE of which sides will join Penrhiwfer in dropping out of Welsh League Division Three remains far from resolved. But Goytre picked up a valuable win at Treowen on Saturday to boost their survival hopes, climbing two places up the table and heaping further trouble on their hosts.

Goytre were without three key players due to injury - Joe Carlos and Simon Ritter both out with knee trouble and Andy Walsh with an eye condition. In addition, Darren Haines was unavailable due to work commitments so manager Steve Morgan was forced to retain Chris Perry at full back while Simon Bailey came back into the first team after a spell on the sidelines.

And club chairman Paul Greenhalgh later reported that Bailey had marked his return with a man of the match winning performance in midfield, alongside Kevin Wallace.

In an unremarkable game with few chances for either side, the winner came from an 18th minute moment of brilliance from Steve Collett. The visitors had been awarded a free kick 30 yards out, from which Langford had been expected to shoot, but instead he chipped an inviting ball to Collett, who struck a volley on the turn into the top corner.

In the absence of Ritter and Walsh, Goytre's makeshift back four of Dean Taylor, Kevin Berry, Chris Perry and Jeff Howells then performed admirably to limit the host's efforts on goal to the occasional speculative shot from distance.

Greenhalgh commented: "The goal was deserved reward for the way we had pressurised them in the opening 20 minutes. We were a goal up and after that we defended well up until half time. Treowen weren't causing us much danger."

After the break, with Treowen pushing up to snatch an equaliser, Graham Mason was able to attack the left flank but Goytre failed to grab the crucial second to ease their nerves.

The closest they came was a long-range screamer from Wallace, which was well saved. With a narrow advantage, a gittery finale ensued but Ryan Mackernass was barely tested and Goytre held on for all three points.

Greenhalgh added: "This was a good result for us especially with more or less all the other sides at the bottom winning as well."

Among the other sides picking up maximum point was Blaenrhondda, who upset the form book with a 3-1 win over high-flying Pentywn Dynamos. Blaenrhondda are the next visitors to Goytre this Saturday as both sides go in search of back to back wins (kick off 2.30pm).

Meanwhile, Goytre's Gwent Central League side overcame Panteg 4-1 in the Langdon Cup quarter final, thanks to a Mike Dixon hat trick and an Adam Roberts strike.