Morriston Town  0

Garden Village  1
Paul Dickie (45')

Welsh League Division 2
Saturday December 17th, 2005

A debut strike from Paul Dickie in first-half stoppage-time ensured Village of victory in this Swansea derby match played at the Dingle. A comical error by home ‘keeper Jonny Martin resulting in the new signing from Ynystawe curling the ball into an empty net from near on 40 yards.

Village were without the suspended pair of Chris Thomas and Steven Evans but welcomed back Marc Lloyd to the side from physio duty at Swansea City. The visitors, though, were handed a massive blow 10 minutes from time when David Evans was carried off with a suspected broken leg.

Chances were very few and far between in the first-half for both sides, but inside the opening 10 minutes new-boy Dickie headed just past the post and had an effort cleared off the line. Morriston’s best chance of the half came right at the end when Dean Beniamous shot wide from 6-yards, Village capitalised on that miss and took the lead less than a minute later. The home side had a free-kick mid-way inside their own half, Jonny Martin went to take it but slipped as he made contact with the ball. With all of his defenders’ backs to goal, Paul Dickie was left un-marked as he thumped the ball into the back of the net from a fair distance out.

Morriston had many chances to level the score in the second-half but they found it hard to breach the strong Village defence. Dean Beniamous brought out a magnificent save by the legs of Mark Snell from close range early on while Paul Sweeney volleyed just wide of the target shortly afterwards.

Derek Jenkins headed straight at the 'keeper from a David Rimmer free-kick on 72 minutes, but the home side really started to pile on the pressure in the last 15 minutes. They had a host of chances to draw level but the Village defence proved to be too strong. The home sides' afternoon was summed up 4 minutes into injury-time when a long free-kick was launched into the box, the ball was flicked past Mark Snell but David Rimmer was Village's saviour to clear off the line.

This was our fifth consecutive win, and sixth in a run of seven matches unbeaten. We now occupy second spot in the league, one point behind leaders Pontypridd Town whom we face at home in just a couple of week's time.

Village: Mark Snell; Jamie Mansell, David Evans, David Rimmer; Marc Lloyd, Paul Bromage, Steve Bater, Derek Jenkins, Jack Jenkins (Carl Alfei 77'); Lee Waite (Dayle Selvage 59'), Paul Dickie (Ashley Richards 70').