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South Wales Alliance League Premier side Caerphilly Athletic had their four-game winning streak ended after a frustrating 2-1 loss to Llanrumney United.

The visitors began the game having lost five of their last six, whereas Caerphilly were looking to extend their run with a win at the Centre for Sporting Excellence on Saturday February 10.

It wasn’t to be however. A stunning goal from Ethan O’Neill had the hosts behind at the break, and despite a late Joey Morelli penalty levelling things up, Llanrumney answered immediately through a brilliant Adrien Bettoni strike.

Kick-off

Conditions were good at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, and both sides were feeling each other out in the opening moments.

It took a few minutes for Caerphilly to establish themselves, but a lovely cross from Jordan Thomas soon set the tone.

Top scorer for Caerphilly on nine goals, Joseph Morelli leapt the highest and glanced his header onto the crossbar.

Morelli continued to threaten the Llanrumney defence, he was hacked down once or twice when getting forward.

The next chance of the game fell to Caerphilly’s John Harding however. He forced a good save from Luke Sweet after his powerful shot from a narrow angle was going in.

There was a notable switch in momentum after defender James Corrigan-Davies went down injured and had to be taken off.

Short on defensive options with the recent departure of Arron Hill to Aberbargoed Buds, Morelli took up the vacant position at centre back.

Winger and top scorer for the visitors, Callum Flynn, was beginning to see more of the ball down the left. Cutting in on his right foot, he looked a real threat.

Neither side were dominating the ball however after 30 minutes played. A combination of injuries and fouls meant their was no real flow.

Out of nowhere though, a snapshot from the visitors finally kick-started the match.

A nothing chip over the top wasn’t dealt with by Caerphilly and a bouncing ball fell to Ethan O’Neill on the edge of the area.

The 19-year-old struck the ball about as well as you can, and it flew in at the near post. Goalkeeper Christopher Alexander did get a fingertip to it, but the power of the shot was too much.

With their first shot of the game, Llanrumney had taken the lead. The Caerphilly bench appeared very frustrated, as did the players.

Gareth Hole was trying to get something going down the right for the hosts, the former Newport City man had some nice touches but options around him were fairly limited.

There wasn’t much football played in the last five minutes of the half, as referee Graham Evans found himself nose-to-nose with one of the spectators.

The fan was giving Evans some stick from the sideline, who at the time was talking to the coaches about a decision he’d made.

Before returning to the match however, Evans marched down the pitch, and started having a shouting match with the man. They were in each other’s faces and fists were made by both.

Fortunately, the coaches stepped-in and Evans demanded the man be removed before the game restarted.

The game did eventually get back underway after a mad couple of minutes. Nothing changed on the pitch however, and the half-time whistle blew with Llanrumney still in the lead.

Second half

Caerphilly looked a lot more focused to start the second half. A scramble from a corner saw a shot cleared off the line by Dylan Chapman in the opening minutes.

Morelli appeared to be back in his normal position further up the field which was a plus. He had a shot that just went over the bar after 50 minutes, and a free kick put narrowly wide a few moments later.

Llanrumney had something to hold onto however, and were becoming increasingly more animated after every block and tackle.

The referee was involved again, almost every player had a warning at some point. Caerphilly needed to make this about the football if they were to get a result though.

Morelli had yet another chance late in the half, his header from a corner once again cleared off the line by the visitors, who were holding on valiantly against the Caerphilly pressure.

It felt like a mistake was going to be the difference in this one, and with ten minutes to go, an outstretched Llanrumney leg brought down Mark Walker in the box.

Evans pointed straight to the spot, and the hosts finally had their chance to get back in the game.

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Morelli stepped-up, and putting the past misses behind him, slotted the ball home and ran away celebrating.

Caerphilly Athletic coach Ian Butterworth was in no mood for celebrating however. He screamed at his players to get the ball back and go for the winner.

He might have wished he hadn’t though, as only a minute later were Caerphilly behind again.

A ball over the top wasn’t dealt with once again, but this time it was Adrien Bettoni waiting on the edge of the area. He wrapped his foot around the ball brilliantly and his shot struck the underside of the crossbar, behind the line and back out.

There were no real appeals from Caerphilly that the ball hadn’t crossed the line, and so Llanrumney were 2-1 to the good with five or so minutes to go.

The hosts did everything they could, but the visitors held on well. Having lost five of their last six games, the win clearly meant a lot to the side.

For Caerphilly, that loss ended a run of four consecutive victories. They remain eighth in the league.