Despite persistent rain dampening the occasion, it was the visitors who started quicker, grabbing an early goal through Sam Salisbury following a defence-splitting pass from left-half Andrew Hornby. The strike only seemed to wake Bridgend up, however, and the hosts quickly took the ascendancy, putting pressure on a Penarth defence that allowed themselves to be distracted by some of the umpiring decisions.

Although the back line resisted Bridgend’s pressure for a while, an equaliser looked increasingly likely, and came midway through the half after a penalty corner was recycled long enough to free up players at the far post. Buoyed by drawing level, the home side took the lead shortly after, again following a penalty corner decision that caused some consternation amongst the defence.

Knowing that their efforts remained at least the equal of their opponents even if things hadn’t gone their way, the second half began with Penarth regaining their earlier dominance and almost all of the possession. However, luck refused to swap sides, with several efforts going just wide and a series of fantastic saves by the Bridgend ‘keeper ensuring the home side remained ahead.

The Bears continued to feel aggrieved that, despite several infringements in the ‘D’, not a single penalty corner came their way and the lack of set-piece opportunities combined with growing frustration to derail the visitors’ effort. Penarth twice found the back of the net with the score at 2-1, only to see both ‘goals’ ruled out, one for an infringement in the build-up and the other as the ball apparently caught a forward’s foot on its way over the line with the ‘keeper already beaten.

As time ticked away, Penarth pressed increasingly higher up the field in search of at least an equaliser but, with virtually all of the Bears in the Bridgend half, the home side were able to hit them on the counter, breaking at speed and using the accurate passing that had served them well throughout to increase their lead. Penarth switched to a three-man defence for the final ten minutes in the hope of conjuring something with an extra man going forward, but were again undone by a Bridgend break to leave the final score at a flattering 4-1 to the home side.

The defeat sees the Seconds go into the Christmas break occupying fourth place in De Cymru 1, six points off the promotion places with a tough opening to the New Year next up. That means that, for the second consecutive season, the Bears know they will need to have an almost perfect final round of fixtures to secure promotion but, having achieved the feat last season, will feel promotion is still a very realistic prospect.

Goalscorer: Sam Salisbury

Penarth Hockey Club

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