March 23rd: Garw 2 v Ton Pentre 2
Ton travelled to the Garw valley with the thought of another 3 points to maintain their league title aspirations, they were to only get a draw, and it was probably the right result. Manager Kevin Richards had to make changes in the team that did so well against Maesteg. Shepherd (work), Prygodzicz (Suspension/injury) were not available, Brown was now fit again so went into the starting line up and new signing Lee Randall was on the bench.
Garw started the game and went straight into the attack, with the ball going behind for a goal kick. The opening 3 minutes saw both sides go forward, however in the 3rd minute there was a blow to Ton their very influential striker Lee Brown went down with a hand problem, it was discovered that he had dislocated his knuckle, so had to go off and was taken to hospital. Lee Randall replaced Brown in the 7th minute; he therefore made his debut a little earlier than expected.
In the opening 10 minutes Garw were able to keep the pressure on Ton by playing the long ball game, they were launching it at the Ton defence. It was not pretty or even good football, although it was their strength and they were playing to it. Garw's Lyons was prominent in the early exchanges; he was taking their dead ball kicks and on occasions getting crosses in. With Ton unable to get into the game Garw continued to threaten through Sage, he was able to turn the Ton defence and win the ball in the air. Mike Jones and Jason Roberts with the help of Neil Davies were coping.
It was not until the 19th minute when Ton got their first real movement forward, when Roberts played in Lee Tapper who crossed the ball into the danger area, the ball was well cleared by Garw's big defender Darren Braithwaite. Mid way through the first half saw Marty Ellacott being called upon, Thomas of Garw crossed a free kick into the area. Ellacott did well to punch it clear with 5 Garw players around him.
A couple of minutes later saw Ceri Harding take a quick kick and played it to Andrew Hughes, he beat the defence but was only able to shoot wide. From the 25th minute Ton did settle and found Randall a good outlet, he and Withers were able to hold the ball up, therefore allowing Ton to get more into the game. Although as soon as the Garw keeper Elliott got the ball he just "hoofed" it up field.
In the 29th minute Ton made the breakthrough, Davies played in Randall who beat the last line of defence and calmly side footed around a despairing Elliot, the ball going just inside the right upright, most thought it was going wide. It was perfectly placed and put Ton in the lead 0-1.
Garw pressed forward and nearly paid the penalty when a quick break through Harding found Withers, he was only able to put the ball wide. This goal seemed to settle Ton and they did start to play a little. Then in the 36th Garw got their first goal, it was a great move, their number 10 Paul Jones got in behind a static Ton defence to cross for the alert Lloyd Griffiths to head home from close range. 1-1.
The play continued with Ton trying to play and Garw trying to get snow on the ball, I am sure some of the kicks would have had NASA worrying about their satellites. Never the less, Ton did score again in the 41st, when Harding fired a low shot into the near post, Randall reacted superbly and wrapped his left foot around it to score his second. It was a well-taken goal by Randall, Elliott did not see it 1-2. The half ended with Ton the slightly the better side with the score 1-2.
The second half started with Garw employing the long ball tactics, which really suited the pitch and their game. Ton were getting the ball into good positions on the wings, however the final ball was not there. In the 52nd minute good work by Withers saw him close the keeper down, with the ball breaking to Harding, his cross went behind.
The game was not much of a spectacle and you could see Ton starting to defend deeper, which allowed the Garw forwards and midfield opportunities to push Ton back. Then in 59th minute the inevitable happened Garw scored their second, a long cross from the right found the head of the unmarked Lyons 7 yards out, he headed home past Ellacott to make 2-2. It was another poor goal given away.
On the hour Richards made change with Lee Mathews replacing Withers, with Mathews going into midfield and Harding joining Randall up top. Two minutes later there was another scare for Ton, when Garw's Jones was left unmarked on the half way line, the ball was again hit over the top, he was onto it like a flash. Ellacott sprinted off his line and forced him to shoot from 35 yards, his effort went well wide. The Ton bench were by now going frantic, shouting for their team to keep their discipline and shape. This was not heeded, in the 66th, Garw's Thomas played the ball into the box to Wells who was again unmarked at the back post, he blasted over the top, with a little composure he should have scored.
Garw continued to play the long ball, Ton were trying to get the ball to Randall and Harding and on a few occasions they were successful in turning the home defence. In the 70th minute Richards made his last change when King came off for Nicky Jones to on at left wingback.
The remainder of the half saw the play swinging back and forth as Ton were also chasing the game with the long ball, it was not pretty to watch, however it was effective. In the 90th minute a great cross from Lyons to the back post saw Sage and Jones attack the ball, a brave challenge by Tapper saw the ball go behind for a goal kick. Ton were able to get the ball into the Garw area, only for the home defence to clear it downfield. Finally after 3 minutes of stoppage time the referee blew up for full time, with the result 2-2.
The positive that came out of the game was Lee Randall, he is a very good player, let's hope he is able score as often as this for the rest of the season. If Ton are to retain their title they are going to have to play a great deal better than this and it will have to start against Field Park Pontllanfraith on the 27th March at home.
Garw: Elliott, Gavin Thomas, Braithewaite, Atkinson, Davies, Wells, Lyons, Griffiths, Sage, Paul Jones and Llewellyn, substitutes Hayes, Phillips & McEachen.
Ton Pentre: Ellacott, Tapper, King, Mike Jones, Roberts, Hughes, Morris, Brown, Withers and Harding, substitutes Mathews, Randall and Nicky Jones.
Written by Gary Matuszczyk
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