No rewards for Cwmbran Town's dominance (From Free Press Series)

No rewards for Cwmbran Town's dominance

12:10pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in Sport

BLAENAVON BLUES 2 CWMBRAN TOWN 2 - A TOPSY-TURVY match saw Cwmbran Town dominate for large periods but only come away from Blaenavon with a single point.

Both sides started slowly, and the first noteworthy chance didn’t arrive until the 18th minute. Luke Thomas collected a quick throw near the corner flag and found Mike Marsh with a cross, but the home keeper did well to save Marsh’s shot.

This effort signalled a ten-minute flurry of half-chances for the Crows. Thomas volleyed over after latching onto James Vernall’s through ball; Mark Haynes headed over from a left wing cross; and James Bowen fired just wide after collecting Marsh’s long throw.

Despite these chances it was Blaenavon who perhaps had the clearest chance to score in the first half. An overhit cross from the right was rescued and chipped goalwards.

Town keeper Dan Wise appeared to be impeded as he attempted to catch the ball, but he quickly recovered to fling himself across goal to deny the follow-up shot.

The Crows started the second half with purpose, earning a free kick near the corner flag on 48. Aaron Palfrey’s cross was headed back across goal by Marsh and Sean Matthews’ header hit the crossbar.

A minute later Town were awarded a penalty kick for handball.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , Thomas, who was having a good game, dragged his low shot wide of the goal.

Town continued to have the lion’s share of possession but struggled to produce the final ball or hit the target, although Matthews did force a good save on 57 with a low long range effort that seemed destined for the bottom corner.

Arare sortie forward by the Blues in the 75th minute produced the opening goal – an unstoppable shot from about 25 yards which dipped just under the bar on its way to the corner of the net.

This stunned the Crows into action and the hosts were ahead for only two minutes.

Skupiski made space for himself before finding Palfrey on the right of the box and his low cross/shot was stabbed into the net from close range by Matthews.

Town’s tails were up and a second goal arrived in the 80th minute.

Palfrey’s corner wasn’t cleared and Marsh was in the right place at the right time to slam the ball home.

Perhaps disgusted with their sudden collapse, the Blues looked a completely different side after going behind.

They threw caution to the wind and attacked with zest.

Wise had to be at his best on 85 minutes saving well after the Blues striker collected a cross from the right, then three minutes later another good stop at close range took all the sting out of the shot, allowing a defender plenty of time to prevent the goal-bound ball from going into the net.

Unfortunately, Town couldn’t prevent the equaliser in the third minute of injury time.

A ball into the box from a deep free kick found the head of a jumping Blues player and the header found the back of the net.