PORT TALBOT & DISTRICT U13 LEAGUE

ALEX WILLIAMS netted a dramatic late winner as Cornelly United U13s turned the tables on Afan Lido at Western Avenue, writes Tony Poole.

Though the Meadow Street youngsters led 2-1 at half time, they were pegged back to 2-2.

And with the game drifting towards a draw, pint-sized assassin Williams produced the game changer.

Last season, Lido beat Cornelly in the cup semifinals and the Meadow Street boys were looking to atone for that disappointment.

Wet conditions in the Port Talbot suburbs greeted the players, and it wasn’t long before it was raining Cornelly goals.

In the fifth minute, James Crole skipped off his wing to give Cornelly the lead, resulting in Ben Thomas and Dylan Adams bossing the midfield exchanges.

They doubled the lead after a quarter of an hour when Bud Morgan beat the offside trap and tapped home.

Lido offered little in attack and goalkeeper Ellis Dewar was never seriously tested.

That said, he received excellent protection from captain William Davies, Rhys Benjamin, Oliver Sadd and Ben Williams.

And it came right out of the blue when the Seasiders pulled one back to make it 2-1 at the changeover.

Lido started the second half on the front foot, resulting in Cornelly having to sit deeper.

And unlike the Lido opener, it came as no real surprise when they knocked in a 55th-minute equaliser.

But urged on by the management team of William Crole and football guru Lee Adams, the Cornelly youngsters bucked the trend.

With just a few minutes to go, workaholic Alex Williams brought great joy in the Cornelly camp with his last-gasp winner.

Though Lido pressed late on, Cornelly successfully wound down the clock.

And another major test awaits Cornelly this Saturday against Port Talbot Town.