Pitchero

Gaerwen

Meliden

L Morris (80' Pen)

Full time

Sat 25 Nov 14:00 - Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Football League - Division Two Attendance 75

Report

Highlights

Selection

League round up

Gaerwen pay the penalty

By Richard Williams

Gaerwen 1-3 Meliden

Last Saturday (25th November) Meliden FC travelled to Gaerwen for Welsh Alliance Division Two fixture. Despite the weather conditions leading up to the game the pitch was passed playable and was in great condition a tribute to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

Gaerwen started the game strongly taking the game to Meliden with Llion Vaughan and Chris Bennett going close in the opening 15 minutes. A strong run by Llion Vaughan resulted in a penalty aftet the Meliden defender could do nothing but bring him down. Dylan Williams stepped up to take the penalty but unfortunately for Gaerwen his effort was saved. The home side continued to pressurize the Meliden goal and were awarded a succession of set-pieces in dangerous areas.

The dead-lock was broken on the 30th minute, a Gaerwen corner was cleared by Meliden who broke out and countered quickly. The ball fell to their striker who placed the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out with a well placed finished. With half-time looming Meliden were awarded a very soft penalty. A cross came into the Gaerwen box and bounced up following a deflection and hit Paul Bryant's arm. The referee decided to award the penalty even though Bryant's arms were down by his side and their was no movement towards the ball. 0-2 half-time.

Gaerwen came out strongly in the second half with Llion Vaughan causing problems down the Meliden left however his cross shot just missed the target. A difficult task became the near impossible on 55 minutes as Meliden were awarded their second penalty of the game with another incredibly soft and harsh decision, this time Lee Jones punished for a handball. Having slipped the ball was fired at Jones from around a yard away, whilst on the floor the ball struck a combination of Jones' arm and back of his shoulder, again no movement was made towards the ball, however the referee awarded the penalty which Meliden dispatched expertly to make it 0-3.

To Gaerwen's credit they didn't stop trying until the final whistle and they were given a glimmer of hope on 80 minutes as Liam Morris scored from the spot. The home side threw everything towards the Meliden goal in the last 10 minutes but the away side held firm. The game came to a stand still on after a Meliden player reacted badly to a Liam Morris trip. The Meliden player got up, threw the ball at Morris and punched him in the face, which subsequently saw the Meliden player see red - a disgraceful ending to the match and something that has no place in the game.

Final score: 1-3.