St Athan B 3-1 Vale Madrid

Courtney Goodwin, Kieran Ashton and Sean Whitelock fired Saints seconds to big win over second place Vale Madrid.

After a humiliating loss last week and the first team not in action reserve team manager Paul Wolfe resisted the urge to make wide spread changes and only brought in Kieran Ashton, Craig Howells and Jake Sutch in to replace injured Mark Pickering, Lewys Morgan and Seth Talbot.

Keeping faith with the majority of the side that got hammered paid dividends as the side set out to put things right.

Saints started brightly and went close from both Craig Howells and Nicky Cleave.

Courtney Goodwin, back in the team after missing last week, was making a difference and it was the centre midfielder who gave Saints the lead. The ball dropped invitingly to Goodwin twenty five yards out and his low stinging drive beat the keeper.

Saints were buoyed and soon doubled their lead. Marauding full back Gavin Morgans whipped a tantalising cross into the area, Cleave saw his effort blocked but the rebound fell to Ashton who turned the ball in.

Saints very nearly made it three but Colin George saw his long dis trance effort cannon off the bar.

Saints went in two up against the odds.

Vale Madrid came out chasing the game second half and played more like a team second in the league.

Vale Madrid carved out several decent changes but could find the target and when they did Steve Holehouse in goal was in commanding form.

Vale Madrid finally found a way through, a sharp turn in the box saw their forward direct the ball past Holehouse into the net. A life line for the away side.

With Vale Madrid pushing for an equaliser, Saints switched formation and looked to counter.

It was one of the counter attacks that proved decisive. Scott Roberts good work down the left found Howells who in turn played in Ashton, Ashton looked up and slid the ball through to youngster Sean Whitelock, clean in on goal to calmly slot past the keeper and seal the win and a crucial three points.

An good outing from Saints with many players putting in impressive performances, Craig Howells, Kieran Ashton, Josh Howells and Courtney Goodwin all standing out.

Saints B will look to build on the performance as they play Barry Albion next week.

St Athan B – Holehouse, Morgans, J.Howells, Sutch, Richards, George, Goodwin, Burgess, Ashton, Cleave, C.Howells. Subs – Roberts, Whitelock, Wolfe.

HD