April 22nd: Ton Pentre 3 v Ely Rangers 0
This was the second game for both sides in three days, the home side were again much changed from their shock defeat on Saturday against Cardiff Civil service and Ely had a number of injuries. Ton needed to win to keep the pressure on Ponterdawe who now have one hand on the League Championship.
The game started brightly with the Ton taking the game to Ely, the opening was all Ton and Ely were only able to attack Ton on the break. The first 15 minutes saw Ton take control of the game and put Ely under pressure, with good play from Hughes and Fackeral in midfield ably supported from the back. Carl Thomas and Lee Randall went close after 8 and 11 minutes respectively.
The Ton play was much better than in recent games and Ely had no answer to it and with Harding and Tapper breaking quickly Ely could only play the ball up field hoping their hard working forwards Pugh and Copley would make the Yon keeper Ellacott work. With 32 minutes of the game played and with Ton in complete control, the breakthrough came when a penalty was given to Ton for a foul on Prygodzicz. Thomas took the kick and firmly hit the ball to the left of Boulton in the Ely goal giving him no chance. Making it 1-0 to the home side.
Ton continued to dominate the remainder of the half and Ely were working very hard to stay in the game. Their luck was out when in the 36th minute their number 4 Gareth Boulton fouled Morris, he was given his second yellow card and subsequently sent off. The game was hard for Ely before with 11, it was now even more difficult.
Ton continued to play well and made Ely chase the ball, with Thomas and Hughes making Boulton save in the Ely goal. Then on the stroke of half time a good cross from Hughes found Randall, he was unable to get a decent shot on goal and a grateful Ely Rangers cleared the ball. The half ended with Ton in complete control and in the lead 1-0.
Ely re-started the game with Ton taking possession and going forward to a tired looking Ely team. Within in the first 2 minutes a corner from Fackeral found Prygodzicz who headed just over, the midfield of Ton were in complete control. Then in the 48th minute an angled ball played into the path of Hughes saw him run to the edge of box and he played the ball to the left of Boulton who was running out to close the angle, Hughes had judged it perfectly and scored to make it 2-0.
Ely had no answer and were only able to hit Ton on the break, they were not able to relieve the pressure on their defence and then in the 56th minute Ton scored their third goal when another great cross from Fackeral was headed home by Thomas from 6 yards, it was a powerful attempt that gave Boulton no chance.
This goal gave the home side the confidence they had been lacking of late and Ton settled to play some very good football and passing the ball across the field. The 66th minute saw Ton make a double substitution when Thomas and Richards left the field and were replaced by Anthony Phillips and Dai Withers.
Ton continued to keep the pressure on and there was no let up for the 10 men of Ely, although they tried hard they were outplayed by a controlled Ton performance. Ton made a final change when Ian Shepherd replaced Lee Randall with 5 minutes to go, he was in the game immediately with a couple of fine crosses. The game ended with a 3-0 win for Ton. This was a far better display from the Ton side; if they had played like this in the last 4 games they would be level with Ponterdawe.
One thing is for certain Ton are not giving up their championship without a fight.
Teams
Ton Pentre: Ellacott, Tapper, Richards, Prygodzicz, Davies, Morris, Hughes, Fackeral, Randall, Thomas, Harding substitutes, Shepherd, Phillips and Withers
Ely Rangers: Boulton D, Clarke, Kavanagh, Boulton, Pewikett D, Hewings, Pewikett P, George, Pugh, Copley and Cummings substitutes Boxall, Croft and Evans
Report by Gary Matuszczyk
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