Tivyside | Archive | 2005 | March | 29
From the Tivyside Advertiser, first published Tuesday 29th Mar 2005.
Welsh League Division Three Newcastle Emlyn 2 Goytre 1
Two goals by busy midfielder Jonathan Clarke eased Newcastle Emlyn to the double over Goytre and moved them out of the bottom four.
Emlyn were under the cosh for much of the first period but refused to submit as keeper Matthew Fraser made a string of superb saves and central defenders Sean Jones and Simon Gilderdale played well. Then Emlyn grabbed a breakaway goal from Clarke, conceded the equaliser right on the interval but controlled the second half as midfielders Matthew Ellis, Jamie Gilderdale, Clarke and especially Gary Davies assumed control. They might have netted five times after the break as player/manager Matthew Price used his pace down the left flank to set up a series of chances for Ellis but all went astray.
Clarke grabbed a peach of a goal after Price had hustled sweeper Dean Taylor into an error and Clarke latched onto the ball in a flash and rifled a left-footed drive into the Goytre goal.
But it was a different story for much of the first half as Goytre forced a string of saves from Fraser. Fraser also pushed a Dixon header onto the bar and there were strong appeals from Goytre that the ball had crossed the line but excellent referee Phil Davies (Loughor) said no, as he did shortly afterwards when Price looked to be upended in the box.
Fraser also saved from Collett (twice), Kevin Wallace, Ian Rosser, Dixon (twice) and Walsh (three times) as Will Bratt used his free role in midfield to create chances down the left flank and Emlyn looked to be missing the experience of Anthony Roberts, Dean Marks and Gary Evans.
But Emlyn took the lead after 31 minutes as Fraser turned provider, his route one clearance beating the Goytre back three, and Clarke showed good composure as he beat a tackle and slid the ball home from 10 yards.
John Buck and Terry Jones worked hard alongside Gilderdale and Jones to stifle Goytre attacks but the visitors levelled right on the break.
Emlyn came out fighting and grabbed the midfield as Davies led by example. Price suddenly found space on the left and roasted sweeper Taylor on several occasions, but Ellis fired over twice and had a goal-bound shot deflected over the bar. They deservedly took the lead after 18 minutes.
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