King Billy overturn three-goal deficit

Vale of Glamorgan Football League round up

3 minutes read

THE second weekend of the Vale of Glamorgan Football League season certainly lived up to expectations, with goals, comebacks and late winners.

Across the three divisions, there were several outstanding individual performances, while a number of matches went right down to the wire.

Premier Division

Cadoxton Imps played their first league game of the season and shared the points with St Athan in a thrilling 3–3 draw. The Imps took the lead through Dean McCarthy after just six minutes, but Lewis Parry levelled for St Athan on 33 minutes. Panayotis Moraitis restored Cadoxton’s lead before Dewi Cain equalised just a minute later to leave the sides level at the break. Shay Watts put the Imps back in front in the 78th minute, but St Athan refused to give up and Denver Salisbury rescued a point with an 85th-minute equaliser.

Rhoose Social suffered a home defeat as Island Marine began their league campaign with a 2–1 victory. James O’Neill put Social ahead after 15 minutes, but Liam Mallam levelled for Marine 10 minutes before half-time. Adam Owens then completed the comeback just two minutes into the second half.

There was an emphatic start for newly-promoted Peterston Vale, who thrashed Vale Madrid 6-0. Following its merger with Vale Athletic, the team couldn’t have wished for a better start. Owen Williams was the star of the show, claiming a hat-trick.

Championship

Friday night’s fixture saw Vale United Reserves with a convincing 4–1 victory over Porthkerry Panthers. Nathan Evans and Harri Davies both scored twice.

There was late drama as Cardiff Airport Reserves defeated Dinas Powys Reserves 2–1. Dinas looked on course for victory after Marcus Savage gave them the lead, but Kyle Lewis equalised for Airport in the 81st minute. Just when it seemed the points would be shared, Max Jones struck in stoppage time to complete a dramatic comeback.

AFC Rhoose Development also enjoyed a strong afternoon, defeating Sully Sports Development 4–2. Seventeen-year-old Harry Fisher produced an impressive performance, contributing a goal and an assist.

If there was one game that summed up the weekend, it was Cogan Coronation Reserves and Llantwit Major Thirds, who produced an extraordinary 11-goal thriller, with Llantwit eventually snatching victory in the 88th minute. Toby Gent gave Cogan the lead after 10 minutes, but Jac Wisenden and James Vickers turned the game around for Llantwit. Gent’s second levelled things before Finn Jennings restored Llantwit’s lead just before half-time. The second half produced even more drama. Adam Davies made it 3–3, Vickers struck again for Llantwit, and Lucas Leckie equalised for Cogan. Wisenden then appeared to have given Llantwit the advantage once more, before Dan Humphries made it 5–5 with 10 minutes left. With the match seemingly destined for a draw, Finn Jennings produced the decisive moment, scoring in the 88th minute to complete a remarkable 6–5 victory for Llantwit Major 3rd. An absolute cracker and a deserved game of the week.

There was also a late equaliser at The Buttrills as Island Marine Reserves drew 1–1 with Barry Athletic Reserves. Zac Stock had given Athletic the lead in the first half, but Josh Kirke grabbed a very late equaliser to earn Marine a point.

League One

Cardiff Airport Vets made it two from two, defeating St Athan Thirds 6–0. Sam Ross was the star, completing an impressive hat-trick.

King Billy’s 4–3 win over Tadross was another extraordinary contest. Tadross appeared to be cruising when they raced into a 3–0 lead, with Brad O’Loughlin scoring twice and Dan Morgan adding another. O’Loughlin then missed a penalty, and that proved to be a crucial moment. King Billy came roaring back after the break, with Tommy James and Eliot Jackson reducing the deficit before Louis Angove completed the comeback by making it 3–3. The turnaround was completed in the 85th minute when Lewis Avaient scored the winner to give King Billy all three points in a remarkable seven-goal contest.

FC Barry enjoyed an eight-goal afternoon against Island Marine Development, running out 8–2 winners. Darren Townsend led the way with a hat-trick.

Holton Road picked up a valuable 3–1 victory over Rhoose Social Reserves, with Coel Lambeth making a major contribution by scoring and setting up another.

Another thriller came at Station Road, where Cowbridge Town edged Ely Rangers Reserves Wenvoe 4–3. Cowbridge made a flying start through Sam Brown inside the first minute, but Zach Haines equalised before Brown restored the visitors’ lead just two minutes later. Samuel Antwi levelled again for Ely before Lloyd Lewis put Cowbridge ahead in first-half stoppage time. Logan Webster brought Ely level once again in the 58th minute, but Chris Bullock struck in the 70th to secure a thrilling 4–3 win for Cowbridge.

Finally, Vale of Glamorgan Rovers maintained their perfect start with a 5–1 victory over Cadoxton Imps Seconds. Ashton Hammill was the standout performer once again, scoring a hat-trick to make it two wins from two for Rovers.

Hywel Dark

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