Flash finishes off Robins (From Western Telegraph)

Flash finishes off Robins

Milford United 0 Maesteg Park 3

Referee: Paul Jenkins

After a solid start in their first league match against Neath, Milford United were brought down to earth with a bump at marble Hall on Saturday as they were outplayed by a strong Maesteg Park side packed with experienced players and always that yard sharper than a battling Robins side which finished the game with ten men after full back Paul McMuiris had departed in the 88th minute for a second bookable offence.

He was one of several players shown the yellow card in the first ten minutes of the second period as Milford United tried hard to claw back a two-goal deficit but it was never a dirty match and the only consolation for the managerial team of Mickie Lewis and Mark Powell was the fact that they are unlikely to face many better sides than this in the season, with right wing-back Haydn Fleming as the undoubted man of the match as he created several clear-cut chances and set up both first half goals as he lived up to his nick-name of Flash, before adding the third goal from the spot to make sure of the three points for a side that finished second last season and has been strengthened with several players for this campaign.

The Robins started with big striker Gavin Griffiths alongside player-manager Mickie Lewis, with Alan Davies and Rickie Morgan playing wide in midfield so that Dean Driscoll and Rob Jones could play in the centre - but with Flash Fleming regularly losing Morgan as marker on the right, Maesteg Park were able to operate with big centre backs Dean Threlfall and Leighton Martin, plus outstanding sweeper Jason Bird, in a three-man defence that allowed Fleming and Lee Farrell to seek space in support of their midfield.

Milford were in trouble as early as the fourth minute when Fleming made ground up the right and crossed to the far post, where Kyle Charles, who had scored a brace of goals the previous week, had all the time in the world to compose himself and plant the ball low past a stranded Mark Poole in the Robins goal.

Poole made a good save from Farrells low free-kick and Flemings next sortie up the right saw his driven cross hit the top of the bar - and it was 14 minutes before Morgan had the Robins first real chance, his low cross-shot from the left scudding wide as Park keeper Adrian Tucker scrambled to cover it at his far post.

Maesteg doubled their advantage after 17 minutes as Alan Clarke and Sean Mainwaring looked settled in midfield - and again it was Fleming who raced up the right flank and pushed the ball through for Lee Skyrme to find clear space to drill his low shot past Poole.

The Robins responded with two set-piece efforts by Lewis, his free-kick headed behind and the subsequent corner put wide by the forehead of skipper Wayne Price, who had pushed up from his defensive duties alongside James Archer.

But the homesters found chances hard to come by and Maesteg might have added to their lead but McMuiris cleared a Jeff Hooper chip off the line and Clarke headed wide another cross from the ubiquitous Fleming.

After a quiet first spell, referee Jenkins little black book was soon out at regular intervals as Rob Jones (fourth minute) and McMuiris (sixth minute) were booked and sandwiched in a busy three minutes for the official was a yellow card for Fleming - with team-mate Hooper the fourth after only 12 minutes of the session!

Alan Clarke missed a sitter for Maesteg and was immediately replaced by Ryan Shugars, with Jamie Davies given a chance as sub for Griffiths as Powell also came on at full back for Johnnie Hicks, who was clearly carrying an injury.

But still Maesteg threatened and Poole made good saves in quick succession from Charles and Skyrme before Jamie Davies was another to be booked, as was skipper Price as he upended Charles in the box and up stepped Fleming to casually slot the penalty to Pooles right.

There was still time for Maesteg to give a run out to Brian Chaudri, who missed another sitter and Lee Camilleri, with Martin getting booked for the Park and McMuiris receiving his red card to round off a match where Maesteg showed their credentials - and the Robins looked like a side which still has to settle together against such good opposition!

Milford United: Mark Poole: Johnnie Hicks (Mark Powell); Wayne Price; James Archer; Paul McMuiris: Alan Davies; Rob Jones; Dean Driscoll; Rickie Morgan: Mickie Lewis; Gavin Griffiths (Jamie Davies). Sub (not used): Richard Adams.

Caption: Milford United before kick-off on Saturday.