AVAFL COLIN STOCKLEY CUP ROUND ONE
AFC ABERCYNON ........ 3 PENRHIWCEIBER CON ATHLETIC ...................... 2
WHILE the conditions made it difficult for both sides to get their passing game in motion, the protagonists still managed to serve up a hugely entertaining game as AFC Abercynon hosted Penrhiwceiber Con at Pentwyn Fields.
While the opening exchanges failed to yield an early goal, it was the visitors who came out of the traps at full tilt with front pair David Parfitt and Dwain Wright posing several questions as Abercynon struggled to bring them to heel. As the half opened out Athletic looked the more likely of the sides to break the deadlock and just after the half hour they duly delivered when David Parfitt punished some hesitant AFC defending with an incisive finish.
To their credit, Abercynon dusted themselves down and responded almost immediately when Martin Bewick fed a clever ball through to Kevin Hughes.
And the in-form striker drew the keeper before finishing well from a tight angle. With the interval fast approaching, both sides looked to edge themselves in front but clear-cut chances proved few and far between for the remainder of the half.
Following the turnaround the home side came into their own with Trevor Harris and Gareth Davies controlling the centre of midfield and Kevin Hughes looking sharp in the attacking third. Indeed, on 55 minutes Abercynon found themselves in front for the first time when Gareth Davies provided the final link in an excellent passing chain to make it 2-1.
Cynon them proceeded to pepper the Con goal with an array of shots but a combination of excellent goalkeeping from David Watkins and poor AFC finishing meant that the visitors were still very much in contention.
And they exemplified this on 70 minutes when Dwain Wright fashioned an outstanding finish from a difficult angle to bring his side level.
With the clock rapidly running down both sides went looking for a late winner and on 85 minutes AFC’s Kevin Hughes plundered just such a goal when he hammered home an unstoppable 25-yard strike that gave keeper David Watkins no chance.
And with so little time left to expand the scoreline, AFC were able to run the clock down and book their place in round two.