PREMIER DIVISION

PENCOED ATHLETIC ... 2 GRANGE ALBION ......... 1

WHEN Pencoed get in a pickle they turn to Marc Turner to make a mark on the match, writes Tony Poole.

This was the case at Felindre Road against Grange Albion, as Mark Powell and his merry men trailed to a Jim Cotterill goal.

But he listened to a pair of tactical geniuses in coaches Craig Hopkins and Curly Lamont, who sung the praises of 3-5-2.

Though it was a little complicated for some, ultimately it allowed Pencoed to extend an unbeaten run to eight matches.

Turner started as Keegan Alexander was injured, and the turning point came when goalie Matty Roberts pulled off a superb stop.

But instead of being 1-0 down at the break, the Felindre Road boys would have been in the clear if Turner and nimble Mark Brimble hadn’t fluffed their lines in front of goal.

Little really changed until the 70th minute when boss Powell shocked the Brimblettes in withdrawing nimble Brimble.

But Powell produced an ace via maverick Jordan Downes, who came up trumps in winning over the hearts of the Brimblettes.

With colourful Sam Brown tickled pink in be- ing pushed forward, his deliveries caused some red faces in Grange ranks.

One tip-top Brown ball found Turner, and the former Aussie missionary man simply buried it in the corner of the net.

And the winner was down to jack in the box Jack Delve finding a dynamite ball that blew Grange out of the bath water.

Turner turned on a sixpence ahead of a dainty pirouette that led to him quick-stepping on to nine goals for the campaign.

Soon after Downes blasted the ball upwards, but by this stage Grange had a hill to climb and hadn’t done their homework.

“It might have been a narrow win, but I’m delighted to hit a half-century of points which is the highest we’ve achieved in the top tier,” said Powell during a now customary press conference.

Pencoed visit Ton & Gelli tonight (Wednesday); go to old pals Butetown on Tuesday and host Merthyr Saints next Thursday.