April 3rd: Pontardawe 1 v Ton Pentre 2
This was the game of the month with Ponterdawe top of the league and playing the current champions who were second, so it was "real" 6 pointer. Ton wanting to win to get on terms and Ponterdawe wanting to go 6 points clear.
Ton were again a much changed unit with only one "recognised" centre-back Jason Roberts, so manager Kevin Richards played Rob King as sweeper, Neil Davies as Roberts' partner with Lee Tapper and Ceri Harding as the wingbacks. The midfield was made up of Shaun Fackeral, Dean Morris and Andrew Hughes (Capt.), with Lee Randall and Carl Thomas up front.
The game started with Ton going on the attack straight from the kick off, winning two corners in the first 2 minutes, the delivery into the box was spot on and kept Ponterdawe under pressure. After 4 minutes another corner was won on the right, Fackeral again delivered a telling ball into the near post, Roberts headed on to the far post where Tapper jumped above the defenders and headed a superb looping attempt towards goal from 13 yards, his effort went under the cross bar to score the opener giving Ton the early 0-1 lead.
The game continued in this way for the first 10 minutes with the home side unable to get hold of the ball, however they did get free kicks a long distance from goal and did not trouble a good Ton back line. Then on the 11th there was an injury scare to Ton's diminutive wingback Harding, he was off the field for 3 minutes with a cut mouth (He had 3 stitches after the game), he went back on and finished the game.
On the quarter hour mark, Ponterdawe did get a good cross over from Horley on the left wing, Harding bravely headed clear at the back post to give away a corner. The home side had a good few minutes and had possession, however the Ton defence was looking solid. Following this period Ton got control again and pushed the home side back with Randall going close, he then put the ball into the net; it was disallowed for handball. Midway through the half Ton were keeping their opposition deep in their own half, Thomas was working hard and closing the defenders down. On the half hour Randall and Harding had shots on goal with Snell in the Ponterdawe goal punching Harding's shot clear.
In the 38th minute there was another blow to the Ton team when Rob King had to go off with a hamstring injury, he had done a great job as sweeper. So another change, Lee Mathews replaced Morris in midfield and Morris went into the sweeper role. Ton took a few minutes to settle, then a 2 minutes later Randall beat the offside and was chasing the ball just outside the box and was just unable to get there, the keeper to headed the ball wide, this was another scare for the league leaders. Then Ton got their well deserved second, Ton won a free kick and another good delivery from Harding was played into the box, Hughes was there to put a glancing header past Snell to make it 0-2 in the 42nd minute.
A minute later saw another chance go to Mathews who beat the offside trap he tried to get the ball over an advancing Snell, his effort went just wide of the left upright from 35 yards. The half ended with Ton still going forward.
At the half time break Ponterdawe made a substitution when Simon Dyer going on. The second half opened with Ponterdawe determined to get into the game, they attacked the away team from the first whistle. Their influential midfielder Birch had a couple of long-range efforts at goal. The defence of Ton were doing a fine job with Morris, Davies and Roberts able to cope with the Ponterdawe front men, however it was down the left where most of their good work was done. Ponterdawe were putting Ton under pressure without really testing Ellacott in the Ton goal. Then on the 56th minute another cross-found Tapper at the back post, this time Snell saved his looping header. Ton midfield were working hard to get control of the ball and Randall and Thomas were also doing the best to keep the ball up field.
Harding and Thomas combined to break down the right, Harding's cross was collected by Snell. Then Ellacott pulled off a magnificent save in the 78th minute, a shot from Jones was going just under the bar when Ellacott pushed the ball over for a corner. Following this Ponterdawe did get their goal through Dean South, he took his chance well although Ton were disappointed with their defending on the right to make the game 1-2.
This gave the home side a lift, they threw everything at Ton without getting in on goal, their attempts were still from long-range. Again in the 83rd Ellacott made a great save from Hajgato, keeping Ton in the game.
Then Hughes broke forward down the Ton left and cut in to shoot, he tried to curl the ball into the top right corner, it went just over with Snell beaten. The final few minutes saw both sides attack. The final whistle went with Ton coming out the winners 1-2. This was a great game of football with both sides committed, Ton deserved to end the 16 match unbeaten run from Ponterdawe, it is now going to be an interesting run in with both sides having the same number of points and played the same number of games. Ponterdawe remain on top with their superior goal difference of 1. The run in is not going to be for the faint hearted.
Teams
Ponterdawe: Snell, Marcus Evans, George, Standon, Chahal, Steve Evans, South, Hajgato, Andrew Jones, Birch and Horley substitutes Dyer, Brown and Lee Jones
Ton Pentre: Ellacott, Tapper, Fackeral, Roberts, King, Davies, Hughes, Morris Thomas, Randall, Thomas and Harding substitutes Mathews, Shepherd and Phillips
Written by Gary Matuszczyk
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