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Risca United extended their lead at the top of the Ardal South East after a 2-0 win over Blaenavon Blues under the floodlights Ystrad Mynach’s Centre for Sporting Excellence on Friday April 14.
Visitors Blaenavon came into the match sitting eighth having only won two of their last three games, but they looked the team to beat after dominating the first half.
After a half-time grilling by Risca coach, Simon Berry, the Cuckoos stepped-up in the “must-win game” with no small thanks to right back Arthur Furness who grabbed a brace to secure all three points for the league leaders.
Kick-off
The visitors began the game in some fashion. Manager Lee Challenger had set his side up with a back three that would very rarely become a back five as the game progressed.
Blaenavon’s pressing from the front, with an extra two-men out wide, caught top of the league Risca off guard and had captain Josh Clayton barking at his team to get a hold of the ball within the opening five minutes.
When the Cuckoos did have the ball, they were finding it difficult to turn out of midfield and find their attackers, who were getting caught out by the visitors’ back line playing the offside trap.
Most of Risca’s attention when defending was on left winger Lloyd Jeffries and wingback Khai Jones.
Risca right back Arthur Furness coped well for the large part, but the resulting throw-ins were clearly something drawn up on the training ground by Blaenavon, with Alex Bull hauling the ball into the box and causing Risca some trouble.
After just six minutes, this routine almost paid dividends when a loose ball bobbled to the feet of Craig Tanner who hit one against the crossbar. A warning sign for the hosts.
First team debutant and Risca Academy player Lloyd Oliver was one of the few bright sparks for the Cuckoos in the first half. The 18-year-old had some nice touches in the final third, off little service.
Things weren’t getting any easier for Risca, however. Midfielder Jak Lewis was struggling to get his foot on the ball as the Blaenavon press was relentless.
Top goal scorer for the Cuckoos’ Leon Thomas had his and the hosts first shot on target after 35-minutes but did little to trouble goalkeeper George Lohfink.
Blaenavon continued to find joy down the left for the remainder of the half, Jones was a real threat, his direct runs were causing problems and Risca were pleading for the half-time whistle.
Lewis finally had a bit of joy in midfield as a nice one-two broke the Blues press and had Risca up in the final third. Nothing came of the chance but a positive end to the half.
The visitors would have been disappointed to end the half having not scored. Apart from hitting the woodwork early on there was nothing too clear cut, but to replicate that pressure and intensity was going to be a tough ask.
Second half
Risca started the half much more positively. It still wasn’t vintage, but after five minutes it was clear their fullbacks were getting further up the pitch and were it not for the assistant referee’s flag, they would have been a goal up.
The game could have taken a turn just two minutes later when Clayton took out a Blaenavon forward after a sloppy first touch on the edge of his own area. The referee didn’t deem him the last man however and he walked away with a yellow.
The game really turned on the 62nd minute when league leader for assists Jake Morris entered the field for the Cuckoos.
Only a minute later, Morris made a tackle in midfield, danced around another before spreading the ball wide to left-back Owen Cuddihy.
Cuddihy whipped in a brilliant ball in-between the back line and keeper before unlikely hero Furness found himself on the end of it at the back post, finishing neatly from a narrow angle to give Risca the lead.
Blaenavon heads didn’t drop to their credit, conceding against the run of play could have led to a spiral but they continued to battle on with lots of energy and desire.
That was until after 78 minutes played, the ball broke to Furness once again some 25 metres out.
With a real taste for goal after his previous effort, Furness curled a superb shot into the top right corner. Nothing Lohfink could do and Risca led 2-0.
Risca managed the game out to secure the three points and extend their lead at the top to seven points over second place Abertillery.
Blaenavon can feel good about that performance. They had a clear game plan and put the league leaders right up against it for most of the match.
For Risca, they finally got a much-needed win after four draws and will look to close the season out on a high as they bid for promotion.
Reaction
After the match, Caerphilly Observer asked Risca first team manager Simon Berry, what he thought of the performance: “It wasn’t great if I’m honest. First half I thought we were poor, but we got to the boys at half time, ruffled a few feathers, and in fairness there was a response.
“We were second best all over the park, every 50/50 they won so I said to the boys this is make or break time. If we didn’t win today that was probably our chances out the window.
“It’s good to get three points on the board and we’re confident going into our remaining games.”
Risca United travel to Goytre in their next match on Tuesday April 18.
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