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TON PENTRE 3 - 0 CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH VALE
MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division One
Saturday 23rd February 2008
Ynys Park played host to the first ever competitive match between Ton Pentre and Cambrian & Clydach Vale in a MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division One fixture that saw the Rhondda Bulldogs end the encounter victorious to take top spot in the league table.
With a large crowd gathered, there was much anticipation in Ynys Park from both sets of supporters and players with vital league points and bragging rights up for grabs.
It was a slick match that started at a frantic pace and it was Ton Pentre that took the initiative from early on. Alyn Jones was on form for the Rhondda Bulldogs and an early 20-yard strike from the player tested Cambrian & Clydach Vale goalkeeper Jarred Howells.
Jonathan Kift could have given Ton Pentre the lead in the 12th minute when the ball broke to him following Andrew Pearson’s battle with a visiting defender. Kift seemed surprised by the opportunity and with just the goalkeeper to beat he was unable to compose himself and shot his effort over the crossbar.
Moments later Jones began an amazing run down the left dribbling the ball around several opponents before cutting inside the wide defender to get himself into the box. To manoeuvre into a shooting position Jones jinked his way past Shaun Fackrell, who caught the Ton attacker with an outside leg leaving Referee Teifion Cook with no option but to award the Bulldogs a penalty.
Ton Captain, Andrew Hughes, stepped up to take the spot kick and placed the ball into the bottom right of the goal leaving keeper Howells motionless.
Despite Ton Pentre’s dominating first half performance, Cambrian were able to carve themselves a few chances to equalise, the best of which came in the 39th minute. The Ynys Park visitors caused Ton’s goalkeeper Marty Ellacott several problems when he was unable to get a strong grasp on the ball during a six yard box scramble. Eventually the Bulldogs’ Assistant Player Manager got the ball firmly in his possession to deny Cambrian an excellent chance.
Ton soon got the ball up the other end of pitch to apply more pressure on their Rhondda rivals when Hughes’ battling in midfield saw him win control and thread a through ball to Kift. Ton’s leading goalscorer demonstrated excellent composure to superbly finish and put the Bulldogs two goals ahead.
During the second half the home team failed to show the same quality that they had established in the first and this allowed Cambrian the opportunity to create more chances.
One such chance arose during the 47th minute of play when from a cross on the right Darren Jones headed over the bar to spurn a tremendous opportunity for his team to get back in the match.
Mark Crutch came close to putting the game beyond Cambrian three minutes later when the defender connected with a corner kick but struck his effort inches over the bar.
Exchanges between the two clubs were more evenly matched but Ton Pentre always looked the more likely to score, which they did in the 78th minute to finish Cambrian & Clydach Vale’s challenge.
A Dale Price corner was fumbled at the front post by Howells and Hughes was positioned well to prod in his second and Ton’s third goal of the evening.
Substitute Mattie Davies nearly heaped more misery on Cambrian deep in injury time when he was on the end of a pinpoint cross from Ryan Shugar, whose ball into the box was a result of a wonderful passage of build-up play involving Alyn Jones and Scott Jones. Davies made good connection with the ball to head it unchallenged towards goal, but he was unable to direct it wide enough of Howell’s who denied him by taking the ball into his chest.
This win took Ton Pentre to the top of Division One, two points clear of Goytre United. But the victory also gives Ton Pentre bragging rights over their rivals at least until the both teams next meet at Cambrian in April.
Ton’s title challenge continues at Taffs Well on Saturday 1st March for a St Davids Day match that kicks off at 2.30pm.
Following that is a home clash with relegation battlers Croesyceiliog who travel to Ynys Park on Saturday 8th March (K.O. 2.30pm).
Ton Pentre Team: 1.Marty Ellacott; 2.Scott Hayward; 3.Alyn Jones; 4.Ryan Morgan; 5.Mark Crutch; 6.Andrew Hughes (Captain) (14.Nicky Jones 83); 7.Lee Matthews; 8.Ryan Shugar; 9.Andrew Pearson; 10.Jonathan Kift (16.Mattie Davies 83); 11.Dale Price (15.Scott Jones 79).
Subs not used: 12.Dane Williams & 17.Richard Stevens.
Goals: Hughes 15 (Pen) & 78; Kift 42
Booked: None
Cambrian & Clydach Vale Team: 1.Jarred Howells; 2.Robbie Thomas; 3.Ian Shephard; 4.Lewis Thomas; 5.Daniel Lever; 6.Scott Seldon; 7.Kristoffer Rees; 8.Shaun Fackrell; 9.Darren Jones; 10.James Ryan; 11.Richard Taylor.
Substitutes: 12.Chris MacDonald; 14.Chris Phillips; 15.Rhys Hughes; 16.John Cory; 17.Nathan Hughes.
Match report by Ton Pentre AFC Press
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