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NEWPORT YMCA 3 - 3 TON PENTRE
MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division One
Saturday 29th December 2007
Following a five week wait Ton Pentre finally found themselves in action away at Newport YMCA in Welsh League Division One and could not have got off to a worst start when the hosts raced into a 3-0 lead within the first 25 minutes of the game.
Ton Pentre had last played on 24th November 2007 and since then saw five of their matches postponed due to waterlogged and frozen pitches.
It was evident that they’d not played for so long in the match with Newport YMCA when a lack of concentration saw an attacker seep through the defence without being picked up. Once the ball had been squared across the Ton box and despite Ton goalkeeper Marty Ellacott saving twice, the ball was scrambled over the goal line by Farris Yafai within the first ten minutes.
Newport YMCA made it 2-0 on 17 minutes when Richard Carter lost possession for the Bulldogs to allow a cross from the left that was headed into the net by Aaron Stewart.
Newport couldn’t believe their luck in the 23rd minute when they increased their lead further after Lewis Sommers had broken free of defender Mike Jones. Once in space Sommer’s squared the ball to Stewart who bagged an easy brace.
The Rhondda Bulldogs now faced an uphill struggle but captain Andrew Hughes led by example on the half hour mark when he ran solo into the Newport box riding several challenges. Unluckily for the Ton midfielder his effort hit the crossbar and Newport were able to clear the danger.
As the first half was nearing its conclusion Ton Pentre had found their rhythm and life became very difficult for the home team. In the 42nd minute there was a glimmer of hope when Ryan Shugar passed to Hughes and made a run into the Newport penalty area. Hughes returned the ball to Shugar with an excellent pass that allowed him a clear shot on target that he did not miss to make it 3-1 at half time.
Ton began the second half as they had finished the first and were unlucky not to be level within the first ten minutes with Jonathan Kift and Dane Williams coming close with chances.
Ton introduced more firepower into their attack in the 66th minute when Williams was replaced by prolific goalscorer Mattie Davies.
Moments later the ball was in the back of the net for a second time when Carter and Shugar linked on the right with a one-two pass. Carter crossed into the penalty area and Kift was in position to finish past goalkeeper Gareth Wesson.
Marty Ellacott kept Ton in the match in the 69th minute when he pulled off an excellent save to tip the ball over the crossbar from a fierce shot on the right.
In the 75th minute Kift passed to Mattie Davies in the Newport box following more Ton pressure and the former Carmarthen Town front man looked odds on to score but his shot was saved by Wesson who had dived low to his right to smother the ball.
Two minutes later Wesson was unable to deny Davies a second time after first saving Ryan Morgan’s shot before spilling the ball towards the Ton striker. Davies made no mistake with his finish to bring the scores level.
It could and probably should have been an even better result for Ton when Alyn Jones was able to out run the defensive back line to score past Wesson but it was ruled out when the referee’s assistant incorrectly flagged him offside.
The same happened to Kift moments later when he too had run clear of the defence only to be flagged offside despite a Newport defender being unable to retreat from his deep position on the far side of the defence.
Although Ton may feel they could have got all three points but for these two instances they will surely be very pleased that they were able to get themselves back in the match from 3-0 down.
Hopefully Ton Pentre will not be made to wait another five weeks before playing again as they look to entertain Cwmbran Town at Ynys Park on Saturday 5th January 2008 in a change to the original fixture list. The match kicks off at 2pm.
Team: 1.Marty Ellacott; 2.Richard Carter; 3.Gareth Mouncher (16. Dale Price, 74); 4.Ryan Morgan; 5.Mike Jones; 6.Dane Williams (15.Mattie Davies, 66); 7.Andrew Hughes (Captain); 8.Ryan Shugar (14. Alyn Jones, 74); 9.Paul Michaels; 10.Jonathan Kift; 11.Nicky Jones.
Subs not used: 12.Phil Clarke & 17.Scott Jones.
Goals: Shugar 42, Kift 67 & Davies 77.
Booked: Morgan 10.
Match report by Ton Pentre AFC Press
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