On a night were you would have thought the weather conditions would make this game a leveler saw Cambrian defying all the odds with a master-class first half performance. With a number of changes made to the team which played against Ton Pentre the week before. Cam came out of the blocks all guns blazing and picked apart a determined Caerleon team with some exquisite football in atrocious conditions. The Game saw new signing Ryan Prosser make his debut alongside Bertorelli upfront with youngsters Mahoney and Welsh taking up the wide roles whilst veteran Ingram slotted into the middle of the park alongside Jones and Matthews.
It wasn’t long before Cam had their first shot on goal after some good one -touch play from Matthews and Ingram in midfield saw Bertorelli’s shot just wide of the post.Wwith some good individual skill from Prosser beating two players on the edge of the area but again fired wide of the post. This was the story of the opening encounters but it took just 15 minutes for Cambrian to make the breakthrough. Again some well worked play through midfield saw youth team product Gareth Welsh unopposed inside the area to follow up a saved shot from a Jones’s effort and slotting calmly into the open net making the score 1-0.
And it wasn’t long before Cam got their second goal and this time from a set play. A Chris Ingram corner from the right hand side was met by Michaels whose shot was blocked only to fall to Steve Turner to fire home from 10 yards out.
At 2-0 down after 30 minuts anyone would have thought given their position and score line Caerleon would be feeling dejected but this wasn’t to be the case. And with a decent spell of possession on the half hour mark they could have easily made it 2-1 but for some excellent keeping from Howells and committed defending from Turner, Haywood and Michaels but it wasn’t to be the case and didn’t Cam make them pay for their missed chances.
A pin point through ball from Turner saw Bertorelli through on goal from 25-yards out with the keeper to beat and he did just that with a fierce drive into the area saw the keeper move to close his angles but the calm striker slotted the ball into the far side of the net making it 3-0 at half time.
However the second half was a somewhat different encounter. With Cambrian loosing their up-and-coming star Welsh to a hamstring injury were forced to make a change with Haywood moving to the left and new signing Gareth Wharton filling in at centre half.
But it was Caerleon and their nothing to lose attitude who enjoyed the opening encounters with their direct counter attacking approach causing Cam some problems at the back as they took time to settle into their new positions and seeing Howells again showing why he is one of the best about with some committed saves to keep Caerleon at bay.
But it was on the hour mark that Caerleon made the breakthrough from the penalty spot under very unusual circumstances. During a Caerleon corner kick the linesman called the referee's attention resulting in the referee speaking to two players (one from each team) about holding inside the area and nothing more. But from the resulting corner the referee pointed to the penalty spot awarding a penalty kick to Caerleon with no apparent reason as to why. And with players and supporters scratching their heads in amusement the spot kick was converted.
At 3-1 it didn’t stop there with the tie swaying in the opponents favour. Caerleon full of confidence and Cambrian still bemused by the spot kick saw the home side under pressure from a good spell of play from the visitors but for some last ditch tackles and excellent defending saw Cambrian regain their composure and it was not long before the tie swayed back into Cambrian's favour.
With Cam pushing for a fourth and the game into the 90th minute, an intercepted cross from the right saw a long clearance from Caerleon fall to their striker's feet who was clear through on goal but with the conditions slowing the striker down it allowed defender Michaels to catch him and make a last-ditch tackle which appeared to be five or so yards outside of Cambrian's area but the referee awarded a penalty and Caerleon a lifeline and not before showing Michaels a straight red. The spot kick was missed with the tie ending 3-1.
This was a great three points for Cam against a very committed Caerleon side in very difficult conditions. Although the home side didn’t convert anywhere near the chances that were created in the game it was nice to see we are not far away from our best which is just what we need before the tough Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup quarter final game at Goytre United on Saturday (1.30pm) were we welcome back captain Daniel Lever and winger Scott Seldon to the squad.