SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2007
WELSH AUTOPARTS GWENT COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEAGUE
DIVISION THREE
Whiteheads Sports Ground, Bassaleg
Referee: Mr J Gregory (Llangynidr)
Kick-off 15:00
Whiteheads 2 CRUSADERS 3

The Crus made the relatively short trip down the valley, hoping to achieve a repeat of last season's victory at this venue.

Conditions were ideal - a mild, overcast day, and the pitch in excellent condition, even allowing for the bottom half slope.

Crus missed two glorious chances in the first ten minutes, but with the only the keeper to beat, failed to hit the target on both occasions.

By this time, a decent travelling support had turned up, in the shape of the YWC contingent, who didn't need to kick a ball today to progress in the cup, as their opponents couldn't raise a side. This made for a good atmosphere, as a fair bit of banter was exchanged with the Whiteheads lot, especially the Al Murray look-alike.

It was a mystery how the game managed to get to half-time scoreless, with the home side just as guilty of some hapless finishing.

Manager Thomas rallied the lads at the interval, and a better 45 minutes were going to be needed 'up the slope'.

Crus should have been awarded a penalty on the hour mark, as Dan 'the Speedster' Morris was blatantly fouled in the box, but the referee gave nowt, in keeping with a number of mystifying decisions on the day.

However, justice was done five minutes later, when a through ball saw young Dan flick on past the onrushing keeper, before being clattered, but the ball fell nicely in the path of co-striker Mark 'Shirona' Hughes, to blast in his second in two games.

The Crus looked to have wrapped up the points with twenty minutes remaining, as again, a through ball saw Dan Morris's pace far too hot for the home defence to handle, and after composing himself, rattled in the second, this being his first goal at Gwent County level, after top-scoring in the North Gwent last season. Just turned seventeen, Dan has a great future ahead - pace in abundance, determination and an eye for goal.

But Crus don’t do the straightforward, and coast to a comfortable win. Oh no. On eighty minutes, Whiteheads reduced the arrears when they scrambled goal following a goalkeeper error from a set piece. Unbelievably, within a minute, the home side were level. Crus failed to prevent a cross coming over from the right, and the home side had the simplest of headers to equalise.

Whiteheads really had their tails up now, and with the swing in fortunes, were looking favourites to claim the three points.

However, with four minutes remaining, a stirring counter-attack by the away team, saw the ball played through to Dan 'The Hitman' Howls, who cleverly controlled the ball and swivelled in one movement, before crashing the ball into the far corner of the net. Cue delirium on the away side, with a mini pitch invasion ensuing. Was it offside? No, said the referee.

Whiteheads were totally deflated, and their discipline disintegrated. Arguing with the referee and a particularly nasty waist-high studs-showing challenge on Scott Gilk, by a spiteful little no-mark, should have resulted in a straight red, and almost caused a huge ruccus to kick off.

However, Crus maintained their shape and discipline to record their first away win of the campaign, much to the merriment and glee of the management and supporters.

A well deserved three points from a very good team effort.

Dummy - winning goal scorer Dan Howls, for a bout of verbal’s, which may well have fired him up to eventually applying the coup-de-grace.

MOTM - Shane 'Borat' Bowen - very calm and assured at the back, up against a tricky couple of customers, and where he may have found his ideal position. Ably supported by his fellow defenders.

Back in the Blue, even the Eridge Vale tasted like a bottle of the finest claret.

Well done lads!