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TAFFS WELL 0 - 3 TON PENTRE
MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division One
Saturday 1st March 2008
With their St David’s Day victory over Taffs Well at their Rhiwdda ground, Ton Pentre are now unbeaten in seven matches and five points clear at the top of Welsh Football League Divison One.
This was a tough game for the Rhondda Bulldogs in windy conditions on a sloping pitch, but goals from Mark Crutch, Dale Price and Mattie Davies secured all three points.
Ton Pentre looked set to take the lead in the 6th minute of play when Jonathan Kift’s well executed through ball found Andrew Pearson’s run into the box. As the striker was preparing to shoot he was hacked down by a Taffs Well defender, who had no chance of getting his foot to the ball, to deny a goal scoring opportunity. Much to Ton’s disbelief, the Referee nor his Assistant considered it a foul and their protests were disregarded.
At first this decision seemed to buoy Taffs Well’s confidence as they powered forward looking to upset the title challengers.
However, once Ton Pentre’s frustrations had subsided they soon regained their foothold on the match and got their breakthrough in the 39th minute of play when Kift got away from his marker on the left after the Taffs Well defender slipped. This allowed Kift the time to look up and pick out Mark Crutch with a cross. Crutch elected to shoot with his right foot and the ball struck the post before hitting Taffs Well goalkeeper Matthew Morling on the back to send it into the net.
Moments later Taffs Well were awarded a free kick several yards outside the box after Marty Ellacott’s foul tackle stopped their attacker from advancing. Due to a defender’s cover Ellacott was shown a yellow card as the Referee decided that he did not deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Taffs Well wasted their free kick by sending it over the cross bar.
Despite the Rhondda Bulldogs looking the more dangerous team in the second half neither side were able to create many scoring chances until the final ten minutes of the match.
Taffs Well came close to an undeserved equaliser in the 81st minute after the ball ran kindly for them but Ellacott somehow saved and cleared the ball with his knees.
Ton finished the match strongly with two goals in the last few minutes. Ton’s second goal of the match was scored directly from a corner. Dale Price had sent an in swinging ball that beat all the defenders as well as Morling in goal to give Ton some breathing space in the 87th minute.
The third of the afternoon was netted by Mattie Davies following a short corner on the left a minute into injury time. Davies celebrated his score in extravagant style by running behind the goal to sit on a seat and applaud his effort.
Croesyceiliog visit Ynys Park on Saturday 8th March at 2.30pm desperate for league points to avoid relegation.
Team: 1.Marty Ellacott; 2.Scott Hayward; 3.Alyn Jones; 4.Ryan Morgan; 5.Mark Crutch; 6.Andrew Hughes (Captain); 7.Lee Matthews; 8.Ryan Shugar (15.Nicky Jones 86); 9.Andrew Pearson; 10.Jonathan Kift (17.Mattie Davies 86); 11.Scott Jones (14.Dale Price 60).
Subs not used: 12.Dane Williams & 17.Richard Stevens
Goals: Crutch 39; Price 87; Davies 90+1
Booked: Ellacott 42; Morgan 58
Match report by Ton Pentre AFC Press
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