LAZAROU LEAGUE FOOTBALL
CARDIFF Cossacks FC recorded their first win of the season in the Coors Premier Division with an amazing 6-5 victory over local rivals Locksmiths FC, much to the delight of their manager Steve Scaccia.
Cossacks took the game to Locksmiths and for the first 30 minutes they were dominant and Locksmiths couldn’t live with them.
The first goal came from Jack Sanders who scored a great goal when latching onto a cross from Curtis Griffin to go 1-0 up.
Two minutes later, Sanders was on the scoresheet again soring from a great cross from Simon ‘Festa’ James, 2-0 up.
On 21 minutes Matthew Jones swerved in a wonderful crossfield ball to find ‘Festa’ who made no mistake to put the Cossacks 3-0 up.
Unfortunately they let Locksmiths in and conceded their first goal of the game through Ben Ryan, 3-1.
That was about it for the first half and it finished 3-1 to the Cossacks.
On to the second half, Cossacks made their first substitution on halftime when Owain Thomas felt a tight hamstring towards the end of the first half and was replaced by Dylan Conibear.
Locksmiths kicked off the second half, Cossacks started slowly and were under pressure for the first 10 minutes so it was no surprise when Locksmiths on 49 minutes brought the score back to 3-2 through Sam Jacobsen and it was game on.
After that goal the home side upped their game and got a well deserved penalty on 60 minutes when Jack Sanders sweetly smashed the ball into the back of the net for his hattrick to restore their two goal lead, 4-2.
And two minutes later Curtis Griffin put a delightful ball through to find Tyrone Phillips who made no mistake with the ball, he took his goal well to put the Sacks 5-2 up.
On 69 minutes Cossacks made a second substitution, Gareth Kennedy comes off after having an impressive game and enter the fray for the Cossacks latest new signing Ben Flynn to make his debut and slot in at centre back.
After some good play by both teams, Locksmiths raised their game once again and on 76 minutes they reduced the deficit to 5-3 through Ben Ryan.
On 79 and 81 minutes, Cossacks made their third and fourth substitutions. Rinaldo Kumbakisaka on for Cory Cleaver, who played very well and Ryan Bowgen on for Matthew Jones.
Three minutes later they made their fifth and final change when the ever reliable Simon ‘Festa’ James made way for Chris Griffin to come on and play for the first time in a while after suffering with an ankle ligament injury.
Right on 90 minutes Locksmiths got their fourth goal of the game through Tom Pesticcio to make it 5-4 and the pressure was on.
With a lot of tired legs on both sides, mistakes were shining through but then the Cossacks increased their score when on 95 minutes Tyrone Phillips chipped a beautiful ball forward to Rinaldo and he put the ball away for 6-4.
Locksmiths weren’t finished quite yet and refused to accept defeat when with virtually the last kick of the game on 98 minutes they reduced the score to 6-5 with a fifth goal from Sam Jacobsen and that’s how it ended.
It was a great game which no doubt Cossacks deserved to win and an excellent advert for the Lazarou League with some beautiful football being played from both teams.
Due to the recent wet weather, it was only possible for one other game to be played on Sunday.
Leaders Saints opened up a six point lead at the top of the Everson Sports First Division following a 4-1 win over St Josephs.