Cefn Druids staged a superb second half comeback to stun CPD Yr Wyddgrug 3-2 at a rain soaked Gwerymynydd Village Centre.
A game of two halves may be an overused cliche, but it summed up this game perfectly. A Keanu Williams brace and Chad Humphreys effort cancelled out first half goals from Leon Sumner and Hamilton John in what was a battle between the two basement sides in NEWFA Division 2.
While Cefn secured their first league win of the season, the result leaves Yr Wyddgrug propping up the table. However, with games in hand they will be hoping to turn their form around and get their first points on the board soon.
Early on, Yr Wyddgrug goalkeeper Kai Tilley had to be alert to turn a Dion Thomas effort round the post before dashing out to boot clear from the advancing Keanu Williams.
The hosts then took control of the game. Sumner played in Tomos Cumming, who unselfishly squared across goal for teammate Henry Jones, but Cailum Jones put in a crucial last ditch block before the Wyddgrug man could pull the trigger.
The home side soon found their range. Sumner beat youth defender Valdir da Silva Costa for pace and coolly slotted the ball under goalkeeper Mackenzie Collier’s legs.
John then doubled the advantage after catching the Druids defence ball watching. The Yr Wyddgrug man sprinted clear and looked up to see Collier off his line, before coolly lofting the ball in from 30 yards.
Half-time: 2-0
It was all one way traffic in the home side’s favour. Collier thwarted Alun Wilson when he tried to replicate John’s chip, with the shot stopper determined not to be beaten again from distance.
Cumming then pulled back for Luke Owen to send the ball into the neighbouring field and give the livestock a bit of a kick about.
Owen possessed a better touch when his backheel gave Sumner another sight at goal, but his effort flashed the wrong side of the post.
Yr Wyddgrug gifted Druids a way back into the game when Tilley’s woeful goal kick went straight to Keanu Williams. The winger didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth and dispatched the ball into the net to halve his team’s deficit.
A careless foul then gave away a free kick some distance from goal. Humphreys clearly fancied his chances and his strike zipped into the bottom corner and beyond Tilley’s reach.
With the rain unrelenting, both sides pushed for a winner. Williams beat the offside trap and then Tilley to a high ball, knocking it in to complete the turnaround.
Druids survived one final scare, when Sumner’s low cross ricocheted off the chest of defender Cailum Jones and Collier had to be at full stretch to keep the ball out.
Kai Tilley, Oliver Howarth, Taylor Morris, Romaine Halfpenny-Williams, Stephen Wilson, Luke Owen, Leon Sumner, Tomos Cumming, Henry Jones, Hamilton John, Alun Wilson (c).
Subs used: Aaron North, Aled Proffitt, Bradley Haycock, Kyle Butlin.
Mackenzie Collier, Traye Andrews, Jacob Edwards, Valdir Ferreira Da Silva Costa, Callum Jones, Keanu Williams, Aden Jones, Alan Bond, Dion Thomas, Josh Venables, Chad Humphreys (c).
Subs used: Charlie Williams, Cameron Fuller, Liam Davies, Malcolm Wareham, Dylan Jones.
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