Goytre - 1

Briton Ferry Llansawel - 0

SITTING second in Welsh League Division Three after rattling in 22 goals this season, Goytre had also conceded 16 prior to Saturday's fixture, and only one team in their division has let in more - Briton Ferry Llansawel - the side the Plough Road outfit put to the sword on the weekend.

"It was a tough game and passions run riot on both sides leading to a lot of yellow cards and a very engaging match," said Goytre Chairman Paul Greenhalgh.

"We could have ended it three or four nil up, but their keeper was on cracking form and really proved hard to break down. In the final analysis we're just happy to have banged out a result."

From the kick-off Lansawel threw the works at Goytre with their two six foot centre forwards

proving a proper handful for the homeside.

Greehalgh revealed, "Llansawel's initial tactic was to pump the long ball into the box and go at us. However Dean Taylor and Andy Walsh neutralised that threat admirably, and even though the ref awarded Llansawel a number of free kicks for what he saw as our overtly-enthusiastic defence, our keeper Gareth Willliams pulled out some top drawer saves to keep them at arm's length."

Goytre's midfield of Carl Evans, Craig Joliffe, and Lewis Clare pretty much came into their own to keep the visitors at bay, and when Clare latched onto a ball wide out to beat his man and cut inside, his screamer of a strike was only snuffed out by a first class save from the Briton Ferry keeper.

With a growing number of yellow cards keeping pace alongside the growing passions that defined the game, it was Andy Walsh who kept a cool head and put it on the end of a corner just before half-time. Unfortunately his effort just went wide.

Following a goal-less first-half, Goytre remained hungry going into the second, and when Rob Surtees came on as a sub for Captain Carl Evans (groin strain), he wasted no time in picking up a pass from Joliffe and putting in a 30 yard shot, hard and low, that had 'goal!' written all over it. Once again the Llansawel keeper proved his worth in salt by just pushing it around the post.

Goytre's fullbacks Chris Pritchard and Mike Dewar joined the party and got forward to support the attack and apply the pressure.

Pressure that paid dividends when Dewar passed to Graham Mason who put in a superb cross for Joliffe on the near post to hit home and finally beat the tenacious keeper.

Llansawel made a number of substitutions to get back into the game, but it was all in vain as the last clear cut chance of the game fell to Goytre who went on the break through Jock Houston.

Houston held the ball up, drew the Llansawel defence and released the ball for Joliffe whose shot fell foul and became victim number three of the visiting keeper's talented hands.

Greenhalgh told the Chronicle, "As I mentioned earlier their keeper was the reason we didn't run away with the game. Saying that however, in the last five minutes, the ref started to give into Llansawel's constant demands for free kicks, and it was only our young goalie Gareth's brilliant command of the penalty box that kept our own noses just in front."

Greenhalgh added, "The club is definitely on a roll at the moment, but we're still just taking each game as it comes.

"As it currently stands we're looking forward to having a crack at league leaders Corus Steel on their home turf next Saturday. That'll be a massive fixture for us. At the moment there number one and we're number two, so there's a lot of stake, least of all the pride of Plough Road."