PURE SWANSEA: Rampant Pure thrash Caerau to maintain unbeaten start

Five of the best in the second half from league leaders Pure Swansea saw off Caerau Ely 5-1 in Cardiff, having fallen behind at the break.

Goals from captain Jordan Hughes, top scorer Casey Coughlin, a quick-fire double from man of the match Bradley Gibbings and a first for the club from marquee new signing Kyle Copp saw the Swansea-based side maintain their 100% record, despite Liam Bishop’s opener for the hosts.

To say things are going well for newly promoted Pure Swansea is a bit of an understatement. Following a trio of 3-0 victories, including an impressive hammering of rivals Llanelli Town last weekend, a statement win over last season’s nearly men will have turned heads.

Jack Midwinter’s side now sit pretty at the top of the pile, level with Pontypridd United as the early pace setters in what is looking to be an exciting season in the Novira Cymru South. The two sides clash in Swansea next weekend in a mouth-watering match-up.

On the night Pure did not have it all their own way in Cardiff, with the hosts striking first after an even opening to breach their defence for the first time this season.

Winger Bishop’s long-range cross-cum-shot deceived Pure goalkeeper Kane Draper, looping over his head into the top corner to put the home side ahead.

Coughlin would have the best chance of the first half for the visitors. A defence-splitting ball saw the forward played in on goal on the left-hand side, but the Pure number nine uncharacteristically dragged his effort wide of the post.

A fiery period followed, with no fewer than five yellow cards shared before the break and just the one goal separating the two sides.

In a spirited second-half comeback, Pure stuck to their guns, stretching their opposition with quick, direct attacks down both flanks.

Goals must seem like buses for Hughes, who said in the build-up that he had scored only four or five in the last six seasons. It would be the skipper on the scoresheet for the second week running.

Full-back Daniel Ingram’s clipped through ball found the run of his captain, who timed a looping header over Caerau goalkeeper Joseph Baker to level proceedings.

The next goal looked key, and it would not take long before Midwinter’s side were back ahead. Galvanised by the equaliser, Pure surged forward with Ingram once more at the heart of the play.

The full-back’s cross proved testing for Baker, who could only parry it to the feet of Coughlin, with the striker gleefully smashing home his fifth of the season.

There would be only one winner from that point as Pure showed their ruthless edge, with winger Gibbings scoring twice in the space of three minutes.

The first was an absolute cracker. A long throw into the Caerau box was cushioned into the path of Gibbings by Copp, and there was no stopping the former’s effort as it rocketed into the back of the net via the crossbar.

Caerau continued to push to get back into the contest but were caught out on the counter attack for Pure’s fourth of the evening, a swift break seeing Gibbings race on to Jacob Lund’s through ball to fire home.

The Cardiff side’s night went from bad to worse as frustrations grew, with Jacob Woodiwiss sent off in the aftermath, before an impressive turnaround was capped off with Copp slotting home calmly from Gibbings’ pass for his first for the club deep into stoppage time.

Pure now face Pontypridd United at Swansea Bay Sports Park on Friday night, 7.45pm kick-off.

Pure Swansea XI

Kane Draper, Daniel Ingram (Harvey Chapman), Jacob Lund, Ollie Roberts (Noah Osbourne), Jordan Lloyd-Evans, Jordan Hughes (c), Zac Brown (Morgan Wright), Bradley Gibbings, Mason Kelly (Josh Cole), Casey Coughlin, Kyle Copp.

Author

Richard Bond

Swansea-based sports journalist.
Twitter: @RichBond00
Email: RichardBond@swanseabaynews.com