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Trethomas Bluebirds scored a late penalty to rescue a point in a fiery 2-2 draw against rivals Risca United in the Ardal South East.

The pair met at their shared home at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, with the Bluebirds technically the home side, looking to extend their 100% league record to 11 games.

There’d be no win for Trethomas however, who would be thankful to get a point after 90 minutes.

An early goal through Ethan Edwards had the hosts believing they’d go on to win, but through goalkeeping errors, Risca were 2-1 up at half-time with goals from Jake Morris.

A late penalty from Levi Rees salvaged a point for the Bluebirds though, who remain six points clear at the top with two games in hand.

Kick-off

It was Trethomas who opened the game as the side on top. Striker Gareth Tedstone had his first sighter within the opening few moments, but was saved comfortably enough.

Well known for their early goals, the Bluebirds were getting forward in numbers. Fullbacks Alfie Jones and Ryan Bolter were playing their usual inverted rolls in midfield, meaning there was space down the flanks for Risca to exploit if they could find the right pass.

Cuckoos forward Leon Thomas was looking as lively as ever. He and Harvey Selway down the left were a clear threat, with the latter overlapping whenever he had the chance.

As the 20-minute mark approached, neither side had created much going forward, but overall were mistake free.

That was until Connor Evans slipped on the icy surface and gave the ball away at the back.

The ball was picked-up by Levi Rees who fired a quick cross into the feet of Tedstone. Back to goal, Tedstone could have tried to turn and shoot, but he bided his time well and waited for the onrushing Ethan Edwards down the left.

Tedstone laid it off perfectly to Edwards, who rounded goalkeeper Joseph Massaro and smashed the ball into an empty net. 1-0.

The match was fast becoming a proper local derby. Bolter squared up to Thomas after a firm tackle, giving both sides the excuse to get in each other’s faces.

Acknowledging the height difference between the pair, Risca opted to line up on the goal line from corners instead of going player for player. This nearly caught out keeper Harry Irving, who flapped at one, but the ‘hosts’ got away with it.

A second later however, and Irving was left with his hands on his head after a moment of madness.

In an attempt to throw the ball out early over striker Jake Morris on the edge of the box, Irving got it all wrong and ended-up throwing it straight to the big number nine.

Morris made him pay, taking one touch on his chest before lobbing it over the stranded Irving. All square out of nothing.

The Bluebirds were stunned, and Risca needed to take advantage of it.

There were more incidents for referee Joseph Gibson to sort out. Bluebirds captain Gwion Pugh-Jones was in the face of Selway before all 11 players were at it. Bookings were handed out as the drama continued.

Whenever the ball did go forward for Trethomas, defender Connor Hanford was always on hand to calm the situation down and make the right choice.

As the half drew to a close and the ice continued to settle on the pitch, there was one more chance for Risca, who finally took advantage of the space out wide.

Selway with time to cross whipped the ball across the keeper who did get a strong hand on it.

Irving got the direction of his attempted clearance all wrong however, and the ball fell to Morris once more, who made him pay, grabbing his brace.

Ethan Edwards had a chance almost immediately up the other end but his shot was blocked by Selway, and the half-time whistle blew with the score 2-1 to the Cuckoos.

Second-half

The message from the Trethomas sideline was clear to open the second-half; calm down.

If the Bluebirds were to get back into the game, they’d need to get the ball on the floor and control the match as they so often do.

Risca had plans of their own however, and were definitely the dominant side for the opening 20 minutes of the half.

They almost scored a brilliant goal with an hour played, switching it from right to left then back to right again that had the Trethomas defence all over the place. The ball eventually came to Thomas on the left who set himself before firing wide right.

Liam Fawcett was brought on shortly after in an attempt to get a hold of the ball in midfield, but the Bluebirds were finding it difficult, opting instead to chip the ball down the channels so the speedy wingers could chase.

Bolter went down with what looked like a nasty injury off the ball, the speed of the game wasn’t to the hosts’ advantage as the minutes ticked on. 20 minutes or so to play now.

Forward Luke Gullick was brought on in place of fullback Alfie Jones, meaning the Bluebirds had four forwards in a line up front, they were determined to remain unbeaten.

It would have been easy for Risca to fold under the weight of the Trethomas pressure, however they managed the game well for the next ten minutes, drawing fouls and frustrating the opposition.

As time went on, it looked like the Bluebirds would need some help to get the equaliser, and luckily for them, they had some.

There was nothing lucky about Lee Baldock’s footwork in the Risca box however, he skipped past a few before an outstretched leg caught the midfielder and brought him down – penalty.

With six minutes to go, Rees stepped-up to take the penalty. His left footed shot went just centre of the goal and was ‘saved’ by Massaro, but the power on Rees’ effort meant somehow the ball went behind the keeper and into the net. It counted all the same though, 2-2 and anyone’s game.

The game had completely flipped now. The Bluebirds were the ones chasing a winner, as Risca did their best to get to full-time.

There were calls for another penalty with two minutes to go, Edwards went down in the box for Trethomas but the referee wasn’t having it.

The whistle eventually went to end a brilliant match that was back and forth from the very first kick.

A draw was just about a fair result, Risca would have been disappointed to have thrown three points away so late, but keeping that Trethomas team quiet for a full 90 was always going to be a tough ask.

For the Bluebirds, a draw means their unbeaten league run continues, and their gap at the top edges greater once again.