LLANGOED COME BACK TWICE AT VALLEY

There was just the one league game in the KWAFL, Valley welcoming Llangoed and District knowing they needed all three points if they were to keep the pressure on the leading group – all of whom were on cup duty.

In atrocious conditions and despite playing against the gale force wind Valley dominated from the off and were a goal up after nine minutes, Liam Williams first to react to a weak clearance from the Llangoed defence buried the ball to the right of the goal keeper from outside the box. This brought a reaction from the visitors who levelled four minutes later when Mark Jones was brought down in the box by Shane Boylan brought down and Callum Graves stepped up and sent the ball flying straight into the top right hand corner giving home keeper Roy Sayle no chance.

Valley looking to regain the lead went close through Shaun Jenkins, and minutes later he turned provider, crossing to the impressive Connor Williams to tap in 2-1. The wind was still howling, and so were Valley, when Llangoed were awarded a free kick - just inside the Valley half and the visitors MOM, Callum Graves stepped forward – with the cheek and self confidence to go for goal and as the ball went straight over home keeper Sayle to hit the back of the net Graves was the only one on the field not surprised at the outcome.

Llangoed had showed plenty of character to come back twice but it brought a determined response from the hosts and when Shaun Jenkins pounced on a loose ball only to be brought down, the resulting spot kick saw Casey Boylan tuck away his 3rd penalty in 2 games, and the hosts were ahead again, and this time they were determined not to let Llangoed back into the game. Jenkins eventually scored the goal he deserved when through on goal he lobbed the advancing keeper to make it 4-2. Valley were now turning up the heat and the first half was coming to a close, but there was still time for Adam Roberts to unleash a thunderbolt from 25 yards to make it 5-2 Half time.

Now playing against the wind Llangoed had it all to do in the second half if they were to make a game of it, but two early second half Valley goals sealed the win and condemned Llangoed to a heavy defeat. Shaun Jenkins finishing off a cross from Connor Williams to make it 6-2, and Barry (Winnie) Roberts smashing the ball home from a Liam Williams cross. In the final 10 minutes it was inevitable that Jenkins was going to complete his hat-trick when he turned the Llangoed defence to unleash an unstoppable low drive to the bottom left hand corner earning himself the MOM award for the game 8-2 Full time.

Valley manager Adam Archer was impressed with his young sides performance in such atrocious conditions, and said “ With the utmost respect to todays visitors, Llangoed, we need to score as many goals as we can and keep up with the league leaders by winning games, its going to be close come end of May so goal difference could play a massive part at the end of the season”