FAW Trophy Progress for the Wasps

Matthew Edward protects the ball

Whereas the Wasps previous outing in this seasons FAW Amateur Trophy had seen drama before the game had even kicked off, the third round meeting with F.C. Cwmaman, the previous weeks weather enforced postponement notwithstanding, saw all the excitement take place during the ninety minutes.

The only pre-game concerns had been the form of the two sides. Whilst a first league point of the season had been secured with the dramatic 4-4 draw at Rhymney in the previous game, just the one victory of the season didn't bode well, especially when welcoming an unbeaten South Wales Alliance Premier Division side to the Rec.

The game itself though proved to be a classic cup tie. The visitors started confidently, looking to keep the ball and build play from defence, but were rocked by an early goal. After good play down the right, Ben Sherman found himself one on one with the centre half, gaining half a yard to hit a shot through his markers legs that seemed to catch the keeper off guard and creep in at the near post. Cwmaman stuck at their task though and were fashioning some excellent opportunities. Unfortunately for them, they ran into Dai Pearce in the Wasps goal in inspired form. Whilst it wasn't exactly a siege, the visitors should really have taken the lead, were it not for the hands and feet of Pearce keeping them at bay with five or six saves of the highest quality.

Somewhat against the run of play, following another driving forward run, Matthew Edward swept home to double the Wasps lead. It looked like this was going to be the half time score, only for a bizarre decision by the referee. As Pearce raced from his line to cut out a through ball, he clearly pushed the ball away from the onrushing forwards feet before the pair collided. Amazingly, even to the visitors, referee Parker pointed to the penalty spot. Pearce could not repeat his earlier heroics, and at the break it was back to being a one goal difference.

The second half couldn't have started better as the two goal lead was reclaimed within the first couple of minutes. A long Pearce clearance was met on the edge of the box by the head of Adam Carrington, his lay off falling invitingly to substitute Jenson Broad, who fired home with his first touch of the game. Back came the Alliance league side, and five minutes later the lead was cut to 3-2; a poachers finish taking advantage of poor marking.

The game was far more equal as it became stretched with chances falling at both ends. Sherman cracked home a fine shot from the left hand side of the box to restore the two goal cushion with twenty minutes to go, only for another defensive lapse within five minutes to allow the visitors back into the game. With Clydach looking to soak up pressure and play on the break, it made for an absorbing end to the game. The Wasps defence held firm though to put us in the hat for the fourth round.

One of the teams defining features over recent years has been the ability to raise their game when met with good teams, and they showed that character in spades. Cwmaman certainly played some very good football to show why they are on such a good run, and can count themselves unlucky to have run into a Dai Pearce shaped brick wall and a forward line in a ruthless mood. Unfortunately we now have a week off before getting back into league action, but hopefully this Trophy form can now be carried over and will see us lift ourselves out of the Division One basement.