Cowbridge Town 0-4 St Athan
After seven and half weeks without a game St Athan finally returned to action in this potentially tricky mid week local derby.
St Athan started well against a youthful Cowbridge side with Karl Steel seeing two half chances fall his way.
Saints continued to set the pace and Jake Sutch saw a header off the line.
Cowbridge settled and fired back, forcing keeper James Andrews into a fine low save.
Saints won a free kick thirty yards out and up stepped Jordan Mortimore, Saints top goal scorer lashed the ball goalwards and saw it to go through the keeper to give the away side the lead.
Steel then saw an shot off the line and then a rasping strike well saved.
Saints soon doubled their lead as Sutch’s driving run through the middle of the park saw Josh Harfoot cross the ball to Kieran Ashton, who managed to round the keeper and deliver a low square ball into the path of Steel for the simple tap in on the line.
Second half saw two ends of the experience scale in substitutions, as club legend Craig Howells was brought on as well as 17 year first team debutant Seth Talbot.
The subs made an instant impact with Talbot sliding Howells in but his effort was just wide, then moments later they combined again only for Talbot to see his shot blocked by the keeper. Almost a dream start for the youngster.
St Athan continued to prove and shake off the ring rust with Nathan Williams shooting inches wide from distance.
St Athan wrapped the game up as a contest when Sutch’s tenacity saw him get through the middle of the park to feed Williams, his cross dropped to Steel, who stuck low from outside the area into the bottom corner of the net. A fine finish.
Saints put the bow on proceedings as Nicky Cox’s pin point pass from back to front saw Howells in on goal, who hit the bouncing ball with an outside of boot lob over the advancing keeper.
Saints with a comfortable three points as they go three points ahead of title rivals FC Barry Belgrade after they lost but Belgrade do have four games in hand.
Next up for St Athan is the ASRS Cup Semi Final vs Barry Athletic.
St Athan: Andrews, Mortimore, Cox, Young, Laing, Sutch, Ashton, Harfoot, Williams, Rogers, Steel – subs – Howells, Talbot, Morris
HD