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Risca United bounced back after an opening day loss with a comfortable 4-0 win over Brecon Corries on Tuesday night at the Centre for Sporting Excellence.

It was an important game for both sides, after the Corries also lost in their first match. Risca United manager Simon Berry told Caerphilly Observer before the match that a response was needed after losing 3-2 away to Undy AFC in a “tough” opening tie.

The game itself took a bit to get going with both sides looking for a confidence boost. Risca handled the initial pressure better and got the all-important goal before half-time. They looked a much better side in the second-half and ran out comfortable winners with a brace for Leon Thomas and another for Daniel Battle.

Kick-off

The game began at a good pace with a bit of drizzle adding some zip to the ball.

Both sides looked to use the channels and it wasn’t long before a chance fell to Risca down the left hand side.

Arthur Furness, who was a substitute in Saturday’s loss, beat the offside trap and found himself 1v1 with Corries keeper Declan Gaydon.

Gaydon could only stand and watch as Furness shaped himself to shoot, however the fullback fired wide left to everyone’s shock.

A big chance missed within the opening ten minutes.

Brecon saw some of the ball early on, but were struggling to get much further than defender Connor Evans.

The Cuckoos’ new summer signing from Tredegar Town controlled the backline superbly and always seemed to be in the right spot.

Although Risca were coping well enough, manager Simon Berry and his coaching staff were frustrated figures in the dugout.

The passing was still sloppy after 15 minutes and it felt like the home side were forcing it. In fairness to the visitors, they were well organised out of possession, dropping into a back five and condensing the field, forcing Risca to play ambitious balls over the top.

If there was going to be one player who took hold of the game for Risca it was Finlay Wood. He looked calm and composed sitting just in front of the Cuckoo defence, where he tried to progress the ball at every opportunity but wasn’t afraid to keep it either.

For all the praise Wood deserved however, he nearly cost his side after 30 minutes when he played a square ball as the last man to the feet of Corries striker Craig Evans.

Evans couldn’t believe his luck when he saw ball at feet and goalkeeper Harry Morris well off his line. He executed the chip poorly however, the shot drifting well wide. A let off for Risca.

That mistake seemed to wake both Risca and Wood up. Moments later he played a brilliant through ball to Cuckoo dangerman Leon Thomas, who fired his first effort at the keeper but made sure the rebound found the back of the net. 1-0 Risca and while they wouldn’t have been happy with their performance, they went into half-time with a lead.

Second-half

Last season’s runners-up seemed to take some confidence from the end of that first-half. They looked a lot more composed on the ball to start the second.

A chance soon fell for Joshua Maksimovic, another summer signing, who came from Monmouth Town. The ball came to him in the box where he cut inside past one defender before firing straight at the keeper from close range.

Thomas began playing some really lovely stuff after an hour or so gone. His flicks and tricks were riling up the visitors, especially midfielder Jack Bain who had a few choice words to say to the Cuckoos forward.

The 21-year-old soon hushed the Corries however, when he slotted one home from the centre of the box on his left foot. 2-0 and worrying times for Brecon.

As the clock ticked on, Brecon were throwing everything they could at the hosts. Risca soaked it up well and looked to counter whenever the visitors committed men forward.

Manager Berry identified this newfound space and brought on Daniel Battle, Jake Morris, and Owen Cuddihy in the hope of exploiting it.

It didn’t take long before the subs had an impact.

Cuddihy burst down the left wing and found the touchline before fizzing one across the face of the keeper to the feet of the oncoming Battle. A deft touch took it past Gaydon into the corner and wrapped the game up for Risca.

Brecon were understandably all over the place at this point. Some sloppy passing from them gave the ball away to Morris who put Battle in again to find his second in as many minutes. Another neat finish; poking it past the Corries keeper to make it 4-0.

Chances were plentiful for Risca in the closing minutes. Battle could well have had four bar a few wayward efforts, but nonetheless it was a solid showing from Risca United who struggled in the opening 45 but kept their composure well to run out comfortable winners.

Post-match reaction

After the game, Risca’s manager Simon Berry spoke to Caerphilly Observer. He said: “We didn’t start the game as we wanted. I felt as though we were forcing things and the players’ touches weren’t quite there.

“We got the goal which settled us a bit and I think we ended the half strongly. I think half-time came at a good time for them where as we didn’t want to hear the whistle.

“When I got in at half-time the message was to take less touches and move the ball quicker. That showed in the second-half when the game opened up on a big pitch. We’re a very fit side and other teams do tend to tire against us.

“It was a good win for us tonight to put the loss on the weekend behind us. It was also nice to get a couple of goals at the end of course and a clean sheet which is just as important.”

Risca United next play Newport City in the Ardal South East at home on Friday August 11.