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DINAS POWYS 0 - 2 TON PENTRE
MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division One
Wednesday 16th April 2008
Two stunning second half goals helped Ton Pentre to victory over Dinas Powys at Murch Park as the Rhondda Bulldogs remain in the hunt for the Welsh Football League title.
With Goytre United winning their match 2-1 at Caerleon the night before, the game between Dinas Powys and Ton Pentre had extra significance with both teams having aspirations of lifting the championship trophy.
This important match had attracted a large crowd to Murch Park to watch two clubs in the top three battle for league supremacy.
Ton Pentre were in the ascendancy early on by taking the game to their hosts and putting them under pressure. Throughout the half Dinas began to strengthen and got themselves on top in the fixture.
If it were not for Marty Ellacott in the Ton Pentre goals Dinas Powys could very well have found themselves in the lead by the half time break.
On 21 minutes a Dinas Powys attack saw the Ton defence outnumbered. As Nana Baah closed in on goal he unleashed a shot that was excellently saved at close range by Ellacott. A Dinas player followed up with another shot and Ellacott again denied a goal with a brilliant save. Eventually Andrew Hughes ended the scramble in the Ton box by clearing the ball up the pitch.
Mark Crutch was forced into clearing the ball off the line after 33 minutes when Ellacott uncharacteristically dropped the ball near the penalty spot in the box after Dinas had played a long ball forward. The ball landed directly at the feet of a Dinas player who was left to rue his missed chance.
Five minutes before half time Richard Stevens was unable to control the ball on the halfway line, which again provided Dinas with a fantastic chance of taking the lead as they broke free. Again Ellacott had to produce a wonderful save to scoop the ball away from jeopardy.
Throughout the second half Ton Pentre began to grow in strength as they gained control of the match.
Jonathan Kift came alive and was beginning to cause Dinas all kinds of problems. One run up the right saw him break into space which enabled him to cross into the box. The ball in missed Andrew Pearson who was central in the area but Nicky Jones was at the far post to strike. To Dinas’ relief the ball was blocked and sent behind for a corner.
Moments later everyone connected with Ton held their breath as Drew Fahiya ran completely free at goal. As Ellacott rushed off his line and dived to the players feet, the Dinas man fell to the ground insinuating that he had been brought down. Referee Kevin Morgan was wise to his play acting and cautioned the player for simulation.
Ton Pentre got the breakthrough that they were looking for during the 64th minute when Pearson was in possession on the right. As he cut into the box Kift peeled away from the backtracking defence and Pearson was alert to pass directly to his team mate. Kift had time to pick his spot and he smashed the ball into the roof of the net for a super goal.
Alyn Jones got himself on the score sheet when he came off the bench to replace Nicky Jones on the left side of midfield.
With ten minutes of the match remaining Ton had Dinas Powys pinned in their own half and from outside the box Jones decided to try his luck and unleashed a firecracker of a shot that splendidly beat Kieron Blackburn to secure the win for the Bulldogs.
The final whistle was met with exuberance from both the players, management and supporters as Ton took all three points in what was a must win match against one of their title rivals.
Team: 1.Marty Ellacott; 2.Ryan Morgan; 3.Richard Carter; 4.Mark Crutch; 5.Richard Stevens; 6.Andrew Hughes (Captain); 7.Lee Matthews; 8.Dale Price (14.Ryan Shugar 85); 9.Andrew Pearson; 10.Jonathan Kift (16.Dane Williams 45+2); 11.Nicky Jones (15.Alyn Jones 76).
Subs not used: 12.Mattie Davies & 17.Scott Jones.
Goals: Kift 64; A.Jones 80
Booked: Carter 40; Hughes 51; N.Jones 61; Pearson 70
© Match report by Ton Pentre AFC Press
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