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Risca United have beaten local rivals Aberbargoed Buds 4-1 in a league matchup at the Centre for Sporting Excellence.

The game was a lot closer than the score line suggests, as mistakes ultimately cost the Buds when the pair met on Friday October 6.

Risca danger man Leon Thomas capitalised on the first mistake to open the scoring, before Harvey Selway grabbed another as half-time approached.

The visitors answered back immediately through Dafydd Brewer, but mistakes later in the game undid any good work from the Buds. Arthur Furness grabbed his brace from the bench and Risca left feeling pleased having secured all three points in an important Ardal South East match.

Kick-off

There was a good intensity to the game from the very first kick, as expected in a derby match.

Neither side were offering much in the way of clear cut chances, however Tom Beynon had a couple of moments where he could’ve looked to slip in an attacker.

Risca striker Leon Thomas looked the liveliest for the Cuckoos. He hadn’t seen too much of the ball inside the opening ten, but the 21-year-old looked well up for it with bags of energy.

The visitors were pressing the Risca backline well, but the Cuckoos’ response was better.

After sucking the Buds in on a few goal kicks, keeper Joseph Massaro pinged a long one over right-back Liam Vaughan for Thomas to chase. Nothing came of it, but the option would keep the visitors honest.

Buds winger Abdulrasheed Ibrahim was causing problems down the left, Harvey Selway was just about coping but the threat was there.

The game was beginning to settle down after 25 minutes or so. Mitchell Palmer was getting on the ball for Risca and dictating play nicely.

A few moments later however and the game was flipped on its head.

Beynon had admittedly struggled in the first-half, but his decision to play a square ball back to his keeper as the last man was inexcusable.

Thomas alertly intercepted the pass and skipped around Jonathan Green before slotting home into an empty net. 1-0 to Risca.

His teammates picked him up however, and almost responded immediately down the other end.

Robert Jones found himself in far too much space for Risca’s liking in the box. Massaro could only watch as his strike hit the post.

The real chance however was for Ibrahim who came running in for the follow-up only to smash the ball over the bar. A golden chance to level things.

Risca manager Simon Berry was screaming at his players from the side line. It was a brilliant game for the neutral with chances at both ends.

It wasn’t long before Risca had another opportunity to double their lead. Selway took a bad touch in midfield which forced him to take his man on down the left. He dug-out a lovely cross which found Daniel Battle.

Battle took the ball down on his chest well but scuffed his effort onto the post.

The game reached boiling point when Bassett’s tackle on Palmer didn’t lead to his second yellow card.

It was very touch and go with referee Brooklyn Lloyd-Meek giving Bassett the benefit of the doubt to the dismay of Berry and his staff.

They weren’t unhappy for too long, however, when the hosts made it 2-0 just before half-time.

Another goal the Buds would not be happy with, this time a goal kick was heaved over the backline and found Cuddihy in space down the left.

He took a few touches and crossed to his opposite full-back, Selway, who directed his header into the top corner.

As half-time approached, the Buds managed to get one last corner in before the whistle.

Bassett curled a lovely ball in that somehow bobbled back post and found Dafydd Brewer who poked it home. A lifeline for the visitors as the whistle blew.

Second-half

The second-half opened up like the first with great intensity. The Buds were galvanised by their goal and Risca knew they needed a third.

Not long into the half and it should have been three for the Cuckoos. Cuddihy again was involved, this time he found himself in the box with ball at feet.

His strike to the near post looked in until it clattered the upright and rebounded into the keeper’s grateful arms.

Up the other end and there was nearly redemption for Beynon after his earlier mistake. The midfielder found himself in acres of space on the left side of the box, however slashed at his effort and missed wide right.

The Buds were on top now with an hour played. Risca were were defending valiantly, throwing bodies at the ball and clearing long.

Brewer was desperately unlucky not to grab his second when his header from a cross hit the underside of the bar, off the line and out. No way to tell if it was in but it was close.

It looked like Risca were having flashbacks to their last league game against Abercarn, when they conceded late and gave up three points. The Cuckoos were killing time as best they could, but it felt far too soon for that with 75 minutes played.

They didn’t have to worry for too much longer though when yet another poor piece of defending gave the hosts their third.

Rhys Williams at fault this time for the Buds, his attempt to watch the ball out for a goal kick backfired when sub Jake Morris tackled, rounded the keeper and passed to fellow sub Arthur Furness.

Furness, with what was probably his first touch, fired high into the net and celebrated in style with a back flip.

Unfortunate for the buds who were on top until that point. But with only ten minutes left the game looked gone for them.

The game was definitely gone when Furness grabbed his brace shortly after. Morris too had his second assist, after bursting down the left in the space left by the Buds.

He cut inside and should have squared it to Furness who had a tap in. Fortunately for him, his shot was palmed to the feet of Furness anyway who made no mistake.

The final whistle blew and Aberbargoed wouldn’t have been sure how they lost that one 4-1. They had plenty of chances but ultimately mistakes cost them.

For Risca, it was an important win after a draw and a loss, with manager Simon Berry telling Caerphilly Observer “it was nice to get the three points”, but adding that he didn’t think his side played particularly well, however took their chances.