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Risca United have finally got their Ardal South East season up and running with a statement 4-1 win over the table-topping Brecon Corries.

It had been a tough start to the season up until now for the Cuckoos, who in their last home league game were thumped 8-2 by the Abertillery Bluebirds.

When they met an unbeaten Corries side on Friday night at the Centre for Sporting Excellence however, the Cuckoos were superb.

Fielding a very young side, Risca proved they have both the talent and battling qualities you need to stay in and progress out of the third tier of Welsh football.

Report

Under manager Nathan Bracegirdle, Risca look to get the ball down and play football. Often starting from the goalkeeper, through the lines and to the forwards as quickly as possible.

This has shown glimpses of promise in previous games, but with that style comes the risk of dispossession in your own half leading to a certain chance for the opposition.

Not today though. The Cuckoos were almost flawless in the build-up, with the only thing holding them back early on being the linesman’s flag – which caught the speedy forwards out on a few occasions.

Despite their early pressure, it was the Corries who had the first chance. A very tall side, the ball was flicked on from a goal kick by Craig Evans to Joel Evans who was bursting into the box.

He managed to get a toe on it ahead of the onrushing Brad Wood-Harris, but his effort went just wide.

As the game became more open, a good move from the hosts led to a golden chance to take the lead.

With men over in the middle, the ball found the feet of Jack Darby who took one touch and looked certain to beat the keeper. Somehow though his effort hit the inside of the post and stayed out to scupper early celebrations.

With most of the play coming down the right for the Cuckoos, it was actually the left channel which led to the first goal of the game.

A pass across the edge of the box by Morgan Stead was perhaps aimed at Cole Greenhaf who was clattered by a defender just outside the area.

Referee Ashley Thomas played a good advantage though as Callum Hutton collected the loose ball. He took a touch to settle and found the far corner to put his side a goal to the good.

Not used to losing this season however, the Corries relentlessly pushed for the equaliser and Risca had to stand strong for a good ten minutes or so.

In that time the visitors had several good chances, the best of which came from a Wood-Harris mistake after dropping the ball from a corner. A red shirt jabbed at it but it was fortunately cleared off the line.

Relying on quick counter attacks now, the Cuckoos still created chances largely thanks to Stead, who had an excellent game with some touches that made the fans audibly gasp.

The visitors were still pressing though, and another opportunity soon came. It was perhaps the best they had all half when a clearance fell kindly to Jack Biggs in front of goal.

He took an age to shoot however. The keeper covered ground quickly to block the eventual shot. Huge chance wasted.

With the half almost over, the Cuckoos had an equally simple chance up the other end.

Stead again at the heart of it, he tackled captain Dale Evans at the back and was away down the right. His cross to Lloyd Oliver in the middle looked certain to lead to a goal, but leaning back, he blazed over.

Second-half

Similar to their first big chance of the game, the Corries were again in on goal after a header was flicked-on to C. Evans this time.

The keeper didn’t know whether to come or go, giving the forward the whole goal to aim at. He slotted home into the near corner and it was 1-1.

The goal started a spell of possession and chances which threatened to take the game away from this young and inexperienced Risca side.

The closest they came was a Biggs effort which saw him catch a strike clean from a narrow angle in the box and clip the top of the crossbar.

Despite the mounting pressure, the Cuckoos managed to escape and find Oliver in midfield who threaded the needle brilliantly to find Greenhaf down the right side.

Clear of everyone, Greenhaf ran into the box before playing the simplest pass to the back post where substitute Jayden Bowgen couldn’t miss. A very impressive response to a tough spell.

With their spirit dented, the Corries had to go again. They struggled to create much though as the Risca backline sat deeper in the box, but poised to counter.

A chance fell to Biggs once again, but like before, he looked reluctant to pull the trigger.

As the Corries defensive line moved further and further up the pitch, the hosts had another chance to break if they could play a few accurate passes.

It was a rinse and repeat of the second goal for the Cuckoos; a pass to Greenhaf down the right had the speedy winger away and cutting-in towards the keeper.

He found Oliver who miskicked his first effort, but made no mistake when it rebounded back to his feet. 3-1 and potentially game over.

The game was certainly over when only minutes later did Greenhaf get his deserved goal after two assists.

Away again down the right, he instead opted to go alone this time. Perhaps the best finish of the day, he drew the keeper in before chipping the ball over him and finding the far corner.

Things soon went from bad to worse for the visitors when Luke Roughley saw red for a handball in front of the referee. Already on a yellow, Thomas had no choice.

With seconds left in the game, Risca had the chance to make it five when defender Adam Tebbitt brought down Stead in the box.

Captain Finlay Wood stepped-up but sent his penalty over the bar as the referee blew his whistle for full-time.

A very impressive win then for Risca United, who will hope to build on the three points and get a run of victories after a lacklustre start to their campaign.

For the Corries, they didn’t do a great deal wrong despite the score, and on a different day would have taken a few more chances. They remain top for now.

Reaction

After the game, Caerphilly Observer spoke to Risca manager Nathan Bracegirdle, he said: “I do think that was a statement win. I don’t think a lot of people looked at us and them tonight and expected that result.

“We spoke pre-season about the young squad I have, and how the potential is there but we just needed time. Tonight was that coming of age for them where they showed what they have. I couldn’t be prouder of the team.”

Asked about the clinical nature of his side on the day, Bracegirdle said: “If I could get the boys playing like that every week I’d be one happy manager.

“The pitch makes it easy to play that wide expansive football which draws teams in. We’ve scored a few goals like that in recent weeks but results haven’t always gone our way.”

Finally, on the hope this will lead to more wins, Bracegirdle said: “We know this is a difficult league so we can’t get ahead of ourselves.

“If anything, this win tonight makes it more difficult as sides know we have the quality to hurt them. We’ll enjoy this one though and prepare for next week.”