A fast and skilful Neath side had the better of this game, and it took a fine goalkeeping display from Lee Kendall to keep the score to one.

The visitors looked quite ominous in the early exchanges with forward midfielder Jarrod Price looking their most dangerous player. Price scored the goal on 20 minutes when he came in from the left on a carving run and thrashed his shot past Kendall from a narrow angle.

Neath had the ball in the net just two minutes later but the offside flag was up. Then, 20 minutes later, after the Bluebirds exerted just a shade more pressure, Jodie Jenkins flicked in neatly from Ryan Durham's cross, but he too was deemed offside.

Early in the second half the Bluebirds had their most lethargic spell of the game and it was Kendall who kept them in with a chance. First he turned scorching shots from Jon Keaveney and Carl Jenkins away for corners, tipped over superbly from Lee Bevan's rasping free kick, and pulled out two superb punches under pressure.

The introduction of subs Jack Christopher (at half-time) and Chris O'Sullivan (on the hour) did pep up the Blues attack a little, but it always looked as if their rally would not quite be enough, right through to the 88th minute when O'Sullivan's right-wing cross snaked across the face of the goal and Christopher blasted over from close range.