JD Welsh Cup 2nd Round

Cwmamman United 4 Caldicot Town 2

A THOROUGHLY entertaining game was witnessed at Grenig Park and this was a typical cup game full of goals, red and yellow cards with Cwmamman unlucky to finish the game with nine men.

Caldicot came out of the blocks with purpose and attack with Cwmamman being guilty of conceding too many dangerous free kicks.

Throw into the mix Ashley Palmer’s long throws and it only took Caldicot five minutes to open the scoring when a wicked deflection led to an own goal being scored by Steven Hughes.

On 10 minutes, Cwmamman were two down when a badly defended corner was headed powerfully into the roof of the net by Caldicot’s centre-half Matt James much to the delight of the large travelling support.

In the starting line-up for Cwmamman was Jordan Langley, after transferring earlier in the week from Welsh Premier team Port Talbot Town, and it was him on 40 minutes that pulled a goal back for the hosts when he was put through by David Brown and fired across the face of the goal into the bottom-right corner of the net.

The second half began well for the home side and they were attacking down both flanks and deservedly levelled on 55 minutes when, from an acute angle, Gareth Morrell fired into the net.

It now looked as if the home side could turn the game on its head but then on 65 minutes Cwmamman were down to 10 after Steven Hughes picked up his second yellow of the game and was dismissed.

This setback for the hosts seemed to galvanise them and they were creating the better chances even though the long throw tactic by Caldicot was still a danger – the only way they were going to score.

Then with just five minutes left on the clock, an amazing run and cross down Cwmamman’s right flank by Liam Soroka was brilliantly headed into the Caldicot net by Langley for his second, which sent Grenig Park into a frenzy.

There was more drama to come when Cwmamman were down to nine men after Gareth Morrell received a straight red, much to the surprise of everyone present.

With the game heading to added-on time, Soroka pounced on a loose pass, ran into the penalty area and coolly rounded the ‘keeper to tap into the empty net.

The referee played six minutes of added time but the game was won and scenes of delight and disbelief came at the final whistle at an amazing turnaround by Cwmamman.

Next week Cwmamman United are home against West End in the League Cup. Kick-off is 1.30pm.

Cwmamman reserves drew with Resolven 1-1 with Mickal Rybicki getting the goal and remain top of the Neath & District Division 1.