Penarth - 4

IN a bruising hurly-burly affair with no shortage of hard tackles, Aber's game against Penarth saw them undone not by their own performance, but by the time-honoured rub of the green.

Both teams started slowly, passing the ball around sweetly, but the Penarth midfield always looked dangerous and it was a good move from the midfield that led to the first goal.

Moving the ball wide right, enabled the striker to get to the top of the D and release a rather poor shot that nonetheless bobbled through the defence to make it 1-0.

Abergavenny pressed hard from the restart and were rewarded with a series of short corners which came to nothing, and a few half chances for both of the strikers that were either saved or snuffled out by the Penarth defence.

Generally though both teams defended well and the first half was a compact game of little space and time on the ball.

If the first half was compact, the second half was anything but.

With the Penarth legs becoming tired, Abergavenny had the majority of the ball, with good runs from O' Leary and especially Clements.

The first goal in the second half came from a set piece after a minor foul on the top of the D left Penarth in a good attacking position.

Poor marking allowed a hard and well hit shot to deflect from a Penarth stick to rifle into the goal, leaving Bartlett with no chance.

The second goal was also in favour of Penarth after a long period of sustained Abergavenny pressure in the Penarth D.

A long cleared ball allowed the striker to collect, and despite the presence of the Aber defence, he was somehow able to get the ball beyond Bartlett, for either a well taken or a lucky goal, depending on your point of view.

Aber continued to press, with O Leary forcing a spectacular diving effort from the Penarth 'keeper, for the save of the game, but it was a set piece that eventually saw Abergavenny gain some advantage for their perseverance.

With Meliville playing the ball back downfield to Davies, who thumped a good hard cross past the defence. Clements was able to get a touch, forcing a save from the keeper, but it was Hewinson on a run from midfield that got his first of the season.

The final goal was more of a farce than drama, again from a set piece, this time a penalty corner. The hard shot, was deflected by an Abergavenny player, touched by Bartlett, onto the post. Rising on the deflection, it hit Bartlett on the helmet, deflecting again right into the path of the Penarth midfield.

It was the character of this final goal that perhaps has summed up Abergavenny's afternoon. Great game, and well played, but the rub of the green went to the opposition.