Match Report

Wednesday 10th April 2013

Rumney Rec

Under 15 Cup Quarter Final

FC Dragons 1 - 2 Pentwyn Dynamos  

                             Foulkes, Willis            

On paper this looked a good draw but I knew better than that, FC Dragons had already won the C Division, were unbeaten all season and had already knocked out A Division opposition in the cup this season. This was going to be tight, tough and no different to an A Division league match. We were missing Matty again plus Ryan and Matthew were unable to play as they were 'cup tied' having turned out for Llanedeyrn earlier in the season.

I was right and to be honest I was still surprised by how good FC Dragons were - and I think the boys were too as they bossed the early stages and we looked a little shell shocked.

We settled after a nervy first 10 mins and the game took shape. They were playing lots of long balls out from the back, but playing good football down the flanks and in the final third. They took a deserved lead with a wonderful goal from Connor (formerly of St Albans and clearly still still good enough to be with them).

Connor received the ball down the right went past a man and unleashed a bullet shot from 25 yards that flew past Brad before he could even see it!

I worried as to how the boys would react to going a goal down but it seemed to revive us. We started to get on the ball more and Chris was worrying them running down the right flank.

We got our equalizer from a corner - great delivery from Dan and a bullet header from Chaz. Game on!

1-1 at half time and they had shaded it in all honesty.

Chris had to come off at half time with a back injury - and I wondered if our depleted line up could cope with Dragons for another half like the first. I moved a few people around - Callum into midfield to link up with Dan and Ben to left back with licence to bomb forward. Swabes coming on the injured Chris.

The positional changes worked well - Callum got on the ball and along with Dan started to cause them more problems than they did us. We marked Connor better and limited his impact and forced them back.We looked more likely to win now and Dan nearly gave us the lead - his lob was tipped onto the bar by their keeper, who had a great game.

Dan's dead ball delivery was causing them problems as they conceded more free kicks as we pushed them back and his 30 yard free kick seemed destined for the top right hand corner but their keeper again made a wonderful save to keep them in it.

They were defending well and  looked dangerous on the counter attack - and nearly re-took the lead with a nice low drive - only to see it come back off the post.  

Our winner came from the aftermath of another corner - they failed to clear it and it dropped to Sam who hit a brilliant low drive into the bottom right hand corner - with his swinger! - to win us the match.

A great game that either side could have won but we just about did enough based on our second half performance to deserve the victory - and well earned place in the semi-finals.

FC Dragons are as good as most sides we have played in the league and would do well in the A Division. I predict them following in Butetown's footsteps and winning the B Division next season.